Multimedia Victoria - New Technology Helping Young and Old Walk Tall

New Technology Helping Young and Old Walk Tall Media release - 24 January 2008 Melbourne researchers have discovered that the way we walk is as unique as a person's fingerprint and could become a diagnostic tool as simple as a blood test, for stroke and spinal injury patients. Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Theo Theophanous, today visited Austin Health's Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre to see the new technology in action and announce a $3.2 million tech boost to expand health and environmental research. "Many people don't understand that the way we walk says volumes about us, even to the point where it can indicate possible future health issues we might be susceptible to," Mr Theophanous said. "The Brumby Government is investing in the latest technology to help Victorians live enhanced lifestyles, and the use of infra-red video motion technology to analyse how to improve movement in the seriously injured is one area of early success." Professor Mary Galea of Melbourne University's Rehabilitation Sciences Research Centre said new motion capture technologies allow researchers to capture incredibly accurate data about specific walking patterns for people of different ages and their capabilities in different terrains. "This means that we can pin-point why an elderly person is prone to falling, and help strengthen the muscles needed to keep them living independently; or understand why a stroke patient has difficulty using stairs and train them to take higher or longer steps,” Ms Galea said. "Investing in this technology allows us to collect data from large groups of people and develop a clearer picture of abnormalities and how these might be relevant in childhood development, in understanding the effects of obesity or in assessing elderly patients’ care needs." Mr Theophanous said the ambulatory motion project run with the University of Melbourne and Austin Health, was a stellar example of VeRSI's research breakthroughs. "We’ve seen world-leading research under phase one of the $8 million Victorian eResearch Strategic Initiative (VeRSI) to help stroke and spinal injury patients, and we hope to tackle issues of climate change and human genetics with the new research funding under phase two," Mr Theophanous said. "VeRSI is supporting several universities and research bodies and helping deliver ground-breaking research, and through VeRSI we are creating a grid of sophisticated technology, allowing faster and better access to information, tools and people than ever before." VeRSI was established late last year as a collaborative consortium for eResearch investment. The Victorian Government injected $4.75 million to kick-start the project, a sum matched by its partners, Monash University and the University of Melbourne. Latrobe University and the Department of Primary Industries will join the existing partners as the project moves into phase two," Mr Theophanous said.