Bringing together a multidisciplinary team that combines technical expertise with researchers in psychology, design, rehabilitation, sports, and healthy ageing, the HCTRC finds technology based solutions for practical uses.

The research at HCTRC focuses on developing advanced technologies to solve societal challenges by augmenting human abilities and enhancing how we think, move, live, and work. Fundamentally, the HCTRC works to understand how technology research can assist humans in their life and learning, health and wellbeing, communication, and achieving their goals.

The HCTRC is currently undertaking a collaborative research project to develop collision avoidance sensors on motorcycles to keep riders safe, as well as an industry partnership to evaluate the performance of a ‘balance mat’ that enables an accurate, accessible, and affordable falls-prevention assessment for at-risk groups.

Other research has previously focused on how interactions between people and technology can be improved, including teaching computers to better understand the complexity of human emotions and how individuals interact or communicate with robots.

The HCTRC’s research highlights how rapidly emerging digital technologies are becoming an opportunity to address productivity challenges in the Australian economy, as well as within the rehabilitation, health, and aged care sectors. The innovations developed within the HCTRC have created fit-for-purpose and effective solutions to everyday problems that improve the lives of thousands of Australians.