Published Resources Details
Resource
- Title
- Australia Innovates - an on-line guide to innovation in Australian industries
- Imprint
- 2001
- Url
- http://archive.maas.museum/australia_innovates/index-2.html
- Format
- HTML
- Description
This now archived website 'Australia Innovates' was launched in 2001 to celebrate two events: the 100th anniversary of Federation of the Australian States, and the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.
It was developed as a partnership between the Powerhouse Museum and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.
The aim of the 'Australia Innovates' project was to develop a national centre for public presentation and interpretation of Australian innovation, with a focus on promoting:
* awareness of the achievements of Australian innovators;
* understanding of the innovation process;
* appreciation of the crucial role which innovation has in achieving future prosperity and opportunity for all Australians.The project and the website was developed in stages in three sections:
* A century of innovation;
* The innovation cycle; and
* The edge of innovation.The website also provided an on-line guide, a '100 innovations' poster, and other student and teacher resources.
- Abstract
Innovations featured include:
AGRICULTURE & FOOD:
* Federation wheat (1903) - wheat variety resistant to fungus and drought;
* Sunshine header harvester (1914) - machine that can harvest storm-damaged crops;
* Rotavator rotary hoe (1923) - self-propelled rotary hoe for farming;
* Vegemite (1924) - food spread extracted from yeast cells;
* Toft cane harvesters (1961) - machines for harvesting sugar cane;
* Wine cask (1966) - portable, airtight wine container;
* Dynamic Lifter fertiliser (1972) - organic fertiliser made from chook manure;
* Miniboil water heater (1981) - energy-efficient hot water dispenser;
* Nematodes for pest control (1981) - large-scale production of worms that kill insects;
* Nogall pest control (1989) - pesticide using genetically altered bacterium;
* Buffalo fly trap (1992) - low-tech way to rid cattle of insects;
* Partial Rootzone Drying (1999) - method for improving fruit quality by using less water.COMMUNICATIONS & IT:
* Automatic totalisator (1913) - machine for computing bets made on races;
* School of the Air (1951) - school lessons by radio for outback students;
* Fluid Head camera mount (1954) - hydraulic mount for film and video cameras;
* Moldflow design software (1978) - software to design moulds for plastic parts;
* Barra Sonobuoy sonar (1980) - submarine detection and surveillance system;
* Cochlear implant (1983) - bionic ear for profoundly deaf people;
* ISYS software (1988) - Information retrieval software;
* Mountbatten Brailler (1990) - computerised braille writer for blind people;
* Nomad computer interface (1990) - interface for people with impaired vision;
* Eddie special effects software (1991) - software for creating special FX on video;
* Ericsson phone queuing system (1992) - automatic phone-call distribution system;
* SmartModem (1992) - range of modems for personal computers;
* Passport security (1995) - tamper-evident adhesive for passports.ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT:
* Cactoblastis moth (1926) - biological control of the prickly pear cactus;
* Snowy Mountains Scheme (1949) - hydro-electricity and irrigation development;
* Solahart water heater (1953) - solar hot water system;
* Atom engine ignition (1976) - computer ignition kit for small engines;
* Permaculture (1976) - planning system for sustainable agriculture;
* Rib Loc pipe (1980) - watertight pipe made of spiral plastic strip;
* Landcare (1989) - community land management movement;
* Clean Up Australia Day (1990) - rubbish clean-up campaign done by volunteers;
* Buried contact solar cell (1991) - high-efficiency photovoltaic cell;
* Fire-Brake foam (1993) - additive that turns water into fire-fighting foam;
* Orbital engine technology (1995) - technology for efficient clean-burning engines.HEALTH:
* Helena Rubinstein cosmetics (1902) - revolution in marketing;
* Royal Flying Doctor Service (1928) - medical services using radio and aircraft;
* Both respirator (1937) - movable respirator for people with polio;
* Penicillin (1944) - life-saving antibiotic;
* Disposable syringe (1949) - throw-away plastic hypodermic syringe;
* Begg orthodontic technique (1956) - lightweight, low force orthodontics;
* CSL antivenoms (1956) - antivenoms for treating spider and snake bites;
* Sola plastic lenses (1960) - scratch-resistant plastic lens for glasses;
* Microsurgery (1973) - pioneering techniques and instruments for microsurgery;
* National Trachoma and Eye Health Program (1976) - improving eye health in remote communities;
* Ultrasound technology (1976) - Octoson ultrasound scanner for images of body organs;
* CPAP sleep apnea control (1981) - machine to maintain breathing during sleep;
* IVF embryo freezing (1983) - 'freeze-thaw' method for storing embryos;
* Relaxin birth hormone (1989) - drug that makes childbirth easier;
* G-CSF immunity booster (1991) - hormone to boost growth of white blood cells;
* Relenza flu treatment (1999) - drug that prevents the spread of influenza virus.HOUSEHOLD & CLOTHING:
* Brick veneer house construction (1928) - prestige without the price;
* Speedo swimwear (1929) - swimming costumes for competition and leisure;
* Shepherd castors (1946) - steerable wheel for movable furniture;
* Splayds cutlery (1946) - knife, fork and spoon in one;
* Hills clothes hoist (1948) - rotary clothes line;
* Victa rotary lawn-mower (1952) - power mower with rotating cutting blade;
* Wool technology (1957) - improvements in wool production and processing by CSIRO;
* Staysharp knife (1970) - self-sharpening kitchen knife;
* Triton workcentre (1976) - portable multipurpose workbench;
* Dual flush toilet (1982) - toilet with two flush-volumes;
* Mambo clothes (1984) - streetwise fashion design for youth market;
* Balarinji designs (1989) - printed fabrics using Aboriginal designs.LEISURE:
* Early Australian cinema (1906) - first feature-length movie;
* Surf lifesaving movement (1906) - reel and harness for surf rescue;
* Sydney Opera House (1973) - building complex for performing arts;
* Super Sopper roller (1974) - water removal system for sports fields;
* World Series Cricket (1977) - one day cricket games redesigned for TV;
* Fairlight CMI synthesiser (1979) - computer musical instrument;
* Racecam TV sport coverage (1979) - live television broadcast from racing cars.MANUFACTURING:
* Froth flotation process (1904) - process for separating mineral ores;
* Humespun pipe (1910) - concrete pipe made by centrifugal casting;
* Hardwood pulping (1927) - process for pulping hardwoods for newsprint;
* Warman slurry pumps (1938) - better pump to move a mixture of ore and water;
* Owen gun (1941) - submachine gun for jungle warfare;
* Ore slurry probes (1972) - X-ray probes for analysing ore slurries;
* ISA Process (1979) - copper refining process;
* Coalscan coal analysis (1982) - instruments for measuring coal quality;
* Durable heavy rail technology (1982) - steel sleepers, fasteners and hardened rails;
* Isasmelt ore smelter (1983) - smelting process to separate metals from ores;
* Jameson Cell ore process (1985) - improved flotation process for ore separation;
* Plastic banknotes (1988) - non-forgeable polymer money;
* EXELGRAM anti-counterfeiting technology (1992) - optical security technology for banknotes and documents;
* Casting thin sheet steel (2000) - more efficient technology for producing thin sheets of steel.RESEARCH:
* X-ray crystallography (1912) - technique to determine atomic structure of crystals;
* Flame Ionisation Detector (1957) - scientific instrument for chemical analysis;
* Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (1962) - instrument for analysing metals in samples;
* Australia Telescope (1988) - advanced radiotelescope;
* Polilight forensic lamp (1989) - portable light source for detective work.TRANSPORT:
* Michell thrust bearing (1907) - low-friction bearing for thrust shafts;
* The Ute (1934) - vehicle with car cabin and utility tray;
* Australian six-cylinder family cars (1948) - vehicles of innovation;
* Black box flight recorder (1961) - voice and instrument recorder for aircraft;
* Bishop steering systems (1971) - variable-ratio power steering system for cars;
* SCATS traffic flow system (1975) - computerised traffic light management system;
* ATPD pedestrian button (1984) - push button for traffic signals;
* Wave Piercing Catamaran (1984) - high-speed passenger and vehicle ferry;
* Baby safety capsule (1984) - car seat and bassinette for babies;
* Smart card transit systems (1997) - electronic ticket systems for public transport.