From activity monitors for the brain to electric cars, UWA has produced more than its share of ‘game-changing’ scientific breakthroughs and new technology over the course of its long history, as Liz McGrath discovered.

Iain McIntyre needs little persuasion to expand on the subject of brain-computer interface and its potential for the human race.

The UWA law student and CEO of Perth tech start-up HUMM Tech is developing a device likened to an activity monitor for the brain, and it’s something he spends a lot of time thinking about.

HUMM Tech is focused on amplifying the potential of the human brain and improving people’s lives by offering more control over their cognitive function.

The 3D print headset the company is developing uses Electroencephalography (EEG) technology to detect the state of the brain in real-time and gauge metrics such as tiredness and concentration

“It provides EEG data just like you’d see in a hospital and determines which of those frequencies should be encouraged to assist in concentration and memory,” Iain says.

“It then stimulates the brain by providing a small electric current known as a transcranial alternating current (tACS) to stimulate better performance when mental focus lapses.

“It provides EEG data just like you’d see in a hospital and determines which of those frequencies should be encouraged to assist in concentration and memory,” Iain says.

It then stimulates the brain by providing a small electric current known as a transcranial alternating current (tACS) to stimulate better performance when mental focus lapses.

While their device is initially being aimed at eGamers who need to concentrate for long periods of time, McIntyre says the technology underpinning it will have much broader reach in the future.

HUMM Tech – which has been backed by UWA’s Innovation Quarter, the Unearthed Hackathon and global start-up accelerator muru-D – includes a diverse set of innovators, three from UWA and one from Curtin University.

As well as fourth-year law student McIntyre, there’s medical doctor Tim Fiori, engineer (including race car engineer for UWA Motorsports) Ahmud Auleear and former Curtin student Chris Norman.

Interestingly the fourth year law student points to involvement in UWA’s Electronic Music Appreciation Society (EMAS) as a key influencer in encouraging him to ‘think outside the square’ about his career.

“It gave us all valuable experience in networking and socialising, with not only with like-minded people but students from different backgrounds and cultures, who might not have been doing the same course but were united around a common interest,” he says.

EMAS gave many of us the chance to gain industry experience in a low risk environment, supported by the university. I was running the UWA EMAS at the same time Chris Norman started a Curtin chapter and I wouldn’t have met him without that link.

Iain says all eyes now are on the future, with family, friends and colleagues united in willing HUMM Tech to succeed.

“We’ve had people trailblazing before us, like Nuheara with their intelligent earbuds and (online health directory) HealthEngine which was founded by two UWA grads.

"These companies were born out of Perth and have been very successful which has helped us believe in ourselves,” Iain says.

“In five years I’d like our company to be worth over $100 million and to have contributed to brain-computer interface in a meaningful way.”

Starting young

While some inventions are years and even decades in the making, others come about more quickly.

UWA law student Tom Maclaurin, 19, turned a hobby building remote controlled aeroplanes at school into the development of ‘Swift’, an unmanned aerial vehicle capable of flying five times longer than drones currently on the market.

It can be airborne for more than six hours before its battery runs out, giving it the ability to conduct aerial surveillance at a fraction of the cost of current manned aircraft.

It can be used to monitor anything on the ground by picking up data from sensors, taking images or recording video.

The invention, which won Student Start-up of the Year at UWA’s Innovation Quarter (IQ) Awards, has potential future uses in beach and shark surveillance and crop monitoring in agriculture and Tom is currently looking for investors to help him further develop the technology.

Fellow nominee at the IQ Awards and UWA environmental science student Haweya Ismail (pictured above), has launched a DIY skincare business Mud & Musk. Her organic, natural and chemical free products draw on traditional ingredients such as qasil, used by Somali women for decades.

The ‘harvest to shelf’ start-up, which received $20,000 funding through a pitching competition judged by Red Balloon founder Naomi Simson, will contribute funds to prevent exploitation and promote sustainability around the world.

“The vision is to make it easier to incorporate organic DIY skin care into daily life so that everyone can know what they’re putting on their skin, where the ingredients have been sourced and their history,” Haweya says.