OLD GUILDFORDIANS
Bringing telemedicine to the bush
Constantine ‘Con’ Michael (Wb 1966-1970)
Australia’s Outback is glorious, but the
isolation that makes the Outback so unique is
what poses the biggest problem when there
is a medical emergency. Remote diagnoses
using a telephone or radio robs medical
professionals of the important information
that vision can provide. The challenge is to
The challenge is to
deliver audio and
video reliably, in
locations where
telecommunications
can be extremely
unreliable, or even
non-existent.
Having now achieved Engineering Executive status, Con Michael (on the left) is pictured here
receiving the ‘Neville Thiele Outstanding Achievement - National Winner’ award, making him
the first West Australian to receive this honour. With Con is Dr Walter Green, Chairperson of
The Information, Telecommunications, and Electronics Engineering (ITEE) College.
deliver audio and video reliably, in locations
where telecommunications can be extremely
unreliable, or even non-existent. Driven by
the pursuit of a solution has earned Con
Michael a litany of engineering awards,
culminating most recently when Engineers
Australia bestowed him with Engineering
Executive status, recognising Con as an
eminent individual and leader within the
industry.
The Balconi ‘Smart Torch’ is Con’s solution for
global telemedicine coverage - an affordable,
ultra-portable, 2-way video conferencing
tool. Using a dynamic algorithm, the Smart
Torch provides the best possible video from
very small bandwidth. Reducing lengthy
diagnosis delays for patients, the Smart Torch
has global application and can also connect
offshore workers on vessels and rigs to
trained paramedics.
While Con was thrilled to be recognised with
Engineering Executive status, he is grateful to
have received a total of 14 National and State
awards related to engineering, innovation,
community services, and benefiting society.
The most significant recognition came in
the form of the ‘2017 National iAwards –
Innovation of the Year’ and being presented
as the ‘2019 Neville Thiele Outstanding
Achievement - National Winner’. The
Australian Information Industry Association
describes the iAwards as “Australia’s longest
running and most broadly scoped innovation
recognition program, promoting excellence
in the Australian digital ecosystem from
the likes of Google Maps, Atlassian, Wotif
and WiseTech Global”. The Neville Thiele
award recognises eminence in information,
telecommunications and electronics
engineering and honours Con for making
significant contributions to engineering,
in addition to acknowledging Con for his
significant contributions to the community.
We congratulate Con for the recognition of
his good work.
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