LIMERICK Institute of Technology engineering student Rob Laffan will receive recognition for his ‘Tippy Talk’ project at the upcoming national Engineers Ireland Excellence Awards 2015.
Rob (38) from Old Cork Road recently completed his studies in Industrial Automation and Robotics at LIT and earlier this year won the 2015 Engineers Ireland Innovative Student Engineer of the Year Award.
He designed ‘Tippy Talk’ to help his four-year-old daughter Sadie, who has autism, to communicate.
Rob’s invention allows Sadie to communicate her desires, feelings and needs to him and his wife Emily through the transfer of pictures to text messages.
‘Tippy Talk’ will be recognised in the Innovative Student Engineer of the Year Award category sponsored by Siemens.
The University of Limerick has also been shortlisted for its Bachelor of Engineering in Electronic and Computer Engineering course in the ‘Engineering Education – Best in Class 2015 Award’ category.
In addition, the Limerick Coca-Cola Zero Bike Share Scheme has been shortlisted in the ‘Engineering Project of the Year Award’ category.
“The quality of Limerick entries this year shows the engineering ingenuity and creativity that is a feature of the region. Overall we are seeing the high calibre of entries reflecting the evolving nature of contemporary engineering,” commented Caroline Spillane, Engineers Ireland director general.
Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in Dublin in November.
