Research Engagement and ImpactCan you have a conversation with a computer?

Clevertar logo

The field of artificial intelligence research poses the question: 'can you have a conversation with a computer? Can we get them to interact with people?’ Flinders and Clevertar have tackled the question on how this thinking can assist in virtual healthcare as well as other sectors.

Research conducted by Professor David Powers, College of Science and Engineering, and his team in the Flinders Artificial Intelligence Laboratory has led to a number of exciting developments in the field of human-computer interaction. This led to a spin-out company, Clevertar.

Identifying potential as an assistive technology for health, Clevertar developed a variety of engaging chronic condition management programs for mental health, chronic pain and heart failure.

Already enjoying market success, these programs can easily be applied in other industries where enterprises can take advantage of Clevertar’s platform to deliver service to their consumers they never thought was possible. The virtual agent can interact with consumers on a personal level, so it feels very human-like. It is an excellent way to deliver consistent customer service and collect data very accurately.

The technology’s ongoing appeal lies in its core concept of addressing a real-life issue: many people have a condition for which they need help but might not want to talk about it to a ‘real’ person and would like to do it from the comfort of their own home.

Clevertar’s technology assists with exactly those needs, by humanising the otherwise impersonal technology experience, with the virtual agents providing a person, who is not a ‘real’ person, for the client to interact with and who assists them in their day-to-day lives.

To read more on this, visit the Research Impact webpages.

Tim Hawke and Matt Francis from Clevertar participated in the Australian Telehealth Conference held in Sydney on 11 and 12 April to showcase the new ability beyond Licensed Coaches that Clevertar can provide to the community in virtual care and other sectors.

The conference focused on the evolving world of virtual care with a focus on design thinking in healthcare. Clevertar was represented as both an exhibitor and a presenter in the session on 'The promise of emerging platforms- and New Assistive Technologies – incorporating into service design'. Clevertar also contributed to the session titled: 'Virtual Care and Telehealth Platforms'.

The presentation, titled 'Relational agents – A better way of engaging consumers' focused specifically on the exciting work that Clevertar is undertaking in chronic condition management; with multiple projects taking place around the country.

In an exciting development, the Clevertar platform is now available for use by enterprises wishing to design their own programs. In their presentation, Matt and Tim discussed how enterprises can leverage the platform to create powerful Relational Agent business applications in hours or days instead of months. This is a big opportunity as the trend for consumer engagement is rising.

Tags:
0 comments

More posts in "Research Engagement and Impact" series:

  1. (13 Dec 2018) ECR Spotlight - Dr Ben Lewis
  2. (29 Nov 2018) Impact Seed Funding – supporting our Flinders ECRs – Dr David Smith
  3. (29 Nov 2018) Research Roundup - 29 November 2018
  4. (15 Nov 2018) Impact Seed Funding – supporting our Flinders ECRs – Dr Lua Perimal-Lewis
  5. (14 Nov 2018) Research Roundup - 15 November 2018
  6. (01 Nov 2018) Flinders research from an undergraduate class to a record breaking swim attempt
  7. (01 Nov 2018) Research Roundup - 1 November 2018
  8. (31 Oct 2018) ECR Spotlight - Dr Bev Rogers
  9. (31 Oct 2018) Flinders researchers trip to Germany on bringing science to market
  10. (18 Oct 2018) Melbourne and Canberra fellowships advance research and leadership skills for Flinders researcher
  11. (18 Oct 2018) Impact Seed Funding – supporting our Flinders ECRs - Dr Linlin Ma
  12. (18 Oct 2018) Research Roundup - 18 October 2018
  13. (04 Oct 2018) How can Australian innovation create new industries and jobs?
  14. (04 Oct 2018) Research Roundup - 4 October 2018
  15. (27 Sep 2018) Saving Nemo at Ngeringa Winery
  16. (20 Sep 2018) Assisting the UN and developing nations on how to measure wellbeing
  17. (20 Sep 2018) Equity Hub to assist translating research into change
  18. (06 Sep 2018) Steps to improve gender diversity in coastal geoscience and engineering
  19. (23 Aug 2018) Finding the invisible traces
  20. (09 Aug 2018) Diving in Deep to strengthen links with UNESCO members
  21. (09 Aug 2018) Impact Seed Funding – supporting our Flinders ECRs
  22. (09 Aug 2018) Older Adults engaging for a better quality of life
  23. (08 Aug 2018) The scientist’s guide to a successful career in academia
  24. (27 Jul 2018) Flinders aiming to lead the blueeconomy
  25. (27 Jul 2018) Can you have a conversation with a computer?
  26. (12 Jul 2018) Flinders linking with arts and culture to explore their real value
  27. (12 Jul 2018) WHO internship for Flinders researcher
  28. (28 Jun 2018) Flinders linkage grants success
  29. (28 Jun 2018) Flinders’ led project top in Radiation Research
  30. (18 Jun 2018) Nothing going to waste - Flinders NIH Success
  31. (18 Jun 2018) ECR Spotlight - In Conversation with Dr Sam Elliott
  32. (29 May 2018) Flinders leading the reviews to improve remote health
  33. (17 May 2018) Generating conversation through The Conversation
  34. (15 May 2018) ECR Spotlight - Dr Ashok Manoharan 2018
  35. (03 May 2018) Flinders’ Archaeologist off to Cambridge for a year
  36. (26 Mar 2018) New chapter of Indigenous history told through food
  37. (08 Mar 2018) Flinders linking with Indigenous groups to explore aspects of colonial Australia
  38. (22 Feb 2018) ECR Spotlight - Ian Moffat
  39. (21 Feb 2018) Flinders working to Beat Cancer
  40. (25 Jan 2018) Why are little penguins declining?
  41. (25 Jan 2018) Scimex - Register now to be a part of breaking news
  42. (24 Jan 2018) ECR Spotlight - Alice Clement
  43. (21 Dec 2017) A Flinders first - automated launch and recovery for autonomous underwater vessels
  44. (13 Dec 2017) 2017 Vice-Chancellor's Award for Early Career Researchers
  45. (11 Dec 2017) ECR Spotlight - Vishnu KK Nair
  46. (06 Dec 2017) NHMRC success for Flinders
  47. (24 Nov 2017) Aiming to improve the health, education and wellbeing of children
  48. (17 Nov 2017) Accelerating the Interplay Wellbeing Framework
  49. (16 Nov 2017) 2018 Visiting International Research Fellows to Flinders
  50. (15 Nov 2017) ECR Spotlight - Ashokkumar Manoharan
  51. (15 Nov 2017) 2018 Flinders Endeavour Scholars and Fellows announced
  52. (14 Nov 2017) Time to Bragg about science writing
  53. (10 Nov 2017) Flinders Forensic Science cleans up at Awards
  54. (10 Nov 2017) Flinders successes in the recent ARC grant round
  55. (30 Oct 2017) Students Present Around the World
  56. (20 Oct 2017) Over $8 Million to Flinders from the National Palliative Care round
  57. (19 Oct 2017) ECR Spotlight - Sam Schultz
  58. (17 Oct 2017) Flinders' Fresh Scientists in the Pub
  59. (11 Oct 2017) Indigenous knowledge, not just for Indigenous communities
  60. (06 Oct 2017) Leading Drug and Alcohol researchers at Flinders’ NCETA secure $1.7 million in funding
  61. (05 Oct 2017) ECR Spotlight - Margaret Shanafield
  62. (28 Sep 2017) Our Distinguished Geographer
  63. (07 Sep 2017) ECR Spotlight - George Karpetis
  64. (01 Sep 2017) Eureka! Prize for blood test for bowel cancer recurrence
  65. (22 Aug 2017) Different environments, different DNA, different dolphins?
  66. (17 Aug 2017) ECR Spotlight - Dr Harriet Whiley
  67. (03 Aug 2017) ECR Spotlight - Giselle Rampersad
  68. (17 Jul 2017) Time to Scope your research - FAST
  69. (17 Jul 2017) Time to Scope your research - Hoverflies
  70. (13 Jul 2017) Tips from a first time interviewee
  71. (12 Jul 2017) Saving Nemo at the Star of Greece
  72. (07 Jul 2017) Invasion of the European crabs
  73. (20 Jun 2017) Fossil finds bring Australia's evolutionary history to life
  74. (07 Jun 2017) Peer Prize up for grabs
  75. (02 Jun 2017) Tracking the marine ecosystems in South Australia
  76. (29 May 2017) Be Your Best for Impact
  77. (18 May 2017) Aiming to catch criminals as never before
  78. (05 May 2017) Excavating with and in a Community
  79. (29 Apr 2017) What does engagement look like? Community-initiated research.
  80. (24 Apr 2017) Planning for one of the world’s youngest nations
  81. (07 Apr 2017) Pitching ON tasty seaweed jelly
  82. (29 Mar 2017) Best and Brightest for Hearts
  83. (27 Mar 2017) The Best Student Publications - Flinders 2016 edition
  84. (16 Mar 2017) From workshop to book - Underwater archaeology and 3D
  85. (21 Dec 2016) Recent Funding Success
  86. (21 Dec 2016) Research Impact - Point of Care Testing
  87. (21 Dec 2016) New ARC College of Experts
  88. (20 Dec 2016) Flinders Celebrates - 2016 Research Successes
  89. (19 Dec 2016) Vice-Chancellor Awards for Research Excellence
  90. (19 Dec 2016) Cardiology, Mental Health Projects among NHMRC Grant Success