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This application deals with the
subject above, with the worldwide market expected to be worth more
than $ 7.5 billion in the year 2004. Target applications include:
continuous industrial processing, such as in the textile and
forestry industries; and medical environments, such as
stereotactic neurosurgery and patient positioning in radiation
therapy treatment.
Key activities encompass mainly
three areas: (1) camera technology research and development; (2)
applications in the continuous processing environment; and (3)
application in medical environments. This work is to be carried
out by a consortium between Electronic Development House and University
of Cape Town, with the Council
for Scientific and Industrial Research as a major
subcontractor and the National
Accelerator Center as a minor subcontractor.
With our experience in bringing
innovative products to market and the combined strength of the
consortium, we have the capacity to undertake the research and
development to succeed with this ambitious project. Each of the
participating organizations has the appropriate infrastructure
already in place.
Our Smart Linear Camera will
have four important attributes: high spatial resolution; high
temporal resolution; built in processing capability; and a
sophisticated communication network. A careful perusal of the
literature, both archival journals and the World Wide Web, has
revealed that no other research group or company has yet produced
a linear camera system with all four of these attributes.
The project has both national
and international implications and is crucial to the future of
industry in South Africa with benefits also to disadvantaged
communities such as:
- A substantial number of smart cameras will be
built, thereby opening up new job opportunities.
- The assembly of electronic circuit boards is
of particular relevance to the Western Cape, where a trade
school for the deaf will soon offer this service.
- In year 3 of the project which focuses on
neurosurgery and proton therapy, cancer patients will benefit
directly, the majority of whom come to Groote Schuur Hospital
and the National
Accelerator Center from disadvantaged communities.
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