Among the recipients of AIIA's iAwards were makers of a biological risk assessment tool and a software program that builds animated characters to help indigenous communities promote health and welfare messages.
David Merson received the inaugural CSIRO Tony Benson Award for Individual Achievement in ICT.
Merson was CEO of Mincom, a company he founded in 1979. It has become one of Australia's largest software developer and exporter with 1,200 employees and annual revenues of AU$200 million.
Hearne Scientific Software and CSIRO Entomology won in the Agriculture Primary Industries category for their Dymex-Climex software which calculates biological risk assessments and management of invasive species in agricultural and natural systems.
The Inspiration iAward was presented to the MARVIN Consortium project, which "aims to bring animation to education and learning to life."
MARVIN is an application that allows users to combine captured audio, images and other content to develop presentations, and build scripted voice-overs that are narrated by animated characters. It is part of a collaborative process with indigenous communities to provide information on health, welfare and community governance issues.
The awards presentation was held last night in conjunction with CeBIT Australia 2005. The panel of judges comprised representatives from CSIRO, AIIA, National ICT Australia, the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, educational institutions, and the technology media.
Winners will be invited to participate in the Asia Pacific ICT Awards to be held in Bali later in the year.
Editor's note: For more coverage on CeBIT Australia 2005, please click here.
