[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/tim-wins.JPG” caption=”Tim Pryor wowed the Ontario Centres of Excellence Discovery 09 conference with his state-of-the-art multi-touch screen technology. File photo. “]A dazzling presentation explaining the commercial applications for his research earned McMaster's Tim Pryor a second place finish in the oral competition held at the Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) Discovery 2009 conference earlier this month.

Pryor was competing against more than 80 university and college students working on OCE-funded projects in the fourth annual OCE student competition. Presenting to an independent panel of judges, Pryor provided an engaging oral presentation focused on why industry has a need for his Digital Dash Reconfigurable Tactile Display technology and what the potential impact of it could be on the automotive, medical and audio mixing industries. His second place showing earned him a $1,500 prize.

Pryor's technology combines state-of-the-art multi-touch screen technology with conventional console knobs, buttons and sliders. The technology can also be applied to instrumentation such as a vehicle's speedometer, odometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, and numerous other indicators. The technology is also applicable to other fields, such as sound mixing, where control boards traditionally have hundreds of individual knobs or sliders.

A graduate of the master of engineering entrepreneurship and innovation program at McMaster, Pryor has received previous accolades. Notably, he won the McMaster Innovation Showcase 2008 Poster Competition, helping him launch Digital Dash, a company that develops customizable dashboard technology for new model vehicles.

“Wining both the OCE and Innovation Showcase competitions has really helped Digital Dash raise its profile among investors, as well as granting agencies,” says Pryor, noting that the visibility was even more valuable than the prize money.

Today is the last day for entries to the 2009 McMaster Innovation Showcase Poster Competition. Details can be found at milo.mcmaster.ca/showcase.