WBIR, Knoxville’s NBC affiliate, recently had a week devoted to technological advances being made in East Tennessee, with UT playing a central role in a number of stories.
The first profile was a look at how research at the so-called Body Farm could impact court cases. Officially known as the Forensic Anthropology Center, the groundbreaking lab has gained worldwide acclaim for the Department of Anthropology for the advancements it has helped make for forensic science.
WBIR had a long segment devoted to biomedical engineering the following day, including a live appearance by professor Jindong Tan to explain how his Guide Glass device is helping the blind to “see.” Tan, associate head in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering, showed off some of the devices on air before the topic switched to fellow department member, associate professor Jeffrey Reinbolt.
Reinbolt has helped lead a group improving the experience for post-stroke survivors by creating a virtual world that helps simulate and understand their movements and constraints.
Driverless cars, their challenges and what the main holdups are were topics of the third UT-related day. David Clarke, Director of the Center for Transportation Research and a research associate professor of civil engineering, spoke about some of the constraints, but also what technology already exists that might help.