Log in
Prosopagnosia, or the inability to recognise faces, affects one person in 50, but public and professional awareness of the condition is low. Bournemouth University (BU) established The Centre for Face Processing Disorders (CFPD) to provide cognitive screening and training programmes to improve recognition skills for affected adults and children. The centre has grown significantly and, having tested over 100 people for prosopagnosia, now treats 30 adults and 10 children through cognitive training and clinical treatment. While patient numbers are moderate to date, the service is unique in the UK and has provided proof of concept for a scalable prosopagnosia diagnosis and a treatment approach. This includes protocols for different conditions including Autism and Moebius syndrome. In addition, the CFPD has orchestrated policy changes within significant health organisations and charities.
Bournemouth University (BU) research has been instrumental in an industry-wide shift in public relations (PR) evaluation practice. Accurate PR evaluation allows organisations to maximise use of resources and target efforts efficiently. The once widely-used Advertising Value Equivalence (AVE) — sometimes referred to as `equivalent' or `equivalency' — measures PR activity in terms of financial equivalence in advertising space. Watson's (BU 2007 to present) research has exposed AVE usage as methodologically faulty. It has been highly influential in a policy change by the UK's Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) in 2010 banning AVE data from its awards. This simultaneously set a standard for industry practice. Watson also shaped international PR sector policy through participation in the development of the `Barcelona Principles', advising against AVE in favour of objective-driven, evidence-based evaluation.
BU's software engineering research has focused on the improvement of software development methods with a particular emphasis on the `upstream' or requirements phases. The benefits include improved development processes as well as considerable financial savings, as evidenced in this case study. The research has been used locally in projects with medium sized enterprises (SME's) and in collaboration with international partners including National ICT Australia (NICTA) to enhance business and IT alignment (Australia and Japan); the European Commission funded VIsualise all moDel drivEn programming (VIDE) project to impact commercial tools (France and Germany); and with Bosch Automotive (Germany) to enhance model driven development.
Parody of music videos, television shows and other media is not permitted under UK intellectual property law. In 2011, the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) commissioned Bournemouth University (BU) to study the economic effects of parody on commercial rights holders. The research found the process does not have negative impacts on the market and in many cases contributes to the commercial success of original works. The study identified further social and cultural benefits. In 2012, the Government adopted BU's recommendations to change the law and proposed a copyright exception for parody, making it exempt from copyright laws.
Losing one's way in complex built environments wastes time and money, and often causes stress and anxiety. The BU Wayfinding Research Centre (WRC) has developed a research-driven, evidence-based approach to this common problem. Researchers have translated wayfinding knowledge from laboratory research on navigation and icon interpretation to a diverse range of private and public sector organisations (Frankfurt International airport, World Heritage Site, multi-national offices, hospitals). The method has replaced existing, unreliable navigational supports, typically based on intuition and guesswork, with effective, scalable, research-based solutions. These have improved wayfinding in complex, unfamiliar buildings, enhancing organisational productivity and reducing users' inconvenience, distress and risk. The successful delivery of the WRC's approach proves this method works and has significant potential for future application and development.
Bournemouth University (BU) has facilitated improvements to health and social care practice through cultural change in care provision. Researchers developed a practice development framework for implementing and assessing the delivery of evidence-based practice in 82 UK health and social care units during the impact period. Benefits to staff include better communication and team structure. Benefits to patients include higher standards of cleanliness, privacy and dignity, as well as a decrease in length of hospital stays and appointment waiting times. Delivery has extended to cover entire NHS Trusts serving a resident population of over 3.5 million, social services departments and third sector organisations across the south of England and beyond. The research has since been applied to develop a similar system in Australia.
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboats attend over 15,000 incidents annually with an average of 22 people rescued daily. Previously friction and wear on launch slipways adversely impacted safe lifeboat launching, costing the RNLI up to £260k/year. Lifeboat crewmen would address this issue by applying a layer of grease along the slipway, but repeated use had both safety and environmental implications. In 2005 this prompted the RNLI to draw on Bournemouth University's (BU) extensive green tribology expertise to find a solution. Collaboration between BU and the RNLI led to the redesign of slipway panels to double their life-span and switch from grease to a water lubrication system. As well as safety and environmental benefits, this saves the charity £1 million over a 5 year term, allowing resources to be focused on life-saving.
BU economic modelling research has driven increased profits for leading international consultants Maxwell Stamp PLC, to the tune of £12 million to date. Simultaneously, the research has benefited the company's clients, including several governments. For example, the research was used to provide advice critical in helping Namibia safeguard revenues of US$700 million annually from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU).
Independent of Maxwell Stamp, the same techniques have been used to strengthen the research capabilities of the Institute for Scientific Research on Economic Reforms, Azerbaijan. This has been integral in the successful development of new, internationally competitive industries and the World Bank naming Azerbaijan one of the top 10 economic reformers.
Motion blur is the effect that occurs when objects are filmed at speed. Researchers at Bournemouth University's (BU) National Centre for Computer Animation (NCCA) developed a new approach to more accurately model this effect in 3D image production. This produces aesthetically superior images without any penalty in rendering time. The technique was implemented by Pixar in their own films and in the commercial PRMan software they supply to other animation and effects studios in New Zealand, Canada, the USA and the UK, among others. As well as contributing significantly to Pixar's revenue, the technique improves the viewing experience and has been used on virtually every major feature film produced since 2008. This contributes to the global animation industry worth $207 US billion (2012, R1).
Social work is about making a positive difference to the most vulnerable in society. Since 2008 Bournemouth University's (BU) research-based continuing professional development (CPD) programmes have improved practice for 6,170 health and social care professionals. During this period CPD has taken place in 28 NHS Trusts, 96 Local Authorities and 39 independent, voluntary and private sector organisations. Nurses, social workers, managers and educators have all developed professionally from the self-reflective approach, demonstrating increased confidence and improved management abilities. Evaluations of the effectiveness of post-qualifying social work education are scarce. BU's evaluative method has confirmed the value of this CPD and its impact on the practice of individual health and social care professionals and their organisations.