Old Westbury and New York, NY – NYIT faculty and students will have an unusual opportunity to try out the world's first hands-free, wireless headset computer before it comes to the market, as part of NYIT's technology partnership with Motorola Solutions.

Professors in the School of Engineering and Computing Sciences are working with two prototypes of Motorola's Golden-i®, a headset computer that gives workers the ability to multitask, communicate, and access information in the field. The professors and students are developing real-world applications for the headset so that it helps in the workplace in areas including medicine, manufacturing, distribution, field operations, military, and law enforcement.

"This open-ended project encourages students to really use their imagination to find practical uses for the headset," said Ziqian Dong, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, who is leading the effort at NYIT-Manhattan.

NYIT faculty and students in all departments will collaborate to find ways to use the headset in different jobs. For example, doctors would be able to discuss procedures with associates while in the middle of procedures, and architects could view 3-D renderings while standing in an open space to get a real sense of how buildings would appear when finished.

"The coolest feature of Golden-i® is the ability to track one's head motion with extreme sensitivity," said Associate Professor Hossein Kashani, who is working with students on the Old Westbury campus. He predicts the headset will be very useful in rehabilitation and sport medicine, and for studying illnesses like Parkinson's disease.

Technology partners are invited to participate in the Golden-i®dea competition, concluding at the Golden-i® Partner Conference at the NYIT de Seversky Mansion on Nov. 16. In addition, applicants will have a chance to win $10,000 or a free Golden-i® headset, which will be made available in 2012.

Golden-i® headsets are available at both NYIT campuses in New York for students and faculty to develop applications. Anyone interested in participating in the project should contact Abdulhossei Kashani (Old Westbury) at kashani@nyit.edu or Ziqian Dong (New York) at ziqian.dong@nyit.edu.

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About NYIT

New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) offers 90 degree programs, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees, in more than 50 fields of study, including architecture and design; arts and sciences; education; engineering and computing sciences; health professions; management; and osteopathic medicine. A non-profit independent, private institution of higher education, NYIT has 15,000 students attending campuses on Long Island and Manhattan, online, and at its global campuses. NYIT sponsors 11 NCAA Division II programs and one Division I team.

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Briana Samuels
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