News Release
April 18, 1996
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

University Announces
Invention of the Year Winners

OTL presented plaques and a $500 award to inventors of the top three of 74 technologies disclosed to the office in 1995. An independent panel chose one winning technology from each of the physical, life and information science areas based on its creativity, novelty and potential overall benefit to society.

The 1995 Information Science Invention of the Year, "Tracking and Recognizing Facial Expressions," is a program that allows computers to recognize and interpret facial expressions.

Among its many applications, the technology can be used to gauge public interest in a product, political candidate or television show; to allow a person to use head movements to control his wheelchair; and to evaluate whether a student is paying attention in class.

The technology was developed by researchers Dr. Yaser Yacoob at the university's Center for Automation and Research and Michael Black at Xerox Palo Alto Research Center, Calif.

"Phytomining Nickel from Soil" is the 1995 Life Science Invention of the Year award recipient. The invention introduces an effective and economical method of using plant varieties to remove heavy metal contaminates, such as nickel, from soil.

The inventors have developed plants that accumulate very high amounts of metals and can be harvested frequently. The process not only removes the contaminates, but also allows for recovery of the metals for resale.

The technology was created by researchers Dr. Jay Scott Angle at the university's Agricultural Experiment Station, Dr. Alan Baker at the University of Sheffield, England, and Dr. Rufus Chaney at the United States Department of Agriculture.

The 1995 Physical Science Invention of the Year, "Fiber Optic Three Strain Sensor," is a new fiber optic sensor that can be used to detect deterioration in our nation's aging infrastructure.

Developed by researchers Dr. James Sirkis and Harmeet Singh at the university's Department of Mechanical Engineering, the single sensor can measure three geometric types of strains in structures such as skyscrapers, bridges, utility plants and aircraft.

The Office of Technology Liaison was established in 1986 to facilitate the technology transfer needs of the University of Maryland at College Park. This includes identifying, protecting, marketing and licensing technologies developed at the university. OTL also provides technology transfer services to other University of Maryland System campuses upon request.