At the Mystery Creek Agricultural Field Days in Hamilton in 2005, a New Zealand-based company launched a new product to fight mastitis – an infection in the udder of a cow that can result in major discomfort and a serious drop in both the volume and quality of milk. Branded as CellSense™, this electronic device was a world first in the ongoing fight to effectively manage this potentially ruinous disease.

Characteristics of Technology

• interdisciplinary practice

Technological modelling

• prototype development

Technological systems

• 'black box' technology

Brief development

• initial stakeholder consultation Outcome development and evaluation
• experimentation testing and trialling; protection of IP; manufacturing issues

Links

• Sensortec:
www.sensortec.co.nz

• Dairy Automation:
dairyautomation.co.nz/index.
php?page=products-2

Curriculum focus activities

• Focus on terminology – context; issue; need or opportunity; stakeholders; technological outcome; fitness for purpose

Intellectual property issues:

• IP questions put to CellSense's CEO