Gizmo receives Inaugural B2Bcafe Black Box Innovation Award

Friday September 12, 2003Gizmo Magazine was one of the four winners of the inaugural B2Bcafe Black Box Innovation Awards at Federation Square in Melbourne last night.Dr David Warren, the Australian inventor behind the Black Box Flight Recorder presented the four awards open to innovators across all industry sectors.Warren Lester founder of B2Bcafe and organiser of the Black Box Awards said that naming the awards was no mistake."The Black Box is an Australian innovation icon and serves as a metaphor for would-be inventors."Dr David Warren developed the original Black Box prototype but couldn't convince others that there was a market for it. Both Dr Warren and Australia lost out when more opportunistic parties successfully commercialised the product offshore. "The Black Box also highlights the extent of Australia's unrealised opportunities and that's the reason for the awards to publicly recognise true Australia innovation and avoid losing future commercial openings," Warren Lester said.The four Black Box Awards were presented to companies in four different award categories; Small (less than 5 staff); Medium (6-100 staff), Large (more than 101 staff) and Not-for-profit organisations. Black Box Awards will be held bimonthly generating 20 award recipients each year.Award criteria stipulates that the innovation must be a tangible working product or service operating in the marketplace, Australian, and provide a meaningful contribution to society. Commercial success or maturity of the venture does not determine the awards.Micro (less than 5 staff)Company: GizmoInnovation: Multiple-medium magazine which has a bi-monthly A6 print issue, a weekly email newsletter, PDF downloadable back issues and a website covering invention, innovation and emerging technologies.Medium (6-100 staff)Company: Victorian Institute of SportInnovation: Highly realistic virtual reality game environments created by specific software that can be manipulated by the coach to give his/her athletes added perceptive skills training. Large (more 101 staff)Company: Schiavello (Commercial Office Furniture)Innovation: Specifically designed desk to allow and enhance "hot-desking" environments with all required features for comfort, lighting, cabling and multiple uses. Not for ProfitCompany: ISX Indigenous Stock ExchangeInnovation: Trading floor for small business in a joint venture with the Brotherhood of St Lawrence. A forum created to promote and facilitate businesses within the community supported by the community.