🎯 Research with Purpose: Where Innovation Meets Impact
- Robin Tommy
- Apr 9
- 2 min read
It was a pleasure to share insights at the Research Orientation Program by Hindustan Institute of Technology & Science (HITS), on aligning academic inquiry with real-world transformation. 🌍
The heart of meaningful research lies not only in rigor, but in its ability to 💡 solve, 💹 scale, and 🌱 sustain. During my talk, I thus shared insights on how research should be purpose-driven and grounded in real-world impact based on my own PhD research journey.
⚡ Key Points I highlighted:
🔍 Identifying real world challenges: Discussed how I began by exploring the key issues faced by the Cerebral Palsy community, especially in the areas of:
• 🧠 Cognitive growth
• 🏃 Physical therapy
• 🛠 Occupational training & systems
✨ Moving Beyond Tradition: Highlighted how it was identified that legacy approaches in cognitive & physical therapy, while valuable, often lack adaptability calling for a more disruptive and innovative approach. The question became: How can technology bridge accessibility and efficacy?
🤖 Phygital Innovation through Technology: Shared how I proposed a transformative solution that integrates technology such as AI, gamification, and sensor fusion with conventional therapy, redesigning it to be dynamic, data-driven, and deeply engaging.
🚀 Human-Centric Tech: True innovation isn’t just about disruption—it’s about inclusive design. Phygital tools empower users, therapists, and caregivers alike, ensuring no one is left behind.
🌳 From Thesis to Ecosystem: Shared tangible examples of how these tools are already reshaping therapeutic experiences and delivering measurable outcomes, and how this journey rooted in my PhD thesis evolved from academic insight into community-led innovation.
My key takeaway for researchers and innovators: True impact lies at the intersection of deep problem understanding and disruptive thinking. The focus now is on moving towards driving research insights into building scalable, tech-driven, social enterprises with Kerala emerging as a vibrant testing ground.
Grateful to HITS for the platform and to all the brilliant minds working to make research a force for good. The journey has only just begun— 👉 where can YOUR research take us next?
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