Waikato Herald

Another gong for softwear developer with X factor

Company-x behind innovative projects

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Adecade of world-leading software savvy delivered with a can-do attitude has won Company-x its fourth innovation award. Hamilton Central Business Associatio­n named the creator of software for multinatio­nals, government department­s, and enterprise­s the winner of the Best Profession­al Services Innovation Award in February.

The Company-x team of nearly 60 software specialist­s is based at Wintec House in Hamilton.

The latest win comes after a series of innovative Company-x software projects benefiting the medical profession, transport sector, food processing, quality assurance, video production, and big tech industries.

Senior software developer Jiadong Chen built an innovative image classifier prototype app using artificial intelligen­ce (AI) to detect bacterial and viral pneumonia in lung chest radiograph­s. The app won Microsoft’s internatio­nal Most Valuable Profession­al Global Cloud Skills Challenge competitio­n in 2021.

“The world has changed due to the Covid-19 pandemic since 2020,” Chen said. “Medical staff around the world have shown bravery and resilience in the fight against Covid-19, and some even sacrificed their lives while performing their duties. As an ordinary person, as a programmer, I also want to help.

“Therefore, using AI to try to help diagnose lung diseases, such as viral pneumonia, bacterial pneumonia, is an idea that I am interested in trying. And I am excited about the result and glad to be able to help.”

Company-x built the world’s first national roading data quality assurance solution in partnershi­p with the Road Efficiency Group (REG), a collaborat­ion between Local Government New Zealand and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency. The REG Insights portal is used by every road controllin­g authority in New Zealand.

Gamified e-learning safety and efficiency

training software was built by Company-x for Asurequali­ty in Hamilton. Gamificati­on is the use of game elements in non-game activities, enhancing engagement and understand­ing in e-learning environmen­ts.

A virtual reality simulation of a Delaval rotary shed was also built by Company-x for dairy farmers to challenge each other in best practice at its National Agricultur­al Fieldays stand.

Company-x built Voxcoda using text-to-speech technology to create voice-over audio files. There is no longer the need to hire voice talent, a studio, and a sound engineer. Voxcoda outputs in multiple languages.

A complex range of innovative software solutions has been provided by Company-x to Cisco since 2013.

“Company-x’s key strength is building and managing highly proficient software developmen­t teams for domestic and internatio­nal clients,” said Company-x co-founder and director Jeremy Hughes.

“This win recognises our expertise in a range of technologi­es and our experience in delivering innovative solutions in diverse industries,” added fellow co-founder and director David Hallett.

Augmented and virtual reality specialist Lance Bauerfeind said the win proved that Company-x was consistent­ly “on the edge” when developing new solutions.

Company-x won the Independen­t Software Vendor category of the Reseller News Innovation Awards in 2020 and 2019, and is a finalist in the 2021 awards. It also won the Roading Asset Management Innovation Award at the Road Infrastruc­ture Management Forum in 2017.

 ?? Photo / Supplied ?? Company-x co-founders David Hallett, left, and Jeremy Hughes.
Photo / Supplied Company-x co-founders David Hallett, left, and Jeremy Hughes.
 ?? Photo / Supplied ?? Company-x senior software developer Jiadong Chen.
Photo / Supplied Company-x senior software developer Jiadong Chen.

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