Nineteen years ago novel was approached by Professor Leslie Klenerman to provide support for development of an emed user group meeting hosted by the University of Liverpool. The inaugural meeting began the following year in Liverpool.

At that time, we did not realize that the emed meeting would take us half way around the world and the tradition would be carried on into the next millennium with the 2000 millennium meeting in Munich, and the year 2002 meeting hosted by Prof. Benno Nigg in Calgary.

The Liverpool meeting provided an important exchange of experience and results in pressure distribution measurements. This was the first step in establishing co-operation between the emed users and anyone interested in pressure distribution technology. The format of the meeting through scientific and clinical presentations and workshops was used to define pressure distribution measuring as more than a "pretty picture". After the initial meeting, the emed user group meeting became recognized as the emed scientific meeting (ESM) welcoming users of all pressure distribution measuring technology and was scheduled biennially. Since then the meeting has enjoyed the wonderful hospitality of the following locations; Vienna, Flagstaff, Ulm, Penn State, Brisbane, Munich, Kananaskis, Leeds, Spitzingsee, and Dundee.

In 1991, the first novel award was presented in recognition of excellence in pressure distribution research. The novel award recipient was determined by an international review committee from the fields of biomechanics and medicine. The novel award for pressure distribution measurement research continued since then to be endowed by novel. The emed scientific meetings have provided us with an opportunity to learn more about pressure distribution products, applications, and research; meet new and old friends and experience our hospitable host sites.

Next year we´ll be gathering again in Providence, Rhode Island to relive the great traditions of ESM. We warmly invite those of you who´ve been with us for the previous years at ESM to share the wonderful histories of the meeting as well as those who haven´t yet had the chance to participate.

We hope to see you all very soon in Providence!

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