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PR Newswire

NEC Thailand conducts POC for elderly care in preparation for an aging society

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BANGKOK, Nov. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — NEC Corporation (Thailand) Ltd. (NEC Thailand) has conducted a POC for elderly care in preparation for an aging society. The POC features a range of technological solutions designed to improve elderly care across Asia. The announcement follows a successful month-long trial in June at an elderly care facility in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand.

During the POC, NEC Thailand’s “Mimamori” system directly supported healthcare professionals in quickly creating an efficient, high-quality framework for care, rehabilitation, and contactless prevention of high-risk incidents with the deployment of intuitive solutions.

NEC Thailand’s findings proved that the digitalisation of operations significantly increased the effectiveness and efficiency of staff duties and improved the quality of care for the elderly. For example, workloads for the Care Manager and direct caregivers reduced by 36% and 48%, respectively. This immediately increased staff satisfaction, enhanced the team’s ability to prepare care plans, and made the handover process seamless. The digitalisation also improved the care home’s sustainability goals by reducing paper waste by 70%.

Mr. Ichiro Kurihara, President, NEC Thailand, said, “New technologies and medical treatments are enabling people to live longer than every before.  With an ageing population however, limited access to quality, long-term care is a reality, and staffing constraints is a constant challenge for care homes. NEC is proud of this Mimamori project, the seamless provision of smart solutions that it enabled, and its optimisation of staff based on residents’ needs, while maintaining the much-needed human interaction.”

Digital transformation of caregiver services

Mimamori is a combination of several applications and technologies. Under this POC, caregivers and care managers were given an online care plan manager that digitised existing paper-based records. Residents’ medical data could then be accessed and updated in real-time, while shift changes amongst caregivers was streamlined.

Meanwhile, family members also enjoyed transparency through the Mimamori app, where they could track the health of their loved ones, be alerted to any changes in their condition and have full access to their care plans.

Critical functions rolled out under the Mimamori project included a medical alert system with fall detection sensors installed in bedrooms and bathrooms. “We discovered that fall detection is a big issue in care facilities,” said Mr. Kurihara. The use of NEC sensors is cutting the staff’s time in responding to falls by half and activating immediate medical help when a resident has a fall.    

The technology utilizes 4D imaging radar technology, a seamless and intuitive solution, which prompts quick action from staff and reduces stress amongst residents. “We are aware of challenges faced with wearable technology amongst seniors. By installing sensors, we are providing a contactless, dignified alternative and in times of emergencies, medical support and response have become immediate.”

Even greater value will come when Mimamori expands beyond elderly care facilities to incorporate a full spectrum of solutions and support for health teleconsultants, emergency services, and municipal agencies. The objective is not just to enrich elderly patient care, but to improve the overall quality of services for healthcare professionals and family members.

“Eventually, I envisage Mimamori evolving with a wider range of tools and innovations to include elderly clients living at home, as a personalised virtual caregiving service for independent, high-quality support and deployment of rapid and effective responses,” said Mr. Kurihara.    

About NEC Corporation (Thailand) Ltd.

NEC started official activity in Thailand in 1962 by establishing a liaison office, and established NEC Thailand and NEC Communications Thailand (NCOT) in 1987 and 1988 respectively.

NEC Corporation (Thailand) Ltd. was formed in 2003 by merging these three entities to provide professional consultancy in IT technologies and professional service in Thailand. We have expertise and experience in a wide range of industries, superior professional service and support and solutions in the areas of customer experience, unified communication, cybersecurity, network infrastructure design, digital transformation solution and platform, manufacturing, enterprises platforms, retails solution, and designed solutions for sustainable society. In addition, NEC Corporation (Thailand) aims to connect all people equally and create long-term sustainability in our society.

For more information: https://th.nec.com 

PR Newswire

DFRobot’s HuskyLens, an AI Vision Sensor, included in the “forget-me-not” for Alzheimer’s patients

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SHANGHAI, March 4, 2021 — Alzheimer’s disease is a common syndrome among older people worldwide. In China, there are about 10 million Alzheimer’s patients by now, ranking first in the world. By 2050, the number of Alzheimer’s patients in China is estimated to reach 45 million.

Lu Yuan, a Chinese teenager, invented an AI Wearable called the "forget-me-not" for his grandmother, who is in the early stage of Alzheimer’s disease. The AI Wearable can help patients recognize their family members and guide them home through a built-in voice assistant.

AI Wearable “forget-me-not” Version 2.0
AI Wearable “forget-me-not” Version 2.0

According to Lu’s introduction, the AI Wearable uses Arduino Nano and is equipped with a built-in HuskyLens AI Vision Sensor developed by DFRobot, an ultraviolet sensor, MP3 module, and uses Mind+ for programming. The overall appearance is modeled by 123D Design and the shell is made using SLA (Stereolithography) technology and conducted the process of grinding, polishing and painting.    

The built-in HuskyLens in the AI Wearable is an easy-to-use AI vision sensor. It adopts the built-in machine learning technology which can identify human faces. By a simple click, HuskyLens can finish the AI training and start to learn and recognize the new face. Engineered with a built-in UART or I2C interface, HuskyLens can seamlessly dock with Arduino Nano. If the AI Wearable recognizes it is a recorded face, it will control the MP3 module, and tell the Alzheimer’s patients through the earpiece whom they are talking to, along with other bits of information.

The built-in ultraviolet sensor can sense the intensity of ultraviolet rays to tell Alzheimer’s patients whether they are indoors or outdoors. If the AD patients are outdoors for 20 minutes or longer, the AI Wearable will remind them to go back home and play home addresses at the same time.

Of course, being able to make such an invention at such an age is inseparable from his specialized learning since he was a child. According to Lu’s introduction, he got in touch with programming when he was a fourth grader. Lu’s heart-warming invention has become a hit on Chinese social media and hopes this invention helps more Alzheimer’s patients in the future.

About DFRobot

DFRobot is a world-leading robotics and open source hardware provider with a large community catering to future creators. The company was founded in 2008 and is currently headquartered in Shanghai, China. Focusing on the promotion of maker/STEAM/AI education and the development of innovative talents of next generation, DFRobot provides high-quality, various intelligent education hardware resources and services in the past few years. So far, DFRobot has entered up to 8,000 schools from over 200 countries and regions globally, with its products and services well-received by more than 20,000 teachers and millions of students worldwide.

PR Newswire

One third of Australians approaching retirement have never received any advice reveals Smart

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LONDON, Dec. 8, 2020 — YouGov research: One third of respondents – and one quarter of those over 55 – said that they did not understand the retirement finance options available to them well

  • Financial advisors (53%), Superannuation funds (50%) or government websites (41%) are the places most people would expect to get advice
  • However, these sources do not appear to live up to expectations. When asked where they had received the most useful advice, 29% of 55+ respondents said financial advisors and only 16% mentioned their superannuation fund
  • Smart Retire guides users through retirement, giving them the confidence to make informed decisions through a simple pot solution

New research commissioned by global retirement technology provider, Smart, carried out by YouGov, has found that an astounding 34% of Australians aged 55+ (38% aged 45-55) have never received any advice on retirement.  The research also found that two thirds (66%) of respondents consider online tools important when planning for their retirement, with 30% feeling that following the covid pandemic, managing retirement finances online was more important than before.

The news comes as Smart, which now manages almost AUS $2.7bn of assets, launches Smart Retire (www.smartretire.com.au), an innovative product that gives people flexibility to plan and manage retirement savings in a personalised way. Flexibility in retirement is increasingly important as one third of savers expect to continue to work part time during retirement and will need the opportunity to flex their income as necessary.

Will Wynne, Group Managing Director, Smart, said:

"Retirement is complex and we know people need help if they are to make the most of their savings. That’s why we’ve invested tens of thousands of hours conducting research, testing and developing our new Smart Retire technology solution which gives people flexibility and control, while guiding them through important decisions to ensure they are using their money in the right way. Importantly our approach, which helps people navigate their retirement options, bridges the advice gap while empowering people to make the most of their retirement savings."

Smart Retire

Smart Retire guides members through the complexities in the run up to retirement, filling the so-called ‘advice gap’ through guidance rather than often expensive advice. Members can use this solution in conjunction with personalised advice from a professional. 

Designed by Smart’s in-house research and UX team, Smart Retire has been built to be as flexible as possible, allowing users to scenario plan and change their retirement strategy as required.

Built with a ‘four pots’ model, based on user research, Smart Retire accommodates life’s unpredictability and ensures users avoid both under-spending and running out of money in their retirement.

Of the four pots, two are income pots:

  • Flexible income pot – monthly income in the early years of retirement
  • Later life pot – leave money invested to buy a guaranteed income from an annuity provider later on in retirement

And two savings pots:

  • Rainy day pot – dip in to this pot for emergencies
  • Inheritance pot – put money aside to leave to a loved one

Interestingly, Smart’s user research shows that the inheritance pot isn’t required by Australian  retirees, with property being the preferred method of transferring wealth – this has been further supported by the findings from the Retirement Income Review.

The output of Smart’s research will initially see the solution configured to three ‘buckets’ for the Australian market (Flexible income, Later years and Buffer), and will also incorporate the Age Pension, providing members with a single view of their retirement and giving them confidence to plan and spend effectively.

Through the development of the roadmap, there will be a greater focus on non-super assets such as housing wealth, to ensure that Australian’s are equipped with the ability to maximise their retirement income.

Mark Vaughan, Managing Director of financial services consulting firm, QMV, said:

"QMV is excited to see innovation and international perspectives enter the market, providing opportunities for helping members to gain cost effective access to self-service retirement planning tools. This is particularly relevant given the recent release of the Retirement Incomes Review report and continued focus on superannuation policy settings."

Smart Retire will initially be available to members of the Smart Pension Master Trust in the UK with it being rolled out globally in 2021.

Recognising that consumers have long enjoyed technology advancements in banking, payments and investments, Smart’s global mission is to transform pensions savings and financial well-being across all generations around the world through technology, and bring the pensions sector into the 21st century.

Notes to editor:

Smart’s research, carried out among 6,000 people across the UK, USA, and Australia, shows millions of people coming up to retirement across the globe are crying out for technology to solve these problems.

About Smart:

Smart is a global savings and investments technology platform provider, co-founded in 2014 by Andrew Evans, Group CEO, and Will Wynne, Group MD. Link Group, Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM), J.P. Morgan, Natixis Investment Managers and Barclays are all strategic investors in Smart.

The Smart platform powers the award-winning master trust, Smart Pension Master Trust. Launched in 2015, the Smart Pension Master Trust has grown from £100 million in AUM to £1.5 billion in two years. It is overseen by independent professional trustees and regulated by The Pensions Regulator. Smart Pension is a signatory of the UN Principles of Responsible Investing (PRI).

Visit https://www.smart.co/  for more information.

Related Links :

https://www.smart.co/