I²R develops fall detection technology

The Institute of Infocomm Research (www.i2r.a-star.edu.sg/index.html) has developed a technology to help detect falls among the elderly. The system operates through a network of overhead video cameras which are strategically installed to continuously monitor areas such as hospital wards.

The fall detection system makes use of cutting-edge computer vision algorithms to monitor the activities of the elderly, eliminating the need for physical monitoring. It captures a number of reliable and tested attributes to model the typical traits of a fall. The system then detects when a fall occurs and immediately alerts the relevant parties.

Statistics have shown that about one-third of the elderly in Singapore, aged 60 years and above, have had recurring falls, and that fall-related injuries have serious repercussions. The elderly could suffer from severe physical injuries such as fractures, as well as psychological trauma due to the loss of self-esteem and fear of falling. Besides physical and mental damage, falls are also costly. Statistics from the United States have shown that the healthcare cost of falls and rehabilitation can come up to US$70 billion dollars a year.

The proposed architecture for the fall detection system.

The I²R team behind the fall detection technology comprises Principal Investigator Dr Huang Weimin, Dr Yu Xinguo, Dr Eng How Lung, Dr Panachit Kittipanya-Ngam, Mr Kok Tian Shiang and Dr Chiew Tuan Kiang. Their research has led to several patent-pending technologies. They are:

• The conversion of of 2D positions to 3D positions
  Recorded video footage will only give 2D information of a monitored patient who is in a 3D space. This technology will map 2D coordinates into 3D space, paving the way for more reliable detection of falls.
• Detection of 2D location and orientation information of the head and body Based on the 2D information and the 2D-3D conversion technology, the team developed the capability to detect and analyse sub-actions that could lead to a fall.
• Efficient camera calibration for fall detection
  The team has developed a tool that will allow fast and easy
  camera calibration.

The fall detection technology was showcased at the Silver Industry Conference and Exhibition (SiCEX) 2008 earlier this year. According to Dr Huang, the team is carrying out further improvements to the technology, in collaboration with companies and a nursing home. There are also on-going discussions with other healthcare organiations such as local hospitals and nursing homes to bring the technology to market, said Dr Huang. For more information on the fall detection technology, email inddev@i2r.a-star.edu.sg.

Singapore infocomm company InfoTrack Soutions (www.infotracksolutions.com), which specialises in location-based solutions, has merged with Abu Dhabi's CERT Telematics (www.certonline.com) to form CERT InfoTrack Telematics. With the ink barely dry on that deal, the new company has already secured a US$43-million contract with Abu Dhabi's Government's Centre of Regulation of Transport.

CERT InfoTrack Telematics will provide taxi and automotive fleet management and dispatch systems for clients throughout the Asia Pacific, India and the Middle East.

InfoTrack brings to the new company its expertise in "location intelligence solutions". The homegrown company has been active in Singapore, where it has developed a hand-held real-time application for the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and deployed its InfoTrack system for clients such as SMART Cab Automobiles, Tiong Woon Crane & Transports, Asiatracks and Comfort Delgro's CitySpeed Car Sharing.

CERT's key strengths lie in research and development into leading edge telematics hardware, firmware and software systems in collaboration with IBM. Telematics refers to the integration of computing, wireless communications and Global Positioning System for sending, receiving and storing information over vast networks. Used in automobile systems, it enables drivers to browse the Internet, send and receive e-mails, receive live traffic updates, listen to satellite radio, and perform various other activities.

The merger increases the service-range capacity of the two companies. According to Mr CK Ramakant, Chief Executive Officer of InfoTrack Solutions, the merger with CERT will enable the new company to gain a strong foothold in the global market. "We are pleased to share this merger not only as a key milestone of our company, but also to encourage other local companies to follow suit for enterprise and business opportunities in the Middle East and far beyond," he said.

CERT InfoTrack Telematics will provide taxi and automotive fleet management and dispatch systems for clients throughout the Asia Pacific, India and the Middle East.

Under the US$43 million TransAD contract secured by the new company,
taxis in Abu Dhabi will be equipped with a state-of-the-art tracking and dispatch device provided by CERT InfoTrack. The move is aimed at improving the transportation system in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to meet international standards.

The tracking and dispatch device will incorporate many useful features such as detailed maps of the UAE, and an electronic meter and a database recording system. There are also plans to introduce credit card payment facilities. The dispatch services will be offered to the public through a centralised 24-hour call centre, which will support up to 7,000 taxis in the near future. The system is currently undergoing a pilot-test in Abu Dhabi and will be launched in a few months' time.

Life sciences IT company KOOPrime (www.kooprime.com) has teamed up with Eu Yan Sang International (www.euyansang.com) to develop the world's first integrated online portal aimed at boosting the safety and traceability of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) herbs. Eu Yan Sang is a healthcare company with a focus on TCM.

The project, iGATES, is a public-private sector collaboration partially funded under The Enterprise Challenge (TEC), an initiative of the Prime Minister's Office that supports innovative projects that have the potential to create new value or significantly improve the delivery of public service.

The online web-based software system will help address some of the concerns over the safety of TCM herbs.

Speaking at the signing ceremony of the TEC grant, Ms Grace Fu, Senior Minister of State for National Development and Education, noted that amidst the growing popularity of TCM and increasing demand for TCM herbs, there have also been disturbing reports about TCM herbs contaminated or adulterated with heavy metals, unapproved chemicals or drugs. "To maintain consumer confidence, it is critical for the industry to address these concerns on the safety of TCM herbs,"
she said.

iGATES aims to do just that. The online web-based software system will keep track of TCM herbs "from seed to shelf" by streamlining, automating and integrating various quality and safety assurance processes throughout the TCM supply chain. This encompasses Good Agronomic Practices, Good Laboratory Practices, Good Manufacturing Processes, Good Distribution Practices and Genomic Profiling.

Mr Lim Teck Sin, Chief Executive Officer of KOOPrime, said the solution will leverage on his company's BioEngine platform to integrate chemical and genomic fingerprinting, in order to achieve more robust identification of the origin of TCM herbs right from source. "The system will allow users to better streamline laboratory processes and create an open platform of communication between suppliers, distributors and industry stakeholders," he said. "It is our goal to provide an integrative framework for legacy systems that cover the different portions of the entire TCM value chain."

By integrating the processes involved, iGATES enables a large variety and volume of herbs to be tracked efficiently and accurately through real time reporting. In the event that any TCM herb or product is found to be unsatisfactory, the exact source of the problem can be traced quickly
and effectively, and its sale stopped before any consumer purchases the
TCM herb.

Mr Richard Eu, Chief Executive Officer of Eu Yan Sang International, said iGATES will be an invaluable tool for regulatory bodies globally. "It will set higher standards and tighter regulatory controls for the TCM industry. As the system is scalable, it will help bring down the cost of regulating the industry and improve response time. And most importantly, the portal is expandable to include other health supplements and food items in the future."

Eu Yan Sang International and KOOPrime have formed a new company,
iGATES BioInnovation, to drive the project, with the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA), the national food safety authority, as the
pilot agency.

According to Ms Fu, the iGATES project can potentially help enhance AVA's existing IT-based food safety regulatory systems. AVA will be working closely with iGATES BioInnovation to explore the integration of iGATES into its existing regulatory systems. "In time to come, iGATES could potentially be used for other food products, in addition to TCM herbs," she said.