Students create AI platform for elderly care

A team of Malaysian students has developed an innovative AI-integrated platform aimed at enhancing the well-being of the elderly. Team Delta APU, hailing from the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU), recently clinched the second runner-up position at Thailand’s Service Solution Design Competition 2023. Their winning solution has the potential to revolutionize elderly care and improve the lives of senior citizens worldwide.

At the heart of Team Delta APU’s groundbreaking solution is an AI-integrated platform equipped with a specialized camera capable of tracking the daily activities of the elderly without requiring them to wear any additional devices. This unobtrusive innovation offers a non-intrusive way to monitor the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of senior citizens.

The AI-integrated app developed by the team also features a fall detection alert, adding an additional layer of safety and support for elderly individuals, their caregivers, and geriatricians. With its user-friendly interface and unobtrusive design, this platform is set to redefine elderly care by providing real-time insights into the activities and health status of senior citizens.

Potential impact on elderly care

The potential impact of Team Delta APU’s invention on elderly care cannot be overstated. As the global population continues to age rapidly, with the proportion of people over 60 projected to double by 2050 according to the World Health Organization (WHO), innovative solutions like this are desperately needed.

This AI-integrated platform addresses the challenges of aging populations by ensuring that elderly individuals receive timely assistance during emergencies, reducing the risk of accidents and injuries. By promoting proactive health monitoring, it can also contribute to the prevention and early detection of health issues, ultimately improving the quality of life for the elderly.

Service Solution Design Competition

Team Delta APU’s remarkable journey to success took place at Mahidol University International College (MUIC) in Thailand, which hosted the Service Solution Design Competition 2023. This event brought together over 30 talented individuals from diverse backgrounds and countries, all united by a common goal: to identify real-world solutions for preventing or reversing frailty in the elderly.

Participants were immersed in a five-day experience that included visits to medical institutions, real-world case studies, field observations, and design thinking workshops. They were tasked with gaining a deep understanding of the challenges faced by geriatric patients, and their insights formed the basis of their competition projects.

Team Delta APU stood out as the only Malaysian team participating in this prestigious competition. Their dedication, innovative thinking, and interdisciplinary approach propelled them to the second runner-up position, earning them a prize of 10,000 Baht.

Cajun Tai Ka Joon, the team lead, emphasized the eye-opening nature of the competition, highlighting the importance of integrating a business mindset into engineering. In an era where effective product commercialization and marketing are as vital as technical innovation, the achievements of Team Delta APU underscore the potential for young engineers to make a meaningful impact on society.

Ir. Narendran Ramasenderan, Senior Lecturer of APU’s School of Engineering and head of the Center for Research and Development of IoT (CREDIT), lauded the team’s achievement. He emphasized that the competition not only enhanced the students’ engineering skills but also equipped them with a robust understanding of business dynamics, molding them into well-rounded professionals ready to address vital social issues.

As Team Delta APU’s AI-integrated platform continues to gain recognition, it holds the promise of ushering in a new era of elderly care, where technology and compassion work hand in hand to improve the lives of senior citizens across the globe.