Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), Taiwan’s largest and one of the world’s leading high-tech applied research institutions introduced health technologies. ITRI’s health technologies include the PoseFit muscular functional screening mirror, which measures muscular strength, flexibility, and imbalances and provides a personalised and actionable exercise plan; and a wearable device attached to a pet’s collar without skin contact that tracks a pet’s health data including heart rate, respiration, and activity, and alerts the pet guardian of abnormalities.
ITRI’s muscular functional screening mirror measures muscular strength, flexibility, and imbalances, and provides a personalised and actionable exercise plan. PoseFit captures a user’s specific movement and posture through a lens and uses a skeletal recognition system to determine muscular function. By analysing the strength of specific muscle groups, posture, flexibility, endurance and sense of balance, it can indicate which muscle groups are too tight or are not strong enough.
Lastly, the technology provides customised exercise suggestions to strengthen muscles or point to places that should be massaged or relaxed. It requires no wearable devices to operate. The examinee is required to complete five sets of exercises, each of which is demonstrated with an instructional video.
The muscular functional screening mirror is suitable for two types of users: those trying to improve fitness and frail older adults. For those wanting to enhance body shape, performance and muscles, PoseFit provides a clear assessment of postures potentially harmful to health. Users can then avoid movements or physical patterns that may lead to sports injuries or future structural issues. Trainers also can provide professional advice to improve training programs based on test results.
Another health technology is a wearable device that tracks a pet’s health data including heart rate, respiration, and activity, and alerts the pet guardian of abnormalities. The low-power physiological detection radar technology is completely harmless and does not require skin contact with the pet. The device is attached to a pet’s collar in any position enabling it to be near the pet’s neck or chest, where it can detect vital signs and physical activity level at any time. The sensing technology also can be integrated into various pet mattresses.
The collected physiological data is sent by Bluetooth to the pet guardian’s mobile device, where they can instantly view the data in an app and learn whether the pet is asleep or awake. In the case of irregular heartbeat or breathing the pet guardian will immediately receive a warning notification. The long-term history is also logged in a database for easy viewing.
Early detection of a pet’s underlying health condition can lower the risks of its sudden passing caused by a heart attack, heat stroke or adverse vaccine reactions. Besides its application at home, the device can assist staff in animal shelters and hospitals to provide improved animal care services. The basic US$80 product package includes a sensor device, a collar selected from various options, and a user-friendly cross-platform.
As reported by OpenGov Asia, ITRI also introduced innovations in AI, robotics and ICT. ITRI’s featured technologies include the RGB-D AI Robot, the first collaborative robot that integrates smart 3D vision as a built-in standard; the Autonomous Selfie Drone, which flies itself to take the best picture based on advanced photography techniques; and the Interactive Time Machine, which automatically creates a unique real-time full-body 3D interactive avatar and experience combining a user’s motion, 3D model, surroundings, and display.
The RGB-D AI Robot is the world’s first collaborative robot featuring 3D vision as a built-in standard. The smart 3D vision sensing technology functions as a pair of sharp eyes on a robotic arm. It reduces the size of the sensor by 168 times compared with other robots, while increasing the sensing speed by 38.6 times.
