This novel software package uses a webcam to register every movement, no matter how minimal. Dimitri Kraft: "The facial recognition system perceives the smallest changes in hue, which we can't even see with the naked eye. From this, it calculates the user’s pulse." The camera monitors the frequency of blinking and issues a timely warning to nip dry-eye syndrome in the bud. It records posture and facial expression, from which it draws conclusions about stress levels and appropriate interventions: "If the software notices that you are stressed or your posture is poor, it suggests remedial action, for example a change of sitting position, a stretching exercise or a short break for meditation." For this part of the program, Kraft has collaborated with partners in the fields of physiotherapy and psychology.
CareCam data remain exclusively with the users and is only stored for the purpose of observation over a sustained period of time. Other technical solutions in this area (e.g. smartwatches) collect similar data, but are more complicated to use, have to be carried around by the user and need to be recharged at regular intervals. Furthermore, they may have to be purchased separately. By contrast, Dimitri Kraft’s solution relies on the same terminal that people with office jobs sit in front of while working anyway. By means of Artificial Intelligence, the software gets to know its user and tailors its suggestions for exercise breaks or other measures to the individual. In another twelve months or so, after various pilot tests and refinements, the program should be ready for use by larger groups of people. Employers will then be able to offer it as an optional extra to individual company health management schemes. Fraunhofer has also recognized the potential of the project and is supporting the work of the development team through the AHEAD program.
COMPAMED-tradefair.com; Source: Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research (IGD)
