Tag: Thailand

Chula Engineering lecturer’s innovation “The Balance Assessment Device”—gold medal winner at ITEX 2023, Malaysia, and recipient of World Invention Intellectual Property Associations’ (WIIPA) Special Award (Gold Medal)—checks body balance and balance loss for behavior changes and fall prevention to promote fall risk awareness and knowledge.

Standing in public buses, Chatchanee Pakavatsoontorn, an adjunct lecturer in the International School of Engineering (ISE), Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, has found herself losing her balance occasionally.

“Is this balance loss normal? How can I solve this to have a better balance?”  Chatchanee’s search for the answer to this question has led to her innovation, “The Balance Assessment Device,” which enables everyone to assess their balance simply by stepping onto the device. With support from the Chula Spin-off Club, this innovation has won the gold medal at the 34th International Invention, Innovation & Technology Exhibition (ITEX 2023) in addition to the World Invention Intellectual Property Associations’ (WIIPA) Special Award (Gold Medal) at the same event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“This innovation originated from the fact that I found myself frequently losing balance on public buses. Researching to find a solution, I found that a personal balance assessment device didn’t exist. This has led to this innovation which would help us train our body or adjust our behavior.”

Chatchanee aims this for such medical purposes as screening, preliminary health assessment, balance analysis for physical therapy, and exercise planning. Besides, this device can be used for personality training for certain professions.

Poor balance and ataxia: Invisible illness

Ataxia is a balance symptom found in every physical movement. An unbalanced walking causes instability and can lead to a deadly fall.

Poor balance is due to many causes, including heredity, disease, injury, lifestyle, and physical condition, especially for muscles, joints, the sensory nervous system, signal transmission, and the brain system.

“Our ears affect our balance, and irregularity in one ear can make us lose our balance while moving. Our lifestyles, especially for those in the professions that require muscular strength, also affect our balance,” Chatchanee cites a few possible causes for poor balance.

“With the naked eye, poor balance can be roughly detected. Usually, we’re only aware of our poor balance when we stagger and fall. A device that analyzes our balance can then alert us so that we can adjust our behavior and prevent any fall.”

Multiple balance analyses by a single device

A Deep Tech innovation, the Balance Assessment Device is compact, lightweight, and portable, with only two main components, namely a standing platform and a USB cord connecting it to a computer, tablet, or mobile phone for display of analysis results.

“Apart from basic data such as weight and Body Mass Index (BMI), this device can also measure our balance area and distance. With such data, we can figure out if the way we lose our balance while, for example, standing on public transport like a bus, train, boat, standing, or walking in daily life is considered normal in comparison with others of the same sex and age group. Then, we can analyze whether we need to adjust our behavior accordingly,” explains Chatchanee.

This device is user-friendly. One can simply connect the USB cord to a tablet, a mobile phone, or a computer and then step onto the platform like step procedures that of a weight scale. The balance analysis result will then be displayed in real-time with Microsoft Excel.

Anyone can assess their balance

The Balance Assessment Device is not only for elderly people but also anyone older than four (or 10 kilograms and more), including athletes, exercise people, and those who want to develop their personality. All can benefit from this innovation differently according to their age groups and needs.

Athletes and Active People 

The Balance Assessment Device can be used to analyze an individual’s balance in sports clubs or fitness centers for health enthusiasts, those who dance or do aerobics to strengthen their legs, people who work with machinery like factory workers, people who work in high places like construction workers, as well as to assess child development. Experts can then suggest training routine and behavior change accordingly.

It’s similar to step procedures on weight scales already found in fitness centers, but it can check your balance without the need to attach sensors in the body or wear a special suit.”

Personality enhancement for certain professions such as flight attendants, masters of ceremonies (MCs), newscasters, and actors.

Balance assessment for medical purposes

Having put the Balance Assessment Device into practice, Chatchanee notes, “We’ve tested in three hospitals, and the doctors have positive responses, especially for physicians and pediatricians who would like to have it for patient screening as it can assess balance, and balance area, in real-time using any device with Microsoft Excel capability without the need to install any additional software. It can help lighten the medical personnel’s load and be easily accessed by patients who live farther away from the hospitals.”

Besides, this innovation is for autistic and Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) people as well as concussion patients, as the results from their balance analyses can be applied in the planning rehabilitation process.

“Autistic and ADHD people have balance problems, and so we need to help them regain their balance and redevelop their attention.”

Apart from The Balance Assessment Device, Chatchanee has developed other devices for balance, such as her walking stick innovation “Smart Devices for People: Self Balancing Stick” and “Semisitting Vehicle”.

“Most elderly people don’t like using the walking stick: they believe it would weaken them. The walking stick considerably helps those with balance problems, and that’s why we’ve developed the Smart Flow walking stick innovation and Semisitting Vehicle innovation for them.” Moreover, we have developed semi-sitting vehicles to serve the aging society as an alternative mode of transportation and logistics in narrow spaces.

Good balance, good health

As for the future, Chatchanee plans to further develop the device so that it can also analyze data for the visual system, central nervous system (CNS), sensory nervous system, auditory system, and other systems that either connect to or affect balance.

“This innovation is a simple tool that can assist the doctor in assessing fall risks among elderly people, encouraging behavioral changes, promoting fall prevention, and raising fall risk awareness and knowledge. Anyone can use it to check their balance and status. It can help lighten the medical personnel’s load and create public well-being.”

If you’re interested in the Balance Assessment Device, please get in touch with us at [email protected], Facebook Page: Design Up, LINE Official Account: Design Up (https://lin.ee/UsxvGgv).

In recent years, the labor market in Thailand has experienced a major “demographic disruption” that has affected the employment dynamics among the senior population (we will focus on individuals aged 55 and above in this article as this reflects the typical “early retirement age” in the country). Data from the National Statistical Office (NSO) spanning from 2011 to 2021 reveals a significant increase in the senior population, a rise from 12 million to 18 million people.1 This shift is not only significant in numerical terms but also has far-reaching implications for various aspects of the country’s social and economic structure.

1. However, it is important to note that the data from the National Statistical Office (NSO) that we used does not cover informal workers and sectors and this omission highlights the complexity of the situation, as many seniors might engage in informal work that is not reflected in these statistics. Moreover, it’s worth noting that the NSO data is collected during the fourth quarter of each year, mirroring the data collection practice of the Department of Employment. As such, the analysis may not comprehensively capture seasonal fluctuations or shifts that transpire over the course of the year, which could conceivably impact the employment statistics concerning senior citizens.

Despite these limitations, the employment rate within the senior age group has not shown a corresponding upward trend. According to the data from the National Statistical Office, from 2011 to 2021, the number of senior employment (individuals aged 55 and above that have a job) had increased by only 600,000 while the number of senior populations in this age range had increased by 6 million people. In other words, only 10 percent of the senior population had participated in the labor market. This disparity between the growth of the senior population and the employment of senior individuals indicates a substantial “untapped” potential within this demographic group that demands attention from policymakers, businesses, and society as a whole.

Furthermore, our analysis also reveals that the impact of demographic disruption on the labor market was unevenly distributed across various occupations. Some occupations such as sales workers and agricultural workers experienced a significant drop in the employment of senior individuals (decrease by 20 percent and 30 percent respectively). Potentially these are occupations in which senior individuals have lost their attractiveness (or being perceived to have lost their attractiveness) as productive workers when competing against younger individuals.

Still, some occupations saw a significant increase in senior workers. For example, senior refuse workers (i.e., people who collect garbage for work) increased by 230 percent while senior cleaners and helpers increased by 120 percent. Why did we see an increase in senior employment in these occupations? A potential hypothesis is that these are occupations that younger individuals are not interested and thus lead to reduced competition for senior individuals.

Another interesting insight is that our research highlights a significant difference in employment growth between senior individuals working in routine jobs and those in non-routine jobs. Senior individuals engaged in routine jobs, such as machine operators and laborers, experienced slower employment growth than those in non-routine jobs, like healthcare professionals and legal experts. Potentially, routine jobs often require physical abilities that deteriorate with age. Additionally, these jobs are more susceptible to replacement by automation technologies. This illustrates another potential channel through which technological disruption can impact senior employment.

Over the past three years (2018-2021), there were approximately 1 million individuals who became senior citizens per year. If we use the above information that we can absorb only 10 percent of senior citizens into the labor market, this implies that we are losing an “untapped” potential of at least 900,000 individuals per year. Five years from now, we will lose around 4.5 million individuals cumulatively. Ten years from now, we could lose up to 9 million individuals cumulatively. And the longer these senior individuals have left the labor market, the harder it is to bring them back into the labor market.

So, what should we do? We think it is critical to rethink how we value the so-called “silver workforce”. Commonly, many people and organizations do not recognize the great potential from this group of people. This suggests the enormous opportunity to leverage the potential of this expanding group. Policymakers and businesses should respond proactively by implementing strategies such as offering incentives for hiring older workers, investing in customized skill development programs, and recognizing the substantial economic contributions these individuals can bring. These actions can be crucial for unlocking the benefits of this demographic shift and boosting the performance of Thai economy.

With the substantial increase in the senior population and the relatively modest growth in the number of seniors employed, it becomes evident that a reservoir of untapped potential exists. This potential, if strategically harnessed, holds the promise of bolstering the nation’s economic growth, amplifying productivity, and ensuring the continued engagement of older individuals in meaningful and fulfilling roles. Moreover, by nurturing the well-being of senior workers and providing opportunities for skill enhancement, they can excel in specific vocations such as teaching, legal practice, and managerial roles that people become more productive by age. Furthermore, with the assistance of technology, senior workers can be augmented through innovative tools like virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) or even physical augmentation, enabling them to perform tasks with enhanced efficiency and adaptability.

To unlock this untapped potential, a multi-faceted approach is essential. This approach should encompass tailored skill development programs that align with emerging technologies and allow for flexible work arrangements that cater to the unique needs and preferences of senior workers. Furthermore, fostering an age-inclusive work environment and championing age-diverse teams can further optimize the utilization of this underutilized labor force. In addition to their contributions to the workforce, senior workers can play a pivotal role in addressing various social issues, including environmental concerns or volunteering to help in various areas. Their wealth of experience and expertise can be valuable in tackling complex challenges and finding sustainable solutions for the betterment of society as a whole.

In summary, by embracing this untapped potential, Thailand can better position itself to navigate the evolving dynamics of its labor market, creating a win-win scenario that benefits individuals, businesses, and society at large.

This article is written by

1. Assoc.Prof. Piyachart Phiromswad, Ph.D., Deputy Director, Sasin School of Management

2. Asst.Prof. Pattarake Sarajoti, Ph.D., Assistant Director, Sasin School of Management

3. Prof. Kua Wongboonsin, Ph.D., Demographer and Advisor to the National Innovation Board of Thailand

4. Mr. Pitichai Rajatawipat, Research Assistant

Daraphirom Palace Museum, Chulalongkorn University, has been awarded the Silver Award in the Historical and Culture Attraction category by the Tourism Authority of Thailand in Thailand Tourism Awards 2023. The award ceremony was held on Wednesday September 27, 2023.

Dara Phirom Palace was the residence of Her Highness Princess Dara Rasmi, the royal consort of His Majesty King Chulalongkorn. The Palace is a two-story building. The ground floor is an open space, with reinforced concrete structures to support the upper floor and the wooden roof. The style was that of a Western house, which was popular at the time. There is an area called “Suan Chao Sabai” in front where Her Highness Princess Dara Rasmi’s Monument is situated. Every year, Chulalongkorn University, along with other organizations, holds a ceremony on “Her Highness Princess Dara Rasmi Day” to commemorate her countless contributions to the land of Lanna.

Later in 1999, Chulalongkorn University renovated Daraphirom Palace and opened it as a museum, exhibiting history, items related to Princess Dara Rasmi, and Lanna arts and culture with the aim to preserve the original architecture and culture. Daraphirom Palace Museum received the award for Outstanding Conservation Building from the Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage in 2000.

Daraphirom Palace, located in Mae Rim, Chiang Mai, opens on Wednesday to Sunday, from 9.00-17.00 hrs (including holidays). The Museum closes on Monday and Tuesday. For more information, call 0-5329-9175.

For the full release and more images, please visit: https://www.chula.ac.th/en/news/137946/

Students of the Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University have been awarded an MGA Award in recognition of their innovative design for their fire-resistant Smart Suit which uses IoT technology for connections and online activations to store data therefore reducing the risks and increasing the safety for firefighters at work in real time.

Over the past few years, many countries in the world, Thailand included, have been faced with the perils of forest fires that have significantly intensified and occurred more frequently than ever. These fires have caused widespread damage to the environment as well as an adverse impact on the lives and the health of human beings and animals.

The swift control of forest fires is therefore most essential – though this is a danger that involves the most risk. Although aerial firefighting is widely used to combat wildfires, we still need to rely on professionals and volunteers who need to risk their lives both from the intense heat and toxic fumes and substances like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and PM 2.5 dust particles.

These are the problems that led a group of fourth-year students of the Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, or team TAF to jointly develop the Smart Suit innovation as part of an international competition known as the “Rapid Prototype Development (RPD) Challenge – a multi GNSS Asia programme.” The event saw a gathering of as many as 40 teams of students from universities all over Asia and it was there that the Smart Suit innovation of CU Engineering students garnered the MGA Award.

The Smart Suit that Saves Forest Fires Firefighters’ Lives

Nithi Achalanan, one of the TAF team members told us that “the Smart Suit was developed based on the efforts rendered to put out forest fires in the north of Thailand as well as similar crises in many countries around the world which in many cases led to the tragic loss of emergency respondents. It is hoped that this innovation will be able to reduce the risks and loss involved and play an important part in the efforts to combat forest fires in the future.”

The TAF team comprises 5 young and dynamic students of Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Engineering. Aside from Nithi, there are also Narudom Mee-Im (Electrical Engineering), Nichanant Chunsaereechai (Environmental Engineering), Natapong Intarasuk, and Anuthida Ritthiphan (Survey Engineering), all of whom will be attending this year’s graduation ceremony in October.

Smart Suit Hi-Technology Innovation

Putting out a forest fire involves very high risks and dangers that have cost lives or led to injuries of emergency respondents caused by a lack of adequate communication among firefighting teams, disturbances in working signals, inefficient protection gear, and faulty management systems.

“The team was able to gain actual situational understanding in Chiang Dao District, Chiang Mai Province. Through interviews with firefighting volunteers, we determined some serious obstacles in terms of management and safety, and eventually, the Smart Suit was designed in response to those problems.” Nithi explained.

The design of the Smart Suit innovation is an adaptation of the IoT (Internet of Things) technology, a network of connected devices, and a technology that facilitates communication among the devices and between the devices to the Cloud system by using computer chips and high bandwidth telecommunications. The team chose the Sony Spresense board (a computer board used for IoT) and many sensors for online connectivity, and retrofit them to the original firefighter’s suits.

Nithi explained the efficiency of the Smart Suit, “We made use of equipment that relied on modern technology that is easy to install and very affordable. Most importantly, the Smart Suit is equipped with a system of data as well as an interactive map that shows the information in near real-time. This provides us with spatial data which can measure the various parameters such as PM 2.5, carbon monoxide, Carbon dioxide, humidity, and temperature that can be used for accurate spatial management.”

Real-Time Warning: A Distinct Feature of the Smart Suit

Real-time warning helps ensure the safety of the firefighters while performing the task of putting out the fires.

“What earned us the most points from the judges was probably the heat measurement capabilities,” Narudom, an Electrical Engineering student told us on behalf of his team. “The Smart Suit can provide immediate warning in cases where the temperatures rise above normal levels. In cases where the temperatures rise to the level that could be hazardous, the sensors will give a warning immediately to prevent people from encountering heatstroke. The same thing also goes for carbon monoxide detection since it is a toxic gas resulting from combustion and inhaling or exposing the body to those fumes at levels that are over the limit can result in immediate death. The warnings enable the wearer of those suits to avoid the fumes before they encounter loss or fatality.”

With the features attached to the Smart Suit, one can detect the location of the firefighters, making it possible for the control center to communicate with them in real-time and help combat problems that might occur immediately, for example, winds changing direction, so that evacuation can take place or orders can be given to avoid certain directions more efficiently.

Narudom provided us with more information on the Smart Suit’s warning system saying that “the control center can monitor the situation and the data collected by far range sensors and sent via LoRa (a cordless connection for IoT) which also includes the position of the firefighter and the hotspot (the point where satellites detect unusually high levels of heat than the normal levels on the earth’s surface), satellite pictures used to measure the earth and its climate often used to follow forest fires like MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) or VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite). This makes it possible to send out warnings to the firefighters and in cases where the situation is exacerbated then EWS messages (Early warning system messages) can also be sent out.”

Collaborations for real-world rollout of more innovations

We take pride in the fact that the Smart Suit innovation recently won an international award. Yet, this is only the start. As members of the TAF team, the students will be branching off to their areas of interest and expertise. They fervently hope that the prototype they have created can lead to innovations that can be put to use in actual situations of forest fires that now plague us to help ensure the safety and preserve the lives of our emergency respondents.

Narudom ended with this thought, “The Smart Suit we have developed is still at the stage of a prototype. As students, we could only use the type of technology and equipment that was inexpensive. In the future, if this innovation can be developed for actual use, we might need to update the equipment and technology by increasing the functions that make it even more efficient.”

The TAF team welcomes companies and agencies that wish to further develop the “Smart Suit” to produce them for actual use to engage in discussions and academic exchange or collaboration to develop the innovation since it is essential to develop innovations to deal with the problem of forest fires at both the national and international levels.

Those interested may contact the team members directly or via the Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University at telephone numbers +662 2186309-10.