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【2020 Solutions】 The First Mask Vending Machine in Taiwan Launched! Yeasan Technology Got You Covered!

Taiwan's "mask prevention" strategy in response to COVID-19 has been effective, resulting in the world’s lowest rate of confirmed cases and lowest mortality rates. Yallvend Tech built the first mask vending machine with an interactive screen in Taiwan. It is equipped with mobile payment, returns transaction data, and manages inventory data. It is an embodiment of Taiwan's "epidemic prevention technology."

Yallvend Tech's core service was originally to provide vending machine manufacturers with networking equipment, platform construction, and other vending machine upgrade services. The Central Epidemic Command Center began implementing name-based mask sales on February 6, 2020 to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In February, Yallvend Tech displayed its mask vending machine technology at Ningxia Night Market in Taipei City. It combines facial recognition and blockchain traceability technology in the first smart mask vending machine, which provided 2,000 non-medical masks for free in just one week, benefiting a total of 1,000 people.

Smart name-based mask vending machine in 6 district health centers in Taipei City, completing transactions online

In order to alleviate the queues at pharmacies, a tripartite meeting between the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taipei City Government, and Yallvend Tech reached the decision to place vending machines in the health centers of 6 districts, namely Xinyi District, Wenshan District, Wanhua District, Zhongshan District, Datong District, and Neihu District, one vending machine each. Citizens only need to insert their national health insurance card to verify their identity, and then use mobile payment, including Easy Card, Line Pay, Google Pay, or JKOPay, to complete the payment.

In addition to using mobile payment, Yallvend Tech has also installed simple POS machines in six other health centers, where citizens can quickly swipe their card, make payment, and collect masks at the mask counter. Each health center distributes 200 masks every day for the public to purchase.

Mask vending machines make it easy and convenient to buy masks for epidemic prevention

▲The mask vending machine makes it simple and convenient to purchase masks, easily preventing the spread of COVID-19

This time, Yallvend Tech cooperated with Taipei City Government and the Central Epidemic Command Center, successfully gained the support of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's open data database, and paired it with the AIoT human-machine interactive display interface from a well-known e-sports display technology company, so that people no longer need to wait in line and instead use their national health insurance card and online payment to buy masks directly at the vending machine. However, this activity will come to an end in July after the epidemic subsides, and the National Health Insurance Administration's open data API may be terminated by then. Interfacing with the largest and most important health insurance system in the country is a dream project for many engineers. Yallvend Tech completed the connection, testing, and launch in just 12 hours, laying the foundation for the subsequent name-based mask system 3.0. This was a major technological breakthrough by Yallvend Tech.

Founded in January 2019, Yallvend Tech has been deeply involved in vending machine upgrade services. The vending machines we generally see all sell drinks. Yallvend Tech provides the technology that has upgraded vending machines to sell tobacco and alcohol overseas and masks in Taiwan.

Yallvend Tech has identified the needs of the Southeast Asian market and actively invested in the development of core technologies, such as physical identity digitization, online payment, and consumer feature identification mechanisms. It not only attracted attention from major manufacturers such as Coca-Cola at the U.S. Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in 2019, but also opened up the international market.

Yallvend Tech Team showcases technologies at the CES

▲Yallvend Tech Team showcases technologies at the CES

Duncan Huang, CEO of Yallvend Tech, pointed out that different countries have different regulations and vending machines are selling a wider variety of products, not only general consumer products such as beverages, but also controlled products such as cigarettes, alcohol, and even adult toys. Each product is sold must comply with local regulations, including consumer identity verification. This is the key to whether traditional vending machines can be painlessly upgraded into unmanned stores.

For example, alcohol accounts for the highest percentage in the beverage market, but due to the regulations of each country and its physical effect on consumers, many countries will restrict the age for purchasing alcohol, and the same goes for cigarettes. By digitizing identity, smart vending machines will be able to verify the buyer's identity, and buyers who do not meet age requirements will be automatically filtered out. Buyers who meet the requirement can freely purchase tobacco, alcohol, and other products on the vending machines. At present, Yallvend Tech has exported vending machine upgrade solutions that combine identity verification, mobile payment, return transaction data, and inventory data management systems to the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, and Indonesia.

▲Yallvend Tech's product VUK is installed in vending machines on Kokusai Dori in Okinawa, Japan

Two major food and beverage leaders adopt smart vending machine systems

In Taiwan, Yallvend Tech's smart vending machine system was installed in 700 vending machines nationwide by the two leading domestic food and beverage companies. Currently, the vending machines of these two major manufacturers are available in 30% of places close to consumers in factories, offices, and campuses, and real-time promotions will be launched for these vending machines in the future.

In another aspect, Yallvend Tech is also actively developing AI replenishment planning solutions for major beverage companies, hoping to use vending machine data to assist replenishment personnel with replenishing items, route planning, and more efficiently understanding inventory. The company expects to launch related services in about a year.

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【解決方案】客廳化身為健身房 Uniigym矢志成為健身界的Netflix
Living Room as a Gym: Uniigym Aims to be the Netflix of Fitness

Afflicted by the pandemic, most people choose to stay at home However, for those who enjoy exercising, missing a day at the gym can feel uncomfortable With Uniigym's 'AR Fitness x Uniigym' app, users have access to nearly 1,000 diverse exercise classes With a dedicated AI coach, users can exercise anytime they wish, while also tracking their fitness journey, and understanding their condition completely To encourage public fitness and fight the pandemic together, Uniigym has also collaborated with Chunghwa Telecom, offering free access to the 'AR Fitness x Uniigym' app for 30 days starting from now until the end of June, contributing to the public health effort Founded in 2019 by CEO Yu-Chieh Lin, Uniigym was conceived from the monotony and limited options of gym venues like fitness centers and school gyms, and low interaction with trainers The company aims to make exercising as fun as gaming through technological solutions, starting with their first product—an intelligent dynamic projection system that has gained favor in the fitness market Uniigym continuously innovates fitness products creating a comprehensive platform for sports health Uniigym is dedicated to creating an immersive fitness course platform starting from offline venues to an online platform, thereby achieving a full spectrum of fitness content and increasing data traffic for enhanced monetization capabilities Over three years, Uniigym has continued to develop new products So far, they have reached the third generation of products In addition to the Uniicube, a dynamic projection fitness system, there's also Uniihome, which turns living rooms into gyms through set-top boxes provided by Taiwan Broadband Communications and cable television provider Kbro Furthermore, the third generation, Uniicell, allows users to exercise anywhere anytime with mobile devices and 5G networks Next, Uniigym plans to launch the fourth generation, Uniicare, targeting businesses and government employees with camera and heart-rate devices to gather health data and offer health management solutions Features of the AR Fitness x Uniigym App "Uniigym is a combination of Netflix and Nintendo, aiming to become the Netflix of the fitness world" By lowering the barriers to exercise through Uniigym's diverse workout classes and fostering a national habit of exercise, marketing director Shu-Wei Wang explained the company's strong ambition and its ongoing progress towards these goals Since the launch of the AR Fitness x Uniigym app in collaboration with Chunghwa Telecom in November 2021, the app has seen over 20,000 downloads in less than half a year, featuring nearly 1,000 multi-category classes including aerobics, fat-burning, body sculpting, strength training, yoga, boxing, and popular dance Built-in latest AI posture algorithm for real-time monitoring of exercise state The AR Fitness x Uniigym APP features six key functionalities, consisting of One Celebrity fitness courses, featuring a hundred top instructors, pick and practice anytime without appointment Two AI real-time motion matching that captures 20 skeletal points of the body through the phone's camera, accurately comparing movements and providing instant feedback Three AR fitness trainer, accompanying you in any environment, personally guiding the workouts, making the fitness experience more engaging Four Gesture remote control interface, allowing you to remotely access various features, making operations easier Five Supports screen casting, syncing the phone with TVs and screens to enhance immersive exercise experiences Six Self-data tracking, fully recording fitness progress including exercise hours, calories burned, and training programs AR动滋动 x Uniigym Rise to Exercise, Safeguard Health TAIWAN SAFE Event Introduction Most importantly, the system platform integrates the latest AI posture algorithm, comparing user movements and skeletal points with those of the fitness trainer during exercise, combined with heart-rate belts to display changes in heart rate on the screen during exercise By employing technology in exercise, it not only protects users during training but also helps in logging physical energy consumption, effectively enhancing exercise efficiency and preventing exercise injuries Uniigym is deeply rooted in Taiwan and expanding to international markets In fact, Uniigym's products are iteratively evolved according to different user groups The second generation product, Uniihome, turns living rooms into gyms in collaboration with the television system platforms, Taiwan Broadband Communications and Kbro, featuring set-top boxes with a menu of 1,700 classes, each lasting 3-5 minutes suitable for all family members ranging from grandparents to children, providing a freely selectable fitness menu for different groups AR Fitness x Uniigym App Product Experience Scenario Illustration In the post-pandemic era, exercising at home has become a trend Uniigym's interactive sensor-based fitness courses offer consumers a convenient, economical way to exercise anytime, anywhere It eliminates the need for purchasing fitness equipment or spending on expensive courses, as users can enjoy personal guidance from an AI coach directly through their smartphones, enhancing their willingness and frequency of exercise, playing an essential role in promoting a healthier lifestyle for all Uniigym provides a combination of online and offline AI cloud-based interactive sensor technology services, matched with home settings and various types of exercise spaces, to offer consumers an entry-level threshold to enjoy professional and entertaining fitness experiences anytime, anywhere This innovative business model has attracted investments from renowned Taiwanese listed companies such as, Nan Yih Textile and Taishin International Bank, and also partnerships with notable international sports enterprises like Decathlon Besides deep-rooting in the Taiwanese market, Uniigym is also actively expanding into international markets including Singapore, Thailand, and China This year 2022, Uniigym plans to launch its products with the Singaporean telecom group Singtel, allowing Chinese-speaking users and a broad international audience to enjoy new interactive sensor-based fitness courses In the future, Uniigym will also introduce home-based health management solutions for corporate and government employees, where employee health data is collected during exercise through cameras or heart rate devices, analyzed, integrated, and linked with health and medical data to achieve preventive medical goals Uniigym founder and CEO, Yu-Chieh Lin「Translated content is generated by ChatGPT and is for reference only Translation date:2024-05-19」

【解決方案】台灣軟體科技實力媲美國際 Golface智慧服務促高球轉型
Taiwan's Software Technology on Par with International Standards: Golface's Intelligent Services Transform Golf

Compared to Japan, where 90 of golf courses operate without caddies and use an automated service model, golf course management in Taiwan still heavily relies on human labor Facing a labor shortage of up to 70, adopting a site and membership management platform to provide intelligent golf services may be a transformation worth considering for golf course operators 'Taiwan's software technology is comparable to international standards and definitely has the capability to compete in the global market,' says Tsung-Che Liao, co-founder and CEO of Golface, established in 2014 with the vision to leverage technology at its core, aiming to create Taiwan's first golf entertainment platform With over 9 years vested in cultivating intelligent golf services, Liao is well-versed in the nuances of golf course services He has considerable domain knowledge and has launched a comprehensive intelligent golf solution The world's first networked smart golf cart hits the road automation of golf courses is no longer just a dream In mid-May, Golface's newly developed ARES Smart Golf Cat, the world's first networked smart golf cart, officially became operational Equipped with a dedicated vehicle computer mainframe, dual network systems, AI-based visual recognition cameras, and high-precision GPS tracking, golf courses can now confidently allow golfers to drive themselves The system enables real-time monitoring of any driving violations, and the presence of digital consumption traces allows for insurance coverage The procedure is as follows golfers book the cart via a reservation platform, receive a QR code, pay through the platform, and unlock the cart with the QR code at the golf course The golf cart can then be driven onto the course The course management platform can monitor and restrict the areas through which the cart can travel, ensuring it does not leave the paths Upon completion, the cart is returned through a tablet in the cart In instances of any infractions, penalties are applied directly through the user's account, and for severe violations, future access to the carts may be prohibited This achieves the goal of 'automation' ARES Smart Golf Cat is the world's first networked smart golf cart, officially in service since May 2022 'As labor costs continue to rise, recruiting and training caddies are becoming common pain points in the market While Taiwan's courses still employ caddies, there's a 70 labor shortage,' Tsung-Che Liao added This smart golf cart tablet, combined with a mobile app, has become the ultimate smart caddy Golface is striving to complete the last piece of the 'automated golf course' puzzle Amassing digital consumption trails for advanced client segmentation services Starting with consumer needs, Golface has sequentially launched services like the golf cart tablet, mobile app, golf reservation platform, instructional videos Golface TV, golf tourism, and smart carts The smart cart has been operational since May 2022, currently featuring four units with plans for mass production in the latter half of 2022 Although the cart currently requires manual operation by golfers, remote operation is anticipated early in 2023, with autonomous driving expected in the third phase Via the cart tablet and management system, staff can understand the status of the course through on-screen visual representations, showing each cart's real-time and relative location, departure times, and duration of service per hole, which aids course managers in monitoring on-course consumption effectively, thus reducing traffic jams and customer complaints 'Previously, we relied on staff's mental imagery now, we can employ imagery to visualize real-time situations on the course This makes it possible for those who don't understand golf to work in this field,' emphasized Tsung-Che Liao While course control has traditionally been handled by experienced professional players, the shortage of skilled professionals makes hiring even more challenging Therefore, replacing manpower with digital tools yields twice the result with half the effort The golf cart tablet has entered the Japanese golf market, installed at Fukuoka Century Golf Club Golface's golf cart tablet has been introduced to 14 domestic courses, and has now officially entered the Japanese market, favored by Fukuoka Century Golf Club, where tablets have been installed in carts providing automatic voice announcements for hitting strategies, distance measurements, and visual charts displaying hitting data During the COVID-19 pandemic, with borders closed, Golface utilized OTA technology to provide software updates and troubleshooting, ensuring uninterrupted services, which was highly appreciated by the Japanese golf courses Tsung-Che Liao remarks that Taiwan's software technology is not inferior to other countries like Japan, but more support from golf courses is needed to help transform the industry intelligently 'To assist in the transformation of golf courses, the first step is digitalization,' Liao pointed out By helping courses accumulate data and understand customer service cycles and hitting rhythms, it enables courses to avoid congestion and serve more customers To date, Golface has accumulated data on over 20,000 teams, 35 million scorecards, and over 10 million records This data helps enhance management performance, segment customer layers, reduce complaints, and plan marketing strategies for off-peak periods Golface co-founder and CEO Tsung-Che Liao has spent 9 years deepening intelligent golf services, aiming to build Taiwan's first golf entertainment platform「Translated content is generated by ChatGPT and is for reference only Translation date:2024-05-19」

【解決方案】7毫秒內分離人聲 洞見未來科技協助聽損者「聽說更簡單」
Voice Separation in 7 Milliseconds: RelaJet's Future Technology Makes 'Hearing and Speaking Easier' for the Hearing Impaired

One rainy Thursday afternoon near Taipei Arena, the Taipei Experience Center of RelaJet was fully booked with appointments from people with hearing loss eager to try hearing aids made with a voice separation engine For the hearing impaired, having affordable, lightweight, and effective noise-reducing hearing aids is truly a blessing 'We hope to help users in need to hear the world's wonders again' This empathetic expectation by RelaJet's founder and CEO Po-Ju Chen, who is also hearing impaired, illustrates his understanding of the needs of the hearing impaired He hopes that RelaJet's unique voice amplification hearing aid technology will benefit many more people Affordable hearing aids benefit many with hearing loss Founded in 2018 by Po-Ju Chen and his brother Yu-Ren Chen, RelaJet developed a multi-voice separation engine paired with Qualcomm's Bluetooth audio platform, drastically reducing the price of imported hearing aids, typically costing 80,000-100,000 NT dollars, to just under 10,000 NT dollars They aim to develop affordable goods with excellent noise-cancelling capabilities that wirelessly connect to smartphones In its first two years, the company primarily developed the multi-voice separation engine, which significantly improved the noise reduction quality Once equipped with Qualcomm Bluetooth earphone chips, the audio processing time is drastically short, at about 7 milliseconds to enhance main voice projection and reduce ambient noise, less than half the time required by traditional medical standard of 16 milliseconds for hearing aids, nearly 'zero-delay' 洞見未來科技推出平價助輔聽器,大大嘉惠聽損者 Yu-Ren Chen explains that the primary use of Qualcomm chips for edge computing, along with a streamlined algorithm, achieves extremely low latency and better noise reduction The hearing aids can cover 18 channels, whereas traditional hearing aids cover 4-48 channels In the future, RelaJet will progressively increase the number of channels According to statistics, there are 470 million people globally with hearing disabilities, with a 30 average device use rate in developed countries, with the highest in Western countries Taiwan has nearly 15 million people with disabling hearing loss, of which the middle-aged and elderly make up 30, yet the device use rate is only about 10, which is quite low Yu-Ren Chen further analyzes that the low device usage rate is due to two reasons firstly, the high average selling price of international big brands ranges from 80,000 to 200,000 NT dollars with a three-year usability period, which deters many due to the high cost and maintenance Secondly, in noisy environments, the noise is also amplified which does not necessarily ensure clarity for the users, and the sound parameters can't be adjusted in real-time, making it inconvenient to frequently visit stores for tuning Thirdly, most models cannot connect to smartphones, making it inconvenient for the hearing impaired to take phone calls Utilizing Qualcomm Bluetooth chips for rapid product development In light of this, Po-Ju Chen, formerly a semiconductor engineer at MediaTek, leads the technical development, while Yu-Ren Chen, with a legal background, manages the operations Their seamless collaboration, along with their team employing AI algorithms and chip integration, learns from thousands of hours of audio files in databases through neural networks and deep learning technologies to develop low-latency, high-noise-reduction voice amplification technologies for hearing aids In 2019, this sound processing technology was integrated into Qualcomm Bluetooth chips, winning first place in the Qualcomm Taiwan Startup Competition and becoming a partner in Qualcomm's Global Expansion Program, significantly boosting product development pace In 2021, they launched their own Otoadd series of hearingenhancement products in Taiwan, which received both market favor and positive reviews from many with hearing loss Based on different consumer needs, various product designs are available According to Yu-Ren Chen, the Otoadd wireless earphones with hearing enhancement functions, model N1, are entry-level neckband style priced at 9,500 NT per pair Users can wear the hearing aid while taking calls, and control noise reduction strength and volume through a mobile app They plan to develop accessories in the future tailored to the needs of older adults Besides being available for trials at experience centers in Taipei and Kaohsiung, this hearing aid is also sold through PChome, Taiwan Mobile's myfone, and Elder Age networks, among other channels Another model intended for individuals with mild to severe hearing loss is the Classic R hearing aid, which received the Japanese Good Design Award in 2021 Since its market debut last year, it has attracted those with congenital hearing loss, with users noting improved clarity in noisy environments and appreciating the convenience of Bluetooth connectivity for calls and watching videos This product is anticipated to be exported to international markets in the latter half of this year Additionally, a hearing aid product combining Bluetooth functionality, set to launch in June this year, is sized like typical Bluetooth earphones, targeting visually conscious consumers with hearing loss Its small size and attractive wireless earphone design allow for phone calls, and if approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, eligible users can apply for government subsidies RelaJet to expand into overseas markets, using the USA as a beachhead An interesting question arises due to the pandemic everyone must wear masks which impedes lip-reading How does this affect those with hearing loss Yu-Ren Chen indicates that this situation highlights RelaJet's advantages As each person with hearing loss has different levels of hearing ability, hearing aids can only augment to an appropriate volume, assisting users to hear about 60-70 content, with the remainder relying on lip reading and gestures During the pandemic, as everyone wears masks, masks also muffle sounds, but RelaJet's voice separation engine can correct and strengthen the separation, making it easier for those with hearing loss to recognize voices Besides the Taiwan market, RelaJet's next stage will be expanding into overseas markets, expecting to obtain ISO 13485 medical device quality management system certification and US medical device approval in 2022 They plan to enter the US market, either under their own brand or through OEM arrangements Apart from the Taiwan market, RelaJet will also enter the US market in the next phase for hearing aids「Translated content is generated by ChatGPT and is for reference only Translation date:2024-05-19」