24 5 月, 2022

NEC Provides AI-based Traffic Monitoring System with Fiber-optic Sensing Technology for NEXCO CENTRAL

TOKYO, May 24, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - NEC Corporation has deployed an AI-based traffic monitoring system to Central Nippon Expressway Company Limited (NEXCO CENTRAL). The system uses fiber-optic sensing and AI technologies to visualize traffic conditions, such as the location, speed, and direction of travel, from vibrations produced by vehicle movement. Figure 1: Traffic monitoring system ImageFigure 2: Optical Fiber Sensing Technology OverviewFigure 3: Traffic Flow Monitoring ImageFigure 4: Analytical AI Engine OverviewThe system includes sensing devices attached to one end of an optical fiber and an analytical AI engine, developed in-house by NEC, which makes it possible to continuously monitor traffic flow by utilizing existing optical fiber infrastructure for communications laid along highways. NEXCO is the first expressway operator in Japan to continuously monitor traffic conditions using these kinds of technologies. Highway operators need to monitor traffic flow and to detect incidents on expressways for traffic control. Most sensors in use today for this purpose are point sensors or cameras with a limited field of view. A large number of point sensors and/or cameras are needed to perform continuous measurements over a wide area, which poses problems for installation and maintenance, leading to higher system costs. NEC has a successful history of conducting joint demonstration projects using optical fiber sensing technology for detecting cracks in poles and monitoring road traffic (*). Based on these experiences and knowledge, NEC is providing equipment to convert optical fiber cables to sensors. NEC has now developed an analytical AI engine that continuously grasps traffic conditions based on the signals from vehicle vibrations. The system can visualize dense traffic conditions with a high level of accuracy. The AI engine converts vibration data into continuous vehicle trajectories along roads that are entirely monitored. The trajectories can then be used to estimate average speeds every kilometer. The system can record a digital snapshot of traffic conditions over a wide area, which can enhance road controls with continuous monitoring of entire roadways, enabling early detection of accidents and congestion.The newly developed analytical AI engine can extract vehicle trajectories from vibration signals in the presence of multiple environmental noises. Vehicle trajectories are extracted in an iterative process. First, the clearest vibration signals are used to extract vehicle trajectory, then the corresponding signals are masked. Second, the remaining vibration signals are enhanced. The system repeats these two steps until all the vehicle trajectories are extracted. The AI engine has been trained with synthetic data, including realistic environmental noise, enabling robust extraction of vehicle trajectories in the presence of noise. Then, the system can monitor high-density traffic flow over a wide area with high accuracy.Going forward, NEC will continue to support the digital transformation (DX) of road operators as part of achieving the "NEC Safer Cities" initiative for contributing to the creation of safer and more secure cities. For More InformationOptical Fiber Sensing:https://www.nec.com/en/global/solutions/ofs/(*) Verizon and NEC just made fiber sensing a whole lot easierhttps://www.nec.com/en/press/201910/global_20191008_02.htmlAbout NEC CorporationNEC Corporation has established itself as a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies while promoting the brand statement of "Orchestrating a brighter world." NEC enables businesses and communities to adapt to rapid changes taking place in both society and the market as it provides for the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. For more information, visit NEC at https://www.nec.com. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

7 10 月, 2021

Whole-of-nation approach needed to tackle mental health issues; youth of particular concern: President Halimah

SINGAPORE - The cross-cutting nature of mental health issues means that a whole-of-nation effort is needed to help people with mental health conditions, President Halimah Yacob said on Thursday (Oct 7). Speaking at the Asia Pacific Conference and Meeting on Mental Health 2021, which was held virtually and hosted by mental health advocacy organisation Silver Ribbon Singapore, Madam Halimah said that beyond receiving help from the Government, the community can also play a larger role in this. This is the third time the event is being held, with the two previous occasions in 2016 and 2011. "With the necessary support, social service agencies may be in a good position to provide care in a community setting to persons with mental health conditions, given their close proximity to homes and connection with the ground. This is an area where I hope our social sector can step up and help to amplify government-led efforts," she said. Madam Halimah added that she was "particularly concerned" about the challenges the younger generation faces and noted that from 2015 to 2020, the number of adolescents seen at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) for depression rose by about 60 per cent. "Anecdotally, we also hear of more students facing stress-related issues over time. We need to do something urgently as a community to arrest this trend," she said. Madam Halimah also said that the President's Challenge designated mental health as its focus in 2018 and has since allocated around $1.8 million to support various programmes in this area. She added that she recently invited IMH to partner the President's Challenge in developing a pilot curriculum to better prepare social service agencies to manage youth with mental health conditions. Mr Cho Ming Xiu, founder and executive director of Campus PSY, a social service agency focusing on youth, called the curriculum a "great initiative". "A standardised curriculum will help set a professional standard among the different social service agencies," he told The Straits Times. He also pointed out that social service agencies currently face issues with funding and manpower, and that more could be done in these areas. On the subject of young people, Mr Cho said that youth today face a wide array of challenges. Those at school have to deal with academic pressure and increasing competition, which are exacerbated by social media. "When you're on social media, usually what you'll see is either the news on Covid-19 or news about your friends doing well… which is not good for mental health," said Mr Cho. More on this topic Related Story Societal cost of 6 common mental health disorders estimated at $1.7b yearly: IMH study Related Story MP calls for better care and support for mental health issues amid Covid-19 Home-based learning measures also prevent young people from meeting their friends at school, which may result in social isolation. Meanwhile, young working adults may struggle with uncertainty over their jobs and finances due to Covid-19, while also juggling increased pressure to settle down and start a family, said Mr Cho. He added that it is important to focus on upstream solutions, such as identifying the early signs of mental health conditions among young people while they are still at school. This will help prevent the spiralling down to more severe mental health conditions in future, he said. Professor Fatimah Lateef, senior consultant of emergency medicine at Singapore General Hospital, who also spoke at the conference, said people must seize the momentum generated by the pandemic to tackle mental health conditions. "Never before have we had so much focus on mental health on the agenda of the leadership of countries, institutions and organisations... Awareness of the importance of mental health is really at its peak now, and we must strike while the iron is hot," she said. Among other things, Prof Fatimah also highlighted the importance of hope in helping people cope with mental health conditions. Some ways that people can help give hope to others include simply listening to them, being non-judgmental and valuing them for who they are. "Once hope is instilled in a person, it functions as an internal resource for that person, and becomes a major source of motivation for positive change," she said. More on this topic Related Story Helping youth improve mental health amid rising pressures Related Story Mental health and the young: When parents are not part of the solution Helplines • National Care Hotline: 1800-202-6868 (8am to 12am) Mental well-being • Institute of Mental Health’s Mental Health Helpline: 6389-2222 (24 hours) • Samaritans of Singapore: 1800-221-4444 (24 hours)/1-767 (24 hours) • Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019 • Silver Ribbon Singapore: 6386-1928 • Tinkle Friend: 1800-274-4788 and www.tinklefriend.sg • Community Health Assessment Team: 6493-6500/1 and www.chat.mentalhealth.sg Counselling • TOUCHline (Counselling): 1800-377-2252 • TOUCH Care Line (for seniors, caregivers): 6804-6555 • Care Corner Counselling Centre: 1800-353-5800 Online resources • mindline.sg • My Mental Health • Fei Yue’s Online Counselling Service

12 5 月, 2021

Tennis: Djokovic fumes at umpire in rain-affected Rome opener

ROME (REUTERS) - World number one Novak Djokovic was furious with the chair umpire for not suspending play as rain trickled down during his Italian Open second-round match against American Taylor Fritz on Tuesday (May 11). The 33-year-old Serb made his feelings clear after he was broken when serving for victory in the second set. "How much do you wanna play?," Djokovic yelled at umpire Nacho Forcadell. "I asked you three times, you are not checking anything." The match was eventually suspended for three hours before Djokovic secured a 6-3 7-6(5) victory. All the other men's matches for the day were cancelled. Djokovic said he had been struggling with the court conditions before the players were sent off the court at 5-5 in the second set. "It's not the first time or probably the last that I'm going to experience such conditions," Djokovic, who has received an opening-round bye this week, told Amazon Prime. "And even with that much experience behind me I still get upset and lose my cool. But it's OK. At the end of the day these are great lessons - I will try and take away some important things from this day." Djokovic was disqualified from last year's US Open after accidentally hitting a female line judge with a ball during his fourth-round match against Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta. Chasing a sixth title in Rome, Djokovic will play the winner of the match between Britain's Cameron Norrie and Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the round of 16.

2 12 月, 2020

Important that Singapore steps up efforts to protect mental health of children early: President Halimah

SINGAPORE - The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted the academic routines and social activities of many children and youth, and has had a negative impact on their mental health. Strengthening mental health resilience is all the more important during this period, said President Halimah Yacob on Wednesday morning (Dec 2), adding that Singapore has to step up efforts to protect the mental health of children here early. She was speaking at the virtual opening ceremony of the 24th World Congress of the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions (IACAPAP), where she outlined several strategies the Republic has adopted to bolster mental health support for its young. Among other things, they involve collaboration with different stakeholders, promoting mental health literacy in children and youth, and improving access to mental health resources. Highlighting youth suicide as a particular growing concern, Madam Halimah said different stakeholders such as hospitals, schools and community partners, have stepped up efforts to work together to support those at risk of suicide. "We must tackle it by addressing the potential causes, especially when mental health conditions like anxiety and depression may intensify the problem," said the president. Madam Halimah said besides placing great emphasis on preventive care and focusing intervention upstream, Singapore has also made efforts to improve public education and mental health literacy in children and youth. "It is essential to equip children with knowledge on common mental health conditions and ways to manage them, as well as develop in them empathy and care towards persons with mental health conditions," she said. This is why mental health education will be included in a revised curriculum to be progressively implemented from next year, and all schools here will establish peer support structures by 2022 to strengthen current peer support efforts, she added. Online initiatives have also been rolled out to enhance youths' access to mental health resources. This includes mindline.sg, an online portal with mental health resources that can also assess users' emotional well-being. Madam Halimah said the Republic adopts a whole-of-society approach in building a safety net for those living with mental health conditions. It includes training schools and social service agencies to identify and manage at-risk children with severe emotional and behavioural problems, offering free mental health checks as well as rolling out coordinated mental health and social support services for at-risk youth. However, many with mental health conditions do not seek treatment in a timely manner, noted Madam Halimah. The 2016 Singapore Mental Health Study found that more than three-quarters of those living with mental health conditions did not seek treatment. "The delay in treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder was 11 years; four years for bipolar disorder and alcohol abuse; and two years for anxiety disorder," she said. Various studies have shown that social stigma and a lack of knowledge about mental disorders are two common reasons for treatment delay. More on this topic Related Story A lost or more resilient generation? 6 ways Covid-19 changed childhood in Singapore Related Story Youth with mental health problems stay strong under Covid-19 Madam Halimah said: "Mental health conditions that are left untreated will impair children's development, and undermine their ability to achieve their fullest potential. "It is therefore important that we step up efforts to protect the mental health of our children early." The virtual congress will run till Friday with discussions on the importance of early intervention in the child and adolescent stages for better mental health over a lifetime. More on this topic Related Story Parenting in a pandemic: How to take care of yourself and your kids