KUCHING – A group of computing undergraduates are set to develop software that could alert caregivers of children with special needs when they are at risk of injury.
The students from Swinburne Sarawak were recently awarded a US$4000 grant (about RM12, 000) by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) for the community service venture. Swinburne Sarawak also approved an equivalent sum, bringing the total grant to about RM24, 000.
The team hopes to a devise non-intrusive, real-time activity recognition software that could warn caretakers when a child with social and communication impairment displays behaviour that may endanger himself or herself, in an indoor environment.
“Providing continual oversight is expensive and not feasible for many families, special education and healthcare institutions. Also, ICT products used such as CCTVs are passive. We hope to come up with software that will benefit both the children and caregivers,” said project leader Dr Lau Bee Theng.
“If successful, it could complement Malaysia’s healthcare system with an innovative fringe,” said the senior lecturer from the Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Science.
The students will collaborate with a special education school in Kuching and are expected to come up with the prototype in 12 months. They will first carry out research to see how computing and state-of-the-art sensor technology could be deployed.
Lau said that the project also allows the students to appreciate the relevance of ICT, engage with and contribute to society.
“We hope that it will inspire and kindle the interest of students in ICT as the discipline could provide solutions some of the world’s problems, like what hope to achieve here. While the grant may be small, the potential of what we can do with it is huge,” she said, adding that the team will provide regular updates to the IEEE on the progress of the project.
The IEEE is one of the world’s largest technical professional societies and serves professionals in every aspect of electrical, electronic and computing.