Latest news with #7Sense
Time of India
29-05-2025
- Time of India
Eesti Tech: Is a revolution for the visually impaired brewing in Estonia?
'Cheese' is what the English-speaking world says when getting a photograph clicked. We Indians have come up with our own 'Paneer' for similar situations. In Estonia, it's 'Eesti' – the country's name in Estonian. Estonians are of course very proud of their achievements since they regained their independence from the erstwhile Soviet Union in 1991. It is well integrated with EU and Nato, has a high quality of living, invests around 6% of its GDP on education, is ranked as the best performing European nation in the global PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) evaluation for school learning, has more than 50% forest cover, and arguably the best quality of air and drinking water on the planet. All of this, in turn, has led to the right environment for creativity and cool scientific innovation. Take for example the Estonian company 7Sense that is empowering the visually impaired with their wonderful tech innovation. Using telehaptic sight technology, the company has created a product that translates objects, motion, speed and distance onto the forehead of the visually impaired. The device, from the outside, looks like a hat or a headband. A turban, if you will, in the Indian context. But it contains hundreds of physical pixels that sense the surrounding environment and impart this information onto the person through the sense of touch. In other words, the company's tech has reinvented sight by developing a remote sense of touch. The devices – SuperBrain 1 and SuperBrain Lite – have been found to be extremely intuitive by the visually impaired. And with a short amount of training and adjustment can easily have them experience a level of safety and freedom unimaginable till now. The company says most users can even play catch with a ball using the devices. If true, it opens up a limitless array of possibilities, especially in sports. The first thought that comes to mind is the application of the device in cricket for the visually impaired. Blind cricket, as it is played today, involves a slightly larger ball filled with ball bearings to provide audible cues. The bowlers bowl underarm and the batsmen essentially deploy the sweep shot from a low horizontal angle. If 7Sense can bring their telehaptic technology to blind cricket where every visually impaired cricketer will be equipped with their SuperBrain device, it could potentially revolutionise the game. Visually impaired batsmen could essentially bat like their sighted counterparts, deploying the entire range of shots and motions, and visually impaired bowlers may even be able to bowl overarm. This will be a huge transformation. Of course, the application can also have transformational impact in other areas of everyday life and workspaces. The visually impaired in India continue to face multiple hurdles. Around 18.6% of India's 26.8 million disabled population are visually impaired. And around 60.4% of the disabled population are either unemployed or marginally employed. Therefore, much can be done to empower those with disabilities, including the visually impaired. Estonia may have a revolutionary tech-based solution. And demonstrating this through blind cricket may be a good start. BCCI, which has always supported important social causes, may want to look into this. As the leader of the cricketing world, it is only fair BCCI takes the lead in transforming the game. And Estonian technology could be that magic sauce that takes blind cricket to a whole new level. That again would be really cool. Say 'Eesti!' Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Zawya
28-01-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Estonia showcases digital health leadership at Arab Health 2025
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Estonia is bringing its pioneering innovations to Arab Health 2025, showcasing advancements in healthtech, set to drive transformative collaboration across the GCC region. Estonia's digital health ecosystem is a testament to how technology can revolutionise healthcare. With 99% of its population health data digitised, Estonia offers solutions that integrate advanced technology into everyday healthcare, making it more efficient, accessible, and person-centered. Having pioneered a data-driven ecosystem that Ranked #1 in the 2024 Digital Health Index by Bertelsmann Stiftung, Estonia's use of interoperability, AI, and blockchain underscores its role in enhancing healthcare. "Our fully integrated digital health system empowers every citizen with secure access to their online health records, seamlessly connecting data from healthcare providers across the nation. This initiative exemplifies how a collaborative approach between state-backed innovation and private sector expertise can revolutionize healthcare accessibility and enhance efficiency,' says H.E. Maria Belovas, Ambassador of Estonia to UAE. GCC's Digital Healthcare Transformation and Collaboration Opportunities Estonia's participation at Arab Health 2025 highlights opportunities for mutual collaboration with the GCC, leveraging each region's strengths to advance healthcare innovation. The expertise in data-driven healthcare and its successful implementation of digital health models align with the UAE and Saudi Arabia's ambitions to modernise healthcare systems. By sharing best practices in areas such as e-prescriptions, integrated medical records, and digital health governance, Estonia and the GCC are well-positioned to drive forward their shared visions of healthcare excellence. Estonian Healthtech Innovations At Arab Health 2025, Estonia will showcase healthtech innovations from its thriving ecosystem — with the main focus on person-centered care, patient empowerment, and quality of life: 7Sense: A leader in assistive technology, 7Sense empowers visually impaired individuals with a device that provides spatial awareness through tactile feedback. This helps users navigate environments with increased confidence and independence. MDSC Systems: Designed for emergency scenarios, MDSC Systems provides mobile diagnostic and medical aid units tailored not only for disaster zones and conflict areas, but also remote regions. These lightweight units are equipped with cutting-edge diagnostic tools and telemedicine capabilities, ensuring rapid deployment and effective care delivery even in the most challenging conditions. Migrevention: Focused on headache disorders, Migrevention's digital clinic employs AI to enhance diagnostics and treatment for migraines and tension-type headaches. By leveraging machine learning, the user-friendly platform offers tailored care plans that address individual patient needs, ensuring improved management of chronic conditions. Nordic Vitamins: Dedicated to wellness, Nordic Vitamins develops advanced dietary supplements using innovative delivery systems that enhance bioavailability. Their research-driven approach ensures optimal absorption and efficacy, catering to diverse health requirements. Helmes: Creator of Estonia's pioneering e-prescription system, Helmes connects doctors, pharmacies, and patients to enhance healthcare efficiency. Specialising in healthtech solutions, they also develop self-service pharmacy systems and digital patient portals. One Architects: Specialising in health-focused architectural design for hospitals and medical centres, One Architects creates healing environments prioritising patient comfort and well-being. Nortal: Renowned for developing Estonia's National Health Record, Nortal employs blockchain security for data integrity, ensuring transparency in digital systems. Their scalable solutions support seamless data exchange and improve decision-making on every level of the healthcare system. Chemi-Pharm: A leader in medical-grade hygiene and disinfection, Chemi-Pharm provides innovative and allergen-free solutions essential for infection control in healthcare settings. Lifeyear: With AI-powered cardiovascular risk assessment tools and remote patient monitoring, Lifeyear transforms chronic disease management through personalised, data-driven care. Reet Reinart-Okugbeni, a leading R&D expert at Estonia's Applied Research Programme, stated, "With healthtech solutions from various companies, Estonia's advancements in AI-driven personalised medicine and integrated healthcare systems are leading the way, cementing its role in shaping the future of global healthcare. Estonia is making substantial strides in healthcare by investing in machine learning, predictive analytics, and AI for personalised medicine.' She added: 'The most important emerging trends encompass real-time health monitoring, blockchain-secured records, and next-generation telemedicine solutions.' Explore Opportunities at Arab Health 2025 Estonia invites healthcare professionals, investors, and business leaders from the GCC and beyond to discover its cutting-edge healthtech solutions at Arab Health 2025 while opening the door to possible collaborations. Visit Estonia's booth Z5.F30 to engage with companies such as Helmes, Nortal, Migrevention, and 7Sense, and meet Enterprise Estonia representatives to explore opportunities for partnerships and investments in a future where digital health transforms lives globally. For more details on participating companies, visit Trade Estonia's website:
