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Team ProTag from New Zealand and Team Threeotech from Thailand from Asia advance to Microsoft’s Imagine Cup World Championships in May

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 5 April 2021 – Microsoft today announced the top 4 World Finalists of the 2021 Imagine Cup competition, including 2 teams from Asia, Team ProTag (New Zealand) winning the Earth category and Team Threeotech (Thailand) emerging top in the Lifestyle category. This was following an exciting two rounds of the World Finals where 12 shortlisted teams gave a 3-minute project pitch followed by a Q&A session with judges to compete for a spot in the World Championships in May.

This year’s 2021 Imagine Cup virtual competition saw tens of thousands of teams from 163 countries using innovative technologies, like AI, Power Platform, and Big Data to develop their ideas into impactful and inspiring technological solutions that make a difference. World Finalists had to submit innovations in one of the four competition categories: Earth, Education, Healthcare, and Lifestyle.

All four World finalists impressed the judges with their innovative ideas, pushing the envelope on the possibilities of improving our society as well as creating a brighter and inclusive future for all. From Asia, under the Lifestyle category, Team Threeotech developed a solution, “JustSigns”, a web application for content creators to create sign language captions to improve media accessibility for their hearing-impaired viewers. In the Earth category, Team ProTag created a solution, “ProTag”, a smart ear tag for livestock that uses technologies like mixed reality, IoT and Azure to detect the early onset of illness in real-time. This is part of efforts to inculcate sustainable farming, lower costs and increase animal welfare along with providing farmers with a peace of mind. Both teams from Asia will be competing alongside two other teams from Kenya and United States for the Imagine Cup World Championships trophy in May, along with USD75,000 and a mentoring session with Satya Nadella, Chief Executive Officer, Microsoft Corp.

Other teams from Asia that participated in the World Finals Competition include:

  • Team Intelli-Sense (India): Under the Healthcare category, Intelli-sense developed a solution, “Vision” that seeks to leverage cutting-edge technologies, to provide a sense of vision for the visually impaired by providing solutions to help them perceive their surrounding in real-time.
  • Team DataMasker (China): Under the Lifestyle category, DataMasker developed a solution, “WellMask”, an Artificial Intelligence social mask built to enhance social interaction. It is integrated with technologies to support “real-time speech transcription”, “intention extraction” and “emotion recognition”.
  • Team Virtual Radiologist (Nepal): Under the Earth category, Virtual Radiologist developed a solution, “Pico Sat”, a miniature version of an environmental satellite that utilizes the Azure platform and PowerBI. It aims to provide information about your environment – altitude, temperature, humidity, pressure, dust and pressure level of present time – be it a small room or open space or betterment of Earth’s climate.

Held annually since 2003, the Microsoft Imagine Cup is the world’s premier student technology competition, affectionately known by participants as the “Olympics of student technology competitions”. This year’s Imagine Cup encouraged participants to “Dream it. Build it. Live it” in order to create applications that shape how individuals live, work and play and through their creativity, passion and knowledge of technology. For more information about Imagine Cup, please visit https://www.imaginecup.com/.

About Microsoft

Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

The Academy Training Hotel and Restaurant Opens its Doors in Vang Vieng

Students at The Academy eager to practice hospitality skills
The Academy will be staffed by students eager to welcome the first guests and learn much sought-after hospitality skills. Photo: Phoonsab Thevongsa

The Academy Training Hotel and Restaurant officially opened its restaurant to the public on 1 April.

imoo Singapore Leverages on Technology to Enhance Children Safety With Upcoming Launch of Watch Phone Z6

Created for families and children, imoo Singapore’s products aim to give parents a hand when it comes to keeping everyone safe

 

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 5 April 2021 – In this day and age, smart devices are everywhere, even amongst children. The struggle to maintain a balance between early technological adoption versus increasing worries of security and safety is real, and imoo Singapore is extending help in the form of the upcoming imoo Watch Phone Z6.

With the team comprised of many parents, the overarching goal of the company’s product innovation was to give parents a viable alternative to the smartphone.

According to a Straits Times report, “two-thirds of children aged seven to nine in Singapore use smartphones every day, and are active on social media.” For parents, the need for security is often in conflict with the potential pitfalls of technology.

Designed as a device to alleviate parents’ concerns and a joy to use for the child, imoo’s focus remains on enhancing the safety of children without adding unnecessary risks in the form of social media and other security concerns.

Tailored Features

imoo Singapore’s upcoming launch of the imoo Watch Phone Z6 Singapore version is fully verified by TUV Singapore and registered under IMDA. It incorporates first in the market, high-resolution dual-side camera with HD Video call besides many other child-friendly features providing a platform for peace of mind.

For the child, screen time is kept to a minimum with the use of the Class Mode feature. Parents can dictate when the smartwatch made for kids can be used. This way, there are no distractions during essential times and fewer worries about usage time.

Communication is vital for safety, with dedicated features for the imoo Watch Phone making it stand out in the market. Accurate locating and seamless mobile connection with the support of 4G and VoLTE ensure uninterrupted communications between parents and child. Both Chat and Family Chat allow users to talk and interact with approved individuals, providing a social environment without potentially harmful websites and content access.

The imoo Watch Phone will give parents another layer of security when it comes to their child with long battery life with Scheduled Power On/off feature, IP68 water resistance meaning that a child could wear it safely while swimming. Its AMOLED multi-point capacitive touch screen with high resolution & full colour allows for quick response, while durability is not a concern with Corning Gorilla Glass screen. Its strap is made of TPSIV from Dow Corning, free from fluorescent additive and an environmental-friendly feature, making the watchband much more flexible and perfect for kids.

Safety First

The preventative measures extend into calls with the imoo Watch Phone Z6 as well. Calls are only allowed on the imoo Watch Phone from approved contacts within a child’s contact list. Any calls from strangers and unknown sources are automatically blocked, and notifications would be sent to parents to notify them. By ensuring children only communicate within a designated circle, they are less likely to fall victim to danger.

In emergency situations, the imoo Watch Phone Z6’s integrated GPS locating can prove invaluable in helping to find your child. The use of various positioning technologies – GPS, GLONASS, BDS, LBS, and Wi-Fi – provides accurate tracking both indoors and outdoors. In addition, the accelerometer helps determine if the user is in motion.

Options for Parents

For parents, the safety of their children is of utmost importance. However, a smartphone need not be the only solution to the problem.

The upcoming launch of the imoo Watch Phone Z6 from imoo Singapore in mid-April will provide an alternative for families to consider when it comes to prioritising safety while allowing for quality connection.

Visit the official imoo Singapore store to find out more about the upcoming launch of the imoo Watch Phone Z6 and other family-friendly products that prioritises the safety of your child.

About imoo Singapore

Hans Industries Pte. Ltd. is the official imoo Singapore distributor of smart devices designed by imoo. The company was formed in 2011 to introduce quality & reliable industrial and consumer products to Southeast Asia. imoo launched its first Watch Phone in 2015 for kids with safety, quality & durability at its utmost priority. With popular reception from parents, imoo has further revolutionised by introducing the first kids’ smartwatch in the world that adopts dual cameras, and parents are able to control each camera during video calls.

Please visit www.imoostore.sg/ for more information.

Former President Among Survivors of Yacht Accident in Laos

Former President among survivors of yacht accident
Rescue workers on the overturned hull of the yacht.

Former President Choummaly was found alive during rescue efforts following a boat capsize Sunday morning in the Nam Ngum Reservoir, Vientiane Province.

Miss World Laos Surrenders Crown Following Age Controversy

Miss World Laos Surrenders Crown

Miss Souphavady Phongsavanh has surrendered the crown of Miss World Laos 2021 following the controversy surrounding her legal age.

Tour Boat Capsizes in Nam Ngum Reservoir

Boat Capsizes in Nam Ngum Reservoir

Ten people are missing and one dead after a tour boat capsized in the Nam Ngum Reservoir in Vientiane Province.

Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh city researchers make COVID-19 prevention, control products

HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach – 2 April 2021 – Students and scientists at the Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNUHCM) have carried out extensive research and developed products that help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Out of 2,000 projects from 79 countries, one on producing protein from Ecoli bacteria in laboratories by a student team from the University of Science won sponsorship from the Agence Universitaire de La Francophonie – a society of universities offering training in the French language.

Firstly, they collaborated with a company in the bio-technology industry to carry out the project under Dr. Nguyen Thuy Vy, head of the genetics department at the university’s biology and bio-technology faculty. The research was prompted by the fact that asymptomatic COVID patients and those with mild symptoms were believed to be a hurdle to control the pandemic in the community.

To detect infection, many countries use antibody tests. The advantages of this method are that it is fast, easy to deploy on a large scale and has great accuracy. However, Viet Nam does not have suppliers of SARS‐CoV‐2 viral protein antigens, making it difficult for companies to seek for manufacturing antibody testing kits. Dr Nguyen Thuy Vy said: “We use a technology to produce protein from Ecoli bacteria at low cost. Around the world, most proteins are produced from animal tissue.” Vy and two students, Le Tran Dang Khoi and Vo Ho My Phuc began the research in early June with sponsorship from AUF and they created products within three months.

“The project does not only contribute to COVID-19 prevention but also inspires other students to take up research. The product is useful for COVID-19 tests with fast, accurate results and affordable prices.”

The VNUHCM’s National Key Laboratory of Digital Control and System Engineering (DCSELab) collaborated with the Centre of Science and Technology Development for Youth to make a mobile disinfection chamber. With sensors detecting and automatically spraying once a person steps in, signal lights, and a 360-degree fog mist sprayer, the chamber uses anolyte solution and ultraviolet, ozone and heat disinfection technologies to help disinfect the whole body. The chamber has been used at several hospitals in the city since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out.

DCSELab’s scientists also made an automatic chamber for disinfection and obtaining samples from patients without making contact. The chamber disinfects automatically before the next person enters for giving samples. Though ultraviolet disinfection technology is used, the UV rays do not directly touch peoples’ bodies and so are not harmful to health officials or patients. Moreover, the high-efficiency particulate air filter technology combines with UV to completely kill viruses and bacteria remaining in the air after being sucked out of the chamber.

The other COVID-19 product by DCSELab is a simple ventilator working on the principle of automatically squeezing and releasing Ambu bag to deliver air into a patient’s lungs. The product is being finalized after many revisions and consultancy from specialists at Cho Ray Hospital and the University of Medicine and Pharmacy.

Another VNUHCM’s member university, the University of Technology, has innovated dozens of useful and convenient products to serve the community in terms of COVID-19 prevention and containment.

Scientists at the Bach Khoa Research Centre for Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Technology have also made a mobile disinfection system with air filters to ensure clean air is discharged in the environment. The technology has been transferred to companies for commercialisation and mass production.

A research team at the University of Technology’s material technology faculty has made masks that could be used by healthcare workers for continuous hours.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Huynh Dai Phu, the faculty dean, said when COVID-19 broke out, one urgent issue was a shortage of medical equipment. Healthcare workers faced a high risk of infection because of working for many hours in an environment without negative pressure chamber. It was very important for them to use preventive clothes, goggles and masks to prevent the risk of contracting the virus, and his team made these masks with a bacteria and air filter membrane to avoid infection, Phu said.

The air supplied through the mask is sufficient for many hours for healthcare workers. This mask mitigated some of the shortcomings in existing ones during the pandemic period. In addition, the material used in these masks is environment-friendly polymer. The medical workers at Trung Vuong Hospital are using them.

Lecturers at the University of Technology’s mechanical engineering faculty made an automatic machine for sewing masks from anti-bacterial clothing. Besides, the university’s lecturers and students made goggles that keep out aerosols from patients using 3D printing technology and sanitizers.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mai Thanh Phong, the university’s president, said by focusing on products for COVID-19 prevention and control, students, lecturers and researchers at the university hope to contribute their abilities and efforts to the country’s combat against the pandemic.

More about VNUHCM

One of VNUHCM’s strategies is to continue focusing on scientific and technological development and innovation to help implement national and southern region development strategies and to raise its international profile.

As of October 2020, it had filed 527 applications for patents and 566 technology transfer contracts and scientific services that fetched revenues of VNĐ104.2 billion (US$4,5 million).

In the QS World University Rankings 2021 of 1,527 universities, VNUHCM was in 658th spot in the category of income from technology transfer and 838th in international potential.

VNUHCM was established in 1995 by the Government as one of the country’s two national universities to train undergraduates and postgraduates, carry out research, transfer technologies, and lead the higher education system.

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Miss World Laos Accused of Misrepresenting Age

Miss World Laos Accused of Misrepresenting Age

The Miss World 2021 representative from Laos has come under fire for allegedly misrepresenting her age in order to compete in the global pageant.