Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research IGD
Software package as personal health assistant
Health advice from your work computer
At DMEA, Fraunhofer IGD will be showcasing a software package that serves as a personal health assistant to office staff who spend their working day sitting at a computer. The only extra feature required is a standard webcam.
(Rostock, Germany) Sitting in front of a computer, reading a screen, typing on a keyboard and clicking a mouse – this is what the working day consists of for many people. And since the start of the pandemic, the number of hours spent at the computer – often working from home – has increased. Dimitri Kraft, a doctoral student at the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research IGD in Rostock, Germany, has programmed a solution for computer-bound workers which we have named CareCam.
Software advises on healthier work practices
This novel software package uses a webcam to register every movement, no matter how minimal. Dimitri Kraft: “The facial recognition system perceives the smallest changes in hue, which we can't even see with the naked eye. From this, it calculates the user’s pulse.” The camera monitors the frequency of blinking and issues a timely warning to nip dry-eye syndrome in the bud. It records posture and facial expression, from which it draws conclusions about stress levels and appropriate interventions: “If the software notices that you are stressed or your posture is poor, it suggests remedial action, for example a change of sitting position, a stretching exercise or a short break for meditation.” For this part of the program, Kraft has collaborated with partners in the fields of physiotherapy and psychology.
