ASET Technology Alberta Summer 2020 - 14

The miiCUBE is the physical face of the miiCARE AI
elderly assistance system.

Diabetes Digital Media operates across multiple apps and
devices to help its users achieve healthier lifestyles.

Operating out of the UK, Summoogum created an elderly
assistance system called miiCARE. The system is a series of
sensors placed around the homes of elderly clients. These
sensors monitor physiological and behavioural information
for any unusual data. The physical face of this system is
called the miiCUBE, a small cube akin to a Google Home or
an Alexa.

shift that meant doctors would take the blood pressure
remotely by using one of our devices," Summoogum says.
"In that process doctors have discovered that that is a far
better way of doing it, much more efficient than getting the
elderly to come all the way to the surgery, really stressed,
and having to sit down and wait."

While Summoogum originally introduced the system to
help the elderly retain both their independence and their
safety, he says miiCARE has the potential to help elderly
communities contend with the virus as well.

Arjun Panesar is another leader in tech who sees new
capabilities for his work in assisting populations as the
pandemic continues. Panesar is the CEO of Diabetes Digital
Media, a company that helps those with diabetes to attain
better clinical outcomes and healthier lifestyles.

Summoogum says that "early detection of symptoms like
raised temperature, diarrhea, irregular heart rate [and]
blood pressure is one" way his technology system can help.
Medical providers can glean valuable information from
patient data and use their datasets to understand the virus
in its different stages.

Part of how the company's programs work is through
digital service applications that help with issues of diet and
exercise. Given that diabetes has been identified as a risk
factor that could lead to more severe cases of COVID-19,
it's especially prudent now for those who have diabetes to
monitor themselves and stay as healthy as possible.

"The second one is families. So, families have been advised
not to come in touch with their elderly parent because they
will put them at risk. And while they get it, it's very difficult
for them because they want to know that their parents are
safe," he says.

"We're really talking about looking at your metabolic health
and looking at optimizing lifestyle," Panesar says. "That
means cutting down on processed food, it means getting rid
of sugar. It's about moving more, getting better sleep and
improving your mental wellbeing. Apps can support all of
that, and myself and colleagues have a lot of experience in
evidencing that."

To give the families this peace of mind, Summoogum points
to "an app that they can access where they get all the data
that basically [shows] the fact that their parents got out
of bed, have their breakfast, temperature's okay, blood
pressure's okay, trips to bathroom have not increased, so it
just gives them peace of mind."
A third prong is giving the elderly access to more digital
communication, making the process of visiting medical
offices more streamlined overall. "There has been a culture

14 | SUMMER 2020 | TECHNOLOGY ALBERTA

Ara Darzi is the director of global health innovation at
Imperial College, London. He also holds the Paul Hamlyn
chair of surgery at the college. Professor Lord Darzi has seen
several technological applications put to work in combatting
the virus, and much potential in AI in particular.
"AI has offered several applications for the various phases
of the pandemic," Professor Lord Darzi explains over email.
https://www.touchendocrinology.com/insight/covid-19-infection-in-people-with-diabetes/ https://www.touchendocrinology.com/insight/covid-19-infection-in-people-with-diabetes/
ASET Technology Alberta Summer 2020

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