The 2023 AWS Summit Taiwan was held on August 2 at the Nangang Exhibition Center II. As a leading cloud computing platform, Amazon Web Services (AWS) invited renowned music DJ Dennis and approximately 2,000 people to witness AWS's prowess. They showcased on-the-spot improvisation of a rap single titled "Taiwan Way" using "KKLab Lyricist.ai," a generative AI tool powered by AWS. The lyrics were creatively written to include popular night market delicacies like stinky tofu, oyster omelet, fried chicken cutlet, and many more. They showcased a fun-filled and smooth flow of rhymes, including single- and double-syllable rhymes, which left the entire audience in awe!AI lyricist composes rap about night market snacks in five secondsDJ Dennis kicked off the event by jokingly proposing to submit AWS generative AI to compete for Best Lyricist in 2024 Golden Melody Awards. He then led over 2,000 audience members to list out keywords representing iconic Taiwanese snacks, including stinky tofu, oyster omelet, fried chicken cutlet, Taiwanese sausage with sticky rice, bubble tea, danzai noodles, popcorn chicken, sweet potato balls, and other beloved local delicacies. The most frequently mentioned snack names were then entered into KKLab Lyricist.ai, and in just three to five seconds, a rap song simulating man-made lyrics was generated. Infused with the snack names, situational references, and rhymes, such as "Crispily-fried, oh mine," "Taiwanese delicacies, very fine," "Stinky tofu, keep my love in line," these lyrics were robust and coherent.The event also invited two talented young singers, Jocelyn 9.4.0 and CED, to perform the freshly AI-generated rap song, "Taiwan Way." The stage was lit and it instantly became a new song release event, celebrating the Taiwanese hip-hop style and local gourmet.Empowered by AWS machine learning technology, AI generates "poetry, context, and ambience"Several guests of the event with technical backgrounds pointed out that the AI-generated rap lyrics sounded surprisingly man-made. The verbs and adjectives used to describe the food were accurate, and they could hardly be associated with a mere stacking of texts. To achieve such idiomatic and coherent lyric generation, the credit should undoubtedly go to AWS' generative AI technology.To create natural language processing (NLP) applications, it is necessary to tokenize vast amounts of training data. Tokenization involves breaking down massive amounts of words in texts into smaller units known as tokens, and transforming unstructured data into sequential data that can be interpreted by machine learning models. By leveraging deep learning techniques in neural networks, the model can track the relationships within the sequential data, learn the context and meaning between words, and generate relevant textual content rapidly based on the provided prompts.KKLab trains its AI model with millions of heterogeneous text data, which include popular song lyrics, classical poems, and articles from various genres in the Chinese language. As a result, KKLab Lyricist.ai can generate texts in diverse styles, with a focus on "poetry, context, and ambience," as well as good choices of words, word combinations, and phrases. The complexity of this process demands immensely powerful GPU hardware capabilities, and a data pipeline that offers stability, flexibility, and efficient execution. To meet such stringent requirements, KKLab has chosen to leverage AWS machine learning services.AWS generative AI technology: top ally of content creatorsThrough AWS generative AI technology, the text quality and quantity of generative AIs currently available in the market can be significantly improved, thereby assisting content creators in producing better works. KKLab's Lyricist.ai is a well-trained AI that is able to empower music creators by generating sentences with much contextual variation based on specified themes. It allows lyricists to find more inspiration. It can also aid copywriters of social media or e-commerce platforms to effortlessly produce well-rhymed works. Once a mere product of imagination, this awe-inspiring generative AI tool has turned imagination into real applications. As a reliable partner for AI startups, AWS is proud to be an ally of content creators.

With ESG now in full force, governments and enterprises are looking to increase their use of green energy so as to achieve true net-zero carbon emissions. Apart from developing better ways to generate renewable energy, storage is also crucial. This has spurred discussion of developmental possibilities for verification and testing of energy storage systems (ESS). On that point, Chroma ATE recently held a seminar on "Mastering EV/Energy Storage Testing Technology: Moving Towards Energy Sustainability," to discuss this issue from multiple perspectives, i.e. industry trends, test and measurement technology, and energy sustainability.@Energy storage systems and the renewable energy grid: undeniably interdependent and importantChroma ATE especially invited Joe Lin, general manager of AnTek Certification Inc. (ATC) to share his thoughts on the topic of "energy storage system standards and trends." Lin cited research data stating that Taiwan's energy storage market is expected to exceed NT$20 billion in 2023 and NT$250 billion by 2030, showing the astounding business opportunities in this market. Lin also brought up what happened in Australia in 2016 as an example, as tornadoes caused major blackouts leaving thousands of homes without power. Thanks to its rapid establishment of ESS in 2017, Australia saved itself from subsequent blackouts. It is easy to see how the existence of the ESS contributes to the resilience of the renewable energy grid. And to take the concept a step further, we see how it can achieve other functions for the grid, such as frequency regulation, peak load shifting, or dealing with short-term supply and demand imbalances.Jason Lin, Chroma ATE's deputy product manager, reinforced Joe Lin's remarks by further analyzing the composition of energy storage systems. Generally, these systems can be divided into three subsystems: the controller (control box), rack controller (string BMS) and battery module (including module BMS). Chroma ATE also observed that although energy storage systems show a fairly clear growth trend, the battery management systems (BMS) for energy storage are not as good as those for electric vehicles (EV). EV manufacturers have turned out to be quite dominant in this segment. Still, there is currently no obvious leader in energy storage BMS products, and competition is fierce.@As energy storage BMS voltage moves towards 1500V, adjustments must be made to meet verification standardsCurrent energy storage systems mostly operate at 1000V, but in recent years, the market has seen the voltage limit raised to 1500V. This increased voltage has further driven the overall power density in the same 40-foot container up to 35%, bringing with it some reductions in system costs and even improved control over land costs. Jason Lin observes that at the recent China International Battery Fair (CIBF), they actually saw many industry operators exceeding 1000V.While it is true that a 1500V energy storage system offers effective overall cost control, it also presents its own challenges. One such challenge is that the insulation design of the battery system must be improved to withstand harsh use environments. With the increased number of battery cells in the 1500V system, now totaling over 400 from the previous 300, maintaining cell consistency becomes all the more crucial. In addition, most systems in the market have been based on 1000V, so the experience of most operators is also limited to 1000V. After the systems are upgraded to 1500V, the entire BMS system and control system must be re-adjusted and operational experience must be accumulated anew. Only when the 1500V system is safe can it contribute to the sustainable development of the energy storage industry. According to Jason Lin's analysis, as early as 2020, the revised IEC 63056 had already specified safety requirements and tests for lithium secondary cells and batteries used in energy storage with a maximum DC voltage of 1500V. Such specifications give the industry a basic direction to follow. In addition, for lithium secondary cells and batteries used in industrial applications, IEC 62619 addresses safety requirements, while IEC 62620 specifies a series of tests for performance and durability. Other specifications include UL 9540 and UL 1973, which provide tests for a series of items such as environmental and physical conditions.@PCS and AFC technologies are key, and their test specifications should not be overlookedEvan Tsai, Chroma ATE's product director, gave a detailed classification of energy storage systems on the market. One example is the ESS used in campers, which have power of about 2kW or less and operate at voltages below 100V. Generally, residential systems are below 30kW, with voltage ranging between 300 and 800V. In industrial and commercial use, power is below 500kW and voltage is 1000V. The 1500V systems described earlier make up the level used in the power grid. Tsai also highlighted many of Chroma ATE's solutions, such as Chroma's Bidirectional DC Power Supply Model 62000D Series, capable of providing a maximum output voltage of 1800V with power ratings up to 540kW. It also supports automotive testing standards LV 148 and LV 123.In addition, when discussing energy storage, one is bound to mention inverter systems, or what are known as power conversion systems (PCS). Tsai says that relevant test items can be divided into three categories: grid-tied performance, input and output characteristics, and protection characteristics, totaling 23 test items. Chroma ATE offers a complete testing guide for industry reference and provides the equipment customers need for testing.Jason Lin added that automatic frequency control (AFC) is an issue often encountered in Taiwan's energy storage market. AFC capitalizes on the advantages of fast charge-discharge of energy storage systems, allowing the ESS to actively adjust charging and discharging in response to the fluctuating load of the power system. This helps maintain a stable power system frequency, and is suitable for power systems that use a high proportion of renewable energy. Lin emphasized, however, that the key behind the performance of such technology in terms of service performance measure (SPM) and average service performance measure (ASPM), is still determined by battery performance. For this also, an array of test items and equipment is available.Overall, under the impetus of renewable energy and ESG, there is marked development in the power grid system and low-power ESS markets. This has created a growing demand for measurement and verification, while also requiring a balance between safety and performance. Specifications are already in place and available for industry reference. As test and measurement equipment plays an indispensable role in all this, Chroma ATE will be right at home at the forefront of this market.Visit Chroma for more information: https://www.chromaate.com/Chroma ATE recently held a seminar on "Mastering EV/Energy Storage Testing Technology: Moving Towards Energy Sustainability," to discuss this issue from multiple perspectives, i.e. industry trends, test and measurement technology, and energy sustainabilityPhoto: Chroma

Chroma ATE Inc. (Chroma) recently held a seminar on electric vehicle (EV) and energy storage testing technologies. Reflecting on industry trends and measurement techniques, Leo Huang, Chairman of Chroma, said, "Chroma has been established for nearly 40 years. Throughout this time, power electronics testing has always been the most important and successful field for Chroma's development. From power testing for information and communications technology (ICT) products to aviation-related products, Chroma's instruments are capable of testing a wide spectrum of devices. About 15 years ago, our collaboration with a well-known American EV manufacturer opened the gateway for Chroma to enter the EV industry." With the increasing importance of net-zero carbon emissions, and driven by proactive efforts from governments worldwide, EVs have become an important application field that will continue to grow this year. As with traditional fuel vehicles, protecting the safety of EV passengers and drivers is a paramount concern. This need for safety in turn heightens the importance of EV testing, which has prompted Chroma to develop a comprehensive range of EV test solutions.To Meet Changing Demands for Charging, Chroma and ITRI Provide a Comprehensive Test SolutionJason Chen, Senior Manager at Chroma, continued by noting that the most widely known standard in the market is the functional safety standard ISO 26262, which has been in place for quite some time now. The standard is also applicable to fuel vehicles, and as the world embarks into the age of electric cars, it will grow even more important. In this regard, Chen specifically mentioned the concept of PHIL (power hardware-in-the-loop). PHIL is essentially a semi-simulation system that is quite suitable for testing the electronic control unit (ECU) of EVs. Even though in the past there was hardly any demand for high-power system testing for fuel vehicles, this has changed with the advent of EVs. This is why Chroma utilizes test equipment to simulate high-power output/input behavior related to the entire vehicle, so as to run practical tests with high voltages and currents. Besides battery module testing, Chroma provides test systems for a wide range of applications, from AC/DC charging stations, motor drivers, OBC/DC-DC converters, to even the battery pack itself. These systems can all be adjusted to accommodate different testing conditions based on specific requirements.Echoing Chen's remarks, Steve Cheng, Deputy Product Manager at Chroma, shared more insight into EV charging specifications. Based on Cheng's observations, the design of on-board chargers (OBCs) will evolve towards bidirectional charging/discharging capabilities. Furthermore, due to future demands, the alternating current (AC) charging power will also be upgraded from the mainstream 11kW to 22kW, with voltages exceeding 600V. As for the direct current (DC) power range, it will be divided into different levels, namely 240kW, 360kW and 480kW.Dr. Kao-Hone Chu from the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) explained the importance of charging communication by elaborating on the DC charging process of EVs and the corresponding protocol, the Combined Charging System (CCS). Dr. Chu analyzed the reasons why charging communication is so important. Firstly, it is essential for the power supply system to confirm that the recipient is an EV. Hence, communication is necessary for mutual verification. Secondly, the charging systems currently in the market are very diversified, which requires each system to possess significant operational flexibility. Through communication, parameters of both the charging infrastructure and the electric vehicle can be adjusted accordingly to achieve efficient charging functionality. Last but not least, charging communication helps prevent unnecessary accidents from occurring.As for testing, compatibility testing with multiple brands and manufacturers is quite a challenge. In the early stages of EV market development, less time was spent on compatibility testing due to fewer available models and brands. Due to the increase in the number of vehicles and brands, even with the use of communication compatibility testing, the process remains time-consuming. Therefore, adopting automated testing is a more efficient approach. That's why ITRI has sought assistance from Chroma to develop an automated test system. This solution eliminates the need for physical vehicle testing. Additionally, it allows the adoption of various abnormal conditions when performing validation, which is currently a common scenario in the collaboration between ITRI and Chroma.@To Accelerate the Development of Battery Management Systems, Test Automation is InevitableJason Lin, Deputy Product Manager at Chroma, explained that testing the battery pack in electric vehicles can be divided by the components under test: the battery pack itself, the battery management unit (BMU), battery modules and cells, battery disconnect unit (BDU), and thermal management system. Based on Chroma's observations, the development of the battery management system (BMS) in electric vehicles is primarily led by EV manufacturers, as battery manufacturers and BMS suppliers generally need to cater to requirements defined by EV manufacturers.Lin further mentioned that the market has seen the adoption of unified diagnostic services (UDS), not only in EVs, but also in other products like electric scooters. This allows EV manufacturers to provide more convenient aftersales services. In terms of battery pack design, traditional approaches focus mainly on preventive measures, like managing parameters such as voltage and temperature, or enhancing heat dissipation capabilities. However, in recent years, flame-retardant and damage mitigation designs have been implemented to ensure that a battery pack will not combust. Flame-retardant materials have been installed in between battery cells so that if one cell experiences thermal runaway, other cells are not affected. As for damage mitigation mechanisms, fire suppression devices are installed that can directly extinguish fires in the event of cell failure. Meanwhile, passengers are also alerted to promptly evacuate the vehicle.Analyzing developing trends in testing practices, Sharman Chang, Senior Product Specialist at Chroma, noted that EVs are projected to undergo an annual growth of approximately 20% from 2020 to 2030. This signifies the increasing market demand for more batteries, which in turn leads to the emergence of automation and intelligent solutions in manufacturing and testing processes. The benefits of automation include maintaining consistent quality and optimizing throughput of the entire assembly line according to production goals of different factories. By standardizing and digitizing the testing process, automation reduces the need for manual labor and increases labor efficiency. After automated testing is performed, the data can be integrated with the manufacturing execution systems (MES) and uploaded onto the cloud to provide feedback to the product development team. Such integration will facilitate product corrections and accelerate the development process.In terms of electrical safety, Kenny Ni, Product Director of Chroma, pointed out that to prevent harm to the human body, the general electrical safety test mainly includes 4 items, which are Hi-pot/withstand voltage test, insulation resistance test, ground bond test, and leakage current test. The electrical safety standards, that are related to electric vehicles, include GB18384, UL 2580, IEC 61982, IEC 62133, IEC 62660, UL2251, IEC62196, UL2202, UL2594, IEC61851-1, and UL9540. The main testing points include: (1) between the hazardous voltage circuits and the enclosure of DUT, (2) between the hazardous voltage circuits and the accessible non-current carrying conductive parts or low-voltage circuits of the DUT, (3) between the hazardous voltage charging circuit and the charging connections, (4) between the hazardous voltage circuits and all accessible parts, (5) between the live part and the metal foil in contact with the accessible parts , and (6) between the positive/negative terminal and the accessible non-current carrying conductive parts, etc. Chroma offers a test instrument called Chroma 19032-P that can fulfill all aforementioned electrical safety test items. Different test cards are available to accommodate varying test requirements. For more testing points or complex system testing needs, Chroma 19032-P can also be integrated with automated test systems to deliver an even more comprehensive solution.All in all, Chroma has developed comprehensive test solutions for EV batteries and charging that can cater to market demand worldwide. These solutions assist customers in conducting automated testing according to various regulations, saving them time and costs. In doing so, Chroma is well-positioned to seize the immense business opportunities in the EV industry.Visit Chroma for more information: https://www.chromaate.com/Leo Huang, Chairman of Chroma, said, "Chroma has been established for nearly 40 years. Throughout this time, power electronics testing has always been the most important and successful field for Chroma's developmentPhoto: Chroma

For more than three years, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought an unprecedented impact on the global economy. But also, it has led to more consumers realizing that health care starts from day-to-day care. This realization has also driven rapid development of the healthcare industry. And it has led to substantial growth in health supplement and nutritional supplement. According to research by Euromonitor, the global health and nutrition supplement market will amount to US$869.7 billion in 2022, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5%. It also expects that by 2026, market size will exceed US$1 trillion. Growth in the Asia-Pacific market looks the most impressive. It is estimated that the Asia-Pacific market share in 2026 will exceed 30% of the global market.This massive market has attracted many manufacturers and companies. It has even created a wave of personalized nutrition supplement. "Personalized nutrition supplement services" refers to the industry providing supplement personalized according to the needs and conditions of individual consumers, which means less hassle for consumers purchasing the supplements on their own. For example, consumers not knowing which products to choose, or having trouble with bottles and containers. In recent years, companies in the United States and Taiwan have launched smart personalized health supplement services. These services let consumers use the smart evaluation system to conduct their own analyses and then order the health supplements they need based on the analysis results.Ray Ku, CEO and co-founder of Kamee, who is also a certified pharmacist, said that consumers usually face two problems when purchasing health supplement on their own. First: not knowing which health supplements are suitable for them and what nutrients they need to supplement. Each person's physical condition and lifestyle are different, and experiences of relatives and friends can really only be used as a rough reference. Second: traditional health supplement is packaged in traditional packaging. It is not just a hassle to eat, but also easy to forget to eat altogether. Products are purchased through separate channels, and packages of different sizes need to be purchased at different times. Often, they are out of date and thrown away. The popularity of personalized health supplement services among modern people is due to personalized content and the health supplement needed for a single day being pre-packaged conveniently, so buying, storing, and eating health supplement is easier. This has driven the growth of global sales of personalized health supplements by more than 20% every year, which is several times higher than the industry overall.Creates a KIHAS evaluation system; Complete personalized services in just three stepsPeople's bodies and lifestyles are all different. Kamee, which employs pharmacists, physicians, nutritionists, and software engineers, is committed to promoting technology combined with health professions. Through algorithms, data analysis, and medical experts, Kamee focuses on creating unique health solutions for each person. In addition to investing heavily in the R&D of the KIHAS assessment system, the company offers it to the public for free. Consumers can conduct assessments on the official website without registering, out of the hope that the public will better understand their own health conditions and needs.Ku pointed out that Kamee's personalized health supplement service mainly requires only three steps: assessment, recommendation, and personalization. First, body and health needs are analyzed through the KIHAS smart assessment system. Second, the system recommends a unique health supplement combination based on the smart analysis results. Third, via an all-in-one small pack, the personalized health supplement is automatically delivered every month, with 30 Kamee packs per delivery (month) and each daily pack supplying the nutrients that individual needs for the day. The combination of products and delivery cycle can also be adjusted according to current needs at any time.It is worth mentioning that Kamee's startup team has experienced pharmacists and nutritionists on its roster. In addition to that strong base in professional knowledge, it also has solid medical industry and supply chain resources. Altogether, it has a considerable competitive advantage in terms of cost and can provide top-quality products on the market at a more affordable price.Taiwan's active startup environment offers more venture capital and acceleratorsSince inception, Kamee has continuously expanded its overall business model through cooperation with the startup accelerator and VC fund SparkLabs Taiwan, located in Silicon Valley, and it has won many awards. For example, it was selected as a partner of the 2022 Google Project Hatcher and for the FINDIT 2022 Taiwan early-stage investments of the MOEA, all proving that Kamee's smart personalized health supplement service possesses great development potential.Ku said that early venture capital companies in Taiwan were less involved in the investment activities of early-stage startups, and did not become more involved until the mid or late stage. However, a lot has changed in recent years. Not only are there more venture capital companies, they are now more willing to be involved in early-stage investment. Along with strong guidance from the government, it has gained massive energy into Taiwan's start-up. In addition, the rapid development and increase from startup accelerators also assists startup teams in fundraising, management, productization, and other areas, which helps shorten time to market. The overall environment is much more active now than in the past, so they are more optimistic about Taiwan's new companies.Seeing such great results in Taiwan, Kamee continued to work on the Taiwan market in 2023. It also plans to enter overseas markets, such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and the United States, and looks to capitalize on the unlimited business opportunities in the personalized health supplement service market.Kamee Box and smart personalized health supplement subscription servicePhoto: Company

Avalue Technology Inc., a global industrial PC solution provider and a Titanium member of the Intel Internet of Things Solutions Alliance. In recent years, ePaper technology has been advancing and evolving, bringing us a revolutionary reading experience. Avalue's 42" black and white ePaper displays can be used as electronic whiteboards or patient information bulletin boards in hospitals. It provides professional staff with a seamless and time-saving solution for synchronizing and updating information and medical data, it can continue to display even during power outages. With the wide viewing angles and high contrast ratios, these displays ensure effortless reading and enhanced user comfort.However, the evolution of technology never stops. Avalue Technology, with its industrial PC solution specialty, has extended its black and white ePaper display to develop a new color ePaper display with four colors: black, white, red, and yellow, which provides more attractive and saturated color effects than ever before, making it ideal for digital signage or poster display.Black and white as well as color ePaper displays offer versatile applications, catering to different color and refresh rate requirements. These displays provide customers with clear and energy-efficient ePaper solutions, offering superior visuals while maintaining the advantage of low power consumption and blue light-free experience. Avalue Technology remains committed to collaborate closely through its diverse customer base across retail, advertising, and healthcare sectors.Avalue Technology is working on their upcoming product launching for color ePaper display in Q4 of 2023. This cutting-edge display solution will cater to the signage needs of a wider customer base. With enhanced contrast and resolution, users can expect more vibrant and lifelike images. The faster refresh rate ensures a smoother and more comfortable reading experience, while the inclusion of flash alert technology enables the delivery of warning messages to the public.The ePaper technology will continue to make a significant impact across various sectors. In the field of education, students will enjoy colorful educational material with efficiency of instant computer-like updates but far from the harm of blue light. For the publishing industry, works can be presented to consumers more attractively. And in the commercial sector, advertising and digital displays will become more flexible and energy efficient.Furthermore, ePaper's low energy consumption, reusability, and recyclability make it an ideal partner for those focused on sustainable development. As the world actively embraces carbon reduction initiatives, Avalue Technology is dedicated to offering environmentally friendly solutions that support your commitment to a sustainable future.Avalue 4-Colors ePaper

Heated development of global industry coupled with rapid growth in volume of automobiles and motorcycles have made life more convenient, the cost has been increasingly serious air-pollution problems. That is why more consumers are placing air purifiers in homes and offices to reduce allergies and coughing caused by airborne particles. In recent years, thanks to the advances in semiconductor manufacturing, wearable air purifiers are now on the market. These products allow consumers to enjoy good, clean air and reduce the discomfort caused by airborne allergens no matter where they are. Many brands have launched products directly in response to the pandemic that claim to filter or remove COVID-19 viral particles, so as to reduce the chance of infection.If you look at wearable air purifiers from a technical point of view, these products can be divided into two categories: those that use traditional high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration and those using negative-ion purification technology. Products using traditional HEPA technology rely on high-efficiency motors so as to draw in and filter a large amount of air in a short period of time. That means that such products are not very small volume-wise; it also means vibration and noise problems that are difficult to ignore. And besides having those basic issues, HEPA products may not be able to achieve instant air purification around the face.Fred Chien, CEO of ible Technology, said that current mainstream technology of wearable air purifiers is negative ion purification technology. Negative ions are atoms, atomic groups, or molecules carrying a negative charge, whereas most of the harmful suspended particles in the air carry a positive charge. When the two meet, the harmful suspended particles in the air quickly fall before they are able to be inhaled and harm and impact human health. While it is true that negative-ion generation technology differs by brand, the real key is the transmission distance. If the negative ions cannot reach the mouth and nose, purification cannot be achieved as intended. And if the negative-ion generation method is not optimized, it can generate a large amount of ozone, which may in turn pose potential risks to human health.The world's first lightweight purification product was created in response to real air pollution problemsible Technology was founded in 2015. When the team members were on a business trip in China, some team members experienced serious physical discomfort due to the local air pollution. It was then that they had the idea of developing a wearable air purifier. A number of enthusiasts entered the IoT and smart wearable product fields through the establishment of ible Technology, and they launched the world's first lightweight wearable air purifier, "Airvida," in 2016.Airvida has won the highest award in the National Biotechnology and Medical Care Quality Award & Symbol of National Quality (SNQ)* for four consecutive years, offering more than enough proof that it has the ability to remove COVID-19 virus, pollen, and air pollutants. Airvida has also earned the recognition and attention of the "2020 and 2023 CES Innovation Awards," "2022 Taiwan Excellence Award," and the 2021 Japan "Good Design" award."In our entrepreneurial process that year, the team started from the concept of minimizing the size of in-car air purifiers, so the product originally used HEPA filtration technology. But it did not take long to see the problems with HEPA, such as large volume, noise, vibration, and filtration effects. Existing technology was just not up to the job." Fred Chien explains: "So the team invested in R&D for negative ion technology, which would be the core of development of wearable air purifiers. It took a total of 18 months and 23 internal revisions and restarts before the first Airvida was successfully launched."Outstanding international achievements in Germany and JapanIn the early stage of Airvida product design and development, ible Technology, familiar with the global market, decided first to enter flagship markets such as Germany and Japan. The German government has one of the strictest product review processes in the world. If a product can be sold there, it will be far easier to sell that product in the Japanese and Southeast Asian markets. As expected, just as Airvida passed the German review and went on the market, its review time in Japan dropped from the 18 months, which is common, to just about 3 to 6 months. Airvida is currently sold in more than 10 countries, including Germany, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Switzerland, and Thailand. In 2023, ible Technology is set to officially enter the North American market.In the startup process, ible Technology received assistance from many sources, such as R&D subsidies from the Taipei City Government; it also participated in CES in the US with the assistance of TTA and won the recognition of two CES Innovation Awards. When entering the Japanese market in 2017, the company had the assistance of the Bureau of Foreign Trade (under the MOEA) to place product advertisements on electronic billboards on the outer wall of the Shibuya Building. This greatly helped to enhance company exposure and product popularity.In light of the fact that Bluetooth headsets have become indispensable in consumers' lives, ible Technology will launch two wearable air purifiers that combine Bluetooth headset functionality in 2023, these being the Airvida E1 & Airvida T1. The Airvida T1, which is expected to be launched in the second half of the year, was also recognized by the "CES (Consumer Electronics Show) 2023 Innovation Awards". This award places extra emphasis on the incredible R&D capabilities of ible Technology.ible Technology will launch Airvida E1, a wearable air purifier that combines Bluetooth noise-canceling headphone functionality, in the second half of 2023Photo: Company

For new parents, caring for a newborn can be a daunting challenge. Research has shown that the incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is about 0.1 to 1 percent, with the highest prevalence occurring between 2 and 4 months of age. Up until around 12 months of age, babies' bodies are still developing and can typically only express discomfort through crying. The risk of SIDS occurring may be greater if parents are unable to hear or respond to the baby's cries. To help new parents prepare for their parenting journey, they can learn from family members, other parents, or even make use of technology to help them monitor their baby. This, ultimately, is one of the reasons for the rapid development of baby tech.Baby tech has since evolved from its early days with the introduction of information technology. Previously, parents had limited options for remotely monitoring their baby's well-being during the night, primarily relying on the detection of crying sounds. However, with technological advancements, parents now have the ability to use smartphones to remotely track their child's sleep patterns and movement. Given the rapid development of AI technology, countless manufacturers have recently begun to launch smart AI-powered baby monitors. These devices are advertised as having the ability to detect when a newborn's mouth or nose is covered by clothing or blankets or when a baby rolls over or cries, and will immediately send a notification to parents that their baby needs their care.According to Brian Lin, CEO of CuboAi, each brand of smart AI-powered baby monitors on the market offers its own unique features. Since consumers' needs will vary, he recommends choosing baby monitors based on their AI detection capabilities, accuracy, and technical support offered by the manufacturer. "It is worth noting," he added, "that smart AI-powered baby monitors are most common in Europe, the U.S., Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Singapore, and other countries due to their higher unit price." These countries are also where most of the major brands of smart baby monitors are produced.Challenges of Newborn Care Give Birth to World's First Smart AI Baby MonitorRecognizing that traditional baby monitors cannot solve the many problems of newborn care, a group of tech-savvy parents, AI experts, and pediatricians came together to form CuboAi in 2017. They conducted thorough research of the challenges faced by new parents, aiming to establish a benchmark for the future development of baby monitors. CuboAi started by interviewing and surveying thousands of parents to understand the key challenges in childcare. Through considerable dedication, the world's first baby monitor with AI technology, CuboAi Plus Smart Baby Monitor, was launched. This innovative device prioritizes the safety and peaceful sleep of infants, offering parents peace of mind. It also serves to capture and save precious memories of the children's growth.The features of the CuboAi Plus Smart Baby Monitor focus on three main areas – safety, sleep, and memories. In addition, the device offers covered-face and rollover detection, danger zone detection, true cry detection, cough detection, and other features. For example, with the true cry detection feature, the AI technology developed by CuboAi can automatically distinguish between ambient noises and cries of the baby. When the baby's cries are detected, parents are immediately notified through the CuboAi App. Furthermore, the product is certified with professional-grade security protection, and equipped with a 1080p HD lens that is twice as sensitive as traditional night vision lenses and displays clear images even at night."To further enhance the practicality of the CuboAi Plus Smart Baby Monitor and address the challenges associated with newborn care, we are dedicated to continuously conducting parent interviews. In response to valuable feedback from parents who highlighted doctors' inquiries about the frequency, timing, and duration of their baby's cough during medical visits, we incorporated the world's first cough detection feature into our product," Lin explained, "CuboAi can monitor a baby's coughs throughout the day and proactively send a 20-second video clip of the most recent cough so parents can monitor their baby's health in real time."CuboAi is actively building an entire product ecosystem in response to the increasingly busy modern parent life. For example, the company has also launched the CuboAi Sleep Sensor Pad, which can be paired with the CuboAi Plus Smart Baby Monitor to detect baby's breathing motion when they're sleeping, helping parents monitor their newborns' sleep with precision and accuracy.Taiwan's Start-up Environment Gradually Improves, Attracting More Young People to Pursue their DreamsCuboAi began its journey in 2018 by raising funds on Taiwanese crowdfunding platform, Zeczec. After successfully building brand awareness, the company entered the markets in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia the following year. Its products are currently available in 11 countries worldwide, with total sales volume exceeding 100,000 units. The company's four main sources of revenue are the markets in the U.S., Taiwan, Japan, and Australia. Since its establishment, the company has received investment from the National Development Fund and participated in the CES trade show with the help of Taiwan Tech Arena. CuboAi was awarded the CES Innovation Award in 2020 and 2022.Lin pointed out that in recent years, with the help of the government and corporations, the overall start-up environment in Taiwan has increasingly improved, encouraging more young people to participate. In the past three to four years, Taiwan's start-up landscape predominantly focused on technology-driven ventures, where start-ups emphasized their technological prowess to attract investment companies. However, a noticeable shift has occurred in recent times: an increasing number of start-ups pivot towards presenting innovative ideas and concepts as their primary pitch to secure investments.CuboAi will continue to improve the AI detection capabilities and accuracy of its products, as well as gather more information about the challenges parents face for future product development in response to the fierce competition in the AI-powered baby monitor industry worldwide. In 2023, CuboAi plans to launch a medical-grade temperature patch specifically designed for babies aged 0 to 36 months. The wearable patch will assist parents in monitoring their babies' health post-vaccination and simultaneously contribute to strengthening CuboAi's brand recognition and market presence in the baby tech industry.The CuboAi Plus Smart Baby Monitor features an whimsical bird-shaped design. Powered by advanced AI technology, it has the capability to detect potential dangers, such as when the baby’s nose and mouth are covered or when the baby rolls over, sending early warnings to parents.Photo: CompanyThe CuboAi team developed the CuboAi Sleep Sensor Pad, which can be placed under the mattress and paired with the CuboAi Plus Smart Baby Monitor to detect baby’s breathing motion while they sleep, providing parents with a more worry-free and comprehensive parenting experience.Photo: Company

Vegetarianism has become a dietary choice for some Taiwanese people, due to religious beliefs or health concerns. While Taiwan's plant-based food industry is more robust compared to other countries, with a wide variety of different products available on the market, "taste" remains to be the biggest challenge for people to try plant-based products. In 2020, two young Taiwanese entrepreneurs, Jen-Yu Huang and Michelle Lee, co-founded Lypid in Silicon Valley in the U.S. to fix this problem through their professional knowledge and skills. They developed PhytoFat, a plant-based fat that can be tuned to precise melting points, allowing plant-based meat to have almost the same mouthfeel and flavor as animal meat. Lypid has already been collaborating with Taiwanese food and beverage companies in introducing plant-based meat products using PhytoFat, which have been highly praised by consumers.Jen-Yu Huang pointed out that environmental impact, animal welfare, and health issues are the three main drivers that motivated the food industry to focus on plant-based meat in recent years. Compared to the traditional livestock industry, the production of plant-based meat requires less land, water, while generating fewer greenhouse gas emissions making it much more environmentally friendly. Since plant-based meat also omits the process of raising and slaughtering livestock, it offers an alternative choice for consumers who have specific religious beliefs, care about their own well-being, or are concerned about animal welfare.While plant-based meat provides more options for these consumers, most existing products on the market are still very different from animal meat when it comes to texture and aroma. Although most consumers who opt for a vegetarian diet already have these differences in mind, it would definitely help expand the market if improvements could be made. Jen-Yu Huang points out that the current global meat market has an approximate value of 1 trillion US dollars annually, while the vegetarian market is around 20 billion, accounting for only 2%, according to market research done by research institutions. He believes that if the sensory experiences plant-based meat can be improved, the plant-based meat market could grow to 10%, representing a five-fold growth potential and astonishing commercial prospects.Jen-Yu Huang further analyzed the technical challenges faced in creating plant-based meat. He explains that the making of plant-based meat involves the extraction of vegetable proteins, followed by adding vegetable oils, seasoning, and other ingredients, before the final processing and combination into a product similar to meat. Commonly used plant proteins include various types of legumes and root vegetables. These vegetable proteins can achieve very similar textures and mouthfeels to animal meat through processing. From the above mentioned process, it's plain to see that the current approach primarily involves combining plant oils and proteins. However, all plant oils are in liquid form and will melt out of the meat matrix when cooking, resulting in a dry texture of plant-based meat. Lypid's PhytoFat can solve this issue.Lypid's co-founders Jen-Yu Huang and Michelle Lee both graduated from Cornell University. Michelle's academic focus had been food sciences from undergraduate through PhD, and both of them had gained a lot of attention within the industry for their research projects during their undergraduate years. After attaining their PhD degrees, they founded Lypid and created PhytoFat. PhytoFat is made from 97% vegan oils and water, with lower calories and saturated fat ratio than animal fats. Making it much healthier and more sustainable compared to the coconut oil and palm oil that are commonly found in the plant protein market. Furthermore, Lypid uses its proprietary microencapsulation technology to encase PhytoFat. This prevents the vegan oils from degrading in high temperatures. Instead, the fats are slowly released while being cooked to create juicy, succulent plant-based meat dishes. This technology, unprecedented in the market, has put Lypid under the spotlight within the start-up circle. Jen-Yu Huang and Michelle Lee received industry financing while still in the research phase at university, and raised 4 million US dollars in seed funding in 2022. Plant-based meats made using PhytoFat then won 3 major awards at the 2023 World Food Innovation Awards held in London, U.K., successfully launching Lypid into the market with ample funding and the industrial and academic sectors' endorsement.Jen-Yu Huang states that Lypid's initial market strategies will focus on North America and Asia. In 2022, he returned to Taiwan to set up a Taiwan office responsible for research and development, as well as mass production. The US headquarters focuses on marketing and international partnerships. Lypid has already launched plant-based meat made with PhytoFat in the Taiwan market. Louisa, a leading coffee chain store in Taiwan, has used it as an ingredient in items such as sandwiches and rice burgers, which have become best sellers in their burger product category. Aside from restaurant chains, other food and beverage businesses have also been utilizing the "plant-based pork belly" developed by Lypid, creating diverse dishes, such as braised pork belly rice and meatballs. The plant-based pork belly combines PhytoFat and special plant protein, creating textures and aromas that have been proven popular in the market.The reason why Lypid's products have had such smooth sailing since their launch is not simply due to their particular technologies. Jen-Yu Huang believes that the government's start-up policies have also been key. He pointed out that the start-up environment in Taiwan has gradually matured with the government's support. Investors are now significantly more willing to invest in early-stage start-ups, and TTA has become a key startup hub in the international startup community, becoming more and more attractive to overseas companies and investors. This will aid in connecting Taiwan start-up teams with the world. In the future, Lypid will leverage these advantages to actively collaborate with local and international businesses to explore more possibilities for plant-based meat.Lypid launches Lypid Pork Belly at craft beer bar 23 PublicPhoto: Company

In recent years, with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russo-Ukrainian War, the economic growth has been severely disrupted, and the global political and economic situation has become increasingly uncertain. Taiwan, in particular, faces high geopolitical risks.To respond to the wave of the uncertain economic situation and digitalization in the financial sector, CTBC Bank ("CTBC") built its private cloud based on the VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) multi-cloud platform years ago as the first step. Then in early June, CTBC successfully validated the implementation of VMware Cloud Disaster Recovery (VCDR) architecture as the first financial institution in Taiwan to do so during the bank's information system disaster recovery drill. During the validation, the system switchover time was estimated to be reduced by 80%.With the continuous relaxation of supervision regulations, CTBC will gradually integrate VCDR into its Business Continuity Planning to enhance the resilience and flexibility of its information services. With VCDR, CTBC aims to ensure the uninterrupted provision of stable and secure financial services to consumers throughout the year, making it one of its key strategic advantages for sustainability.The VCDR architecture, as validated by CTBC, demonstrates greater advantages such as flexibility, agility, and rapid response. By utilizing the disaster recovery storage space in the public cloud, such as VMware Cloud on AWS (VMC on AWS), CTBC meets the disaster recovery needs of different types of information systems with the data lifecycle, snapshot retention times, resource utilization, and disaster recovery procedures defined by service level agreements (SLAs).As it extends its own data center to the public cloud, CTBC can migrate applications without changing their IP addresses through the HCX Network Extension mechanism. VCDR can flexibly scale up or down according to business needs. In the event of unexpected emergencies or annual disaster recovery drills, CTBC can activate the cloud disaster recovery environment according to the automated VCDR Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP).Titan Chia, Chief Technology Officer of CTBC Holding, states: "Promoting cloud adoption in the financial sector to accelerate digital transformation is an important strategy for CTBC to build a digital bank and establish a new information collaboration ecosystem. By following regulations and ensuring information security, we conducted technology validation based on multi-business scenarios, aiming to drive digital transformation in technology, process, and talent. This helps accumulate the necessary technological capabilities for the next wave of digital transformation. With financial services optimized by cloud technology, we will become the first-mover to provide innovative and stable financial services to our customers."Josie Tu, Division Head of the Information Service Division at CTBC, states: "CTBC continuously promotes the modernization of financial services by integrating cutting-edge technology with financial services to meet emerging digital service demands. From adopting the software-defined data center to building enterprise private clouds and accelerating application modernization, we continuously optimize system resource efficiency, agility, flexibility, security, and stability by leveraging innovative technologies to maximize IT value. The validation of the successful implementation of VCDR architecture not only marks an important milestone in our hybrid cloud journey but also fulfills CTBC's commitment to pursuing innovation breakthroughs and makes information services a key capability for enhancing business resilience."Barry Chen, VMware's global vice president and president of Greater China, states: "Businesses need to maintain a sense of security and be prepared to respond to uncertainties in order to maintain business resilience in such an environment. CTBC's validation of the successful implementation of VCDR architecture not only makes us the first financial institution in Taiwan to do so but also sets a good example for the modernization of Taiwan's financial industry to both meet digital financial demands and maintain sustainability."Validation of the successful implementation of VCDR is an important milestone in CTBC's ongoing efforts to enhance digital financial business resilience. VCDR showcases the following four benefits:1. Increased flexibility in selecting disaster recovery center locations, reducing the complexity of system operationsSince VCDR operates in a multi-cloud and hybrid cloud environment, CTBC can choose disaster recovery data center locations from local sites in Taiwan to global public cloud data centers based on their needs. In the event of a large-scale unexpected disaster in Taiwan, the disaster recovery data center located outside Taiwan can continue to operate without being affected. Additionally, traditional disaster recovery operations involve complex hardware integration, maintenance of infrastructure, and communication with important vendors, which requires manpower investment. With the implementation of VCDR, CTBC can delegate the complex operational tasks to cloud vendors, while focusing on service quality control. This makes the cloud disaster recovery process more flexible, agile, and responsive.2. Reduced overall cost of building cloud disaster recovery architectureVMware's VCDR solution utilizes public cloud as the storage environment for disaster recovery data. It can flexibly and adaptively meet CTBC's business needs with a "pay-as-you-go" model. For example, when backup is not enabled, CTBC only needs to pay for storage space and minimal computing resources, thereby reducing the costs associated with building a disaster recovery data center, such as facility rental, hardware and software procurement costs, and saving operation manpower.3. Significantly improved Recovery Time Objective (RTO)During the validation in early June, CTBC assessed that system switchover time during disaster recovery could be reduced by 80%, achieving the bank's objective of recovery in minutes. The public cloud resources in VCDR are standardized and adopt the same software-defined architecture as the on-premises enterprise private cloud. All processes can be completed and validated synchronously through automation, significantly reducing the business interruption caused by disaster recovery system switchover.4. Enhanced granularity in system recovery, covering more disaster recovery scenarios to improve efficiencyUnlike traditional disaster recovery methods that require switching the entire data center or system, VCDR solution allows for recovery at a more granular level, such as individual hosts, data directories, or data files. This reduces the time required for CTBC's system and data recovery. In the event of a sudden situation causing damage to a portion of the primary data center system or data, the required systems or data can be restored in the shortest possible time, maximizing the benefits of system disaster recovery construction.With the strategy of "Customer-centric Digital Transformation", CTBC uses VMware VCF, VCDR and other multi-cloud platforms to create a flexible and efficient environment that can be seamlessly migrated. Such environment is built to meet the needs of modern digital finance, and to continue to enhance the sustainability of financial business and the resilience of digital finance.

iCatch Technology, a leading AI image processing IC design company, announces its strategic collaboration with FS Solution, a Korean AI software development company focusing on AI video analytics solutions. FS Solution specializes in optimizing its AI algorithm to make it feasible on resource-constrained embedded systems. In a joint effort, iCatch Technology and FS Solution have incorporated advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and driver monitoring systems (DMS) solutions into iCatch Technology's latest CR3 Automotive AI imaging SoC to improve the safety and efficiency in the fleet management sector.Advanced Driver Assistance SystemsPhoto: FS Solution The CR3 AI Imaging SoC can support multiple camera inputs with a total throughput of 4Kp30 and the integrated video digital signal processor (VDSP) and neural processing unit (NPU) can be used to accelerate advanced AI algorithm processing. Moreover, CR3 is available from industrial grade to AEC-Q100 automotive grade to meet the requirements from various customers in the automotive industry. With the previous successful partnership on the development of ADAS and DMS on iCatch Technology's CR1 SoC for dealer option and fleet management AI dashcams, FS Solution is able to utilize the higher AI computing performance inside CR3 SoC to realize more ADAS and DMS features at an even higher accuracy.Driver Monitoring SystemPhoto: FS Solution"We are delighted to collaborate with FS Solution, leveraging the strengths of both companies to provide innovative and reliable fleet management solution to the market, demonstrating our commitment to enhancing the safety and efficiency of fleet operations." said Weber Hsu, CEO of iCatch Technology. "With a longstanding and productive relationship with iCatch Technology, our shared vision is to actively work with our end customers to drive the advancement of fleet management based on this innovative solution ", said Tommy Lee, CEO of FS Solution.iCatch Technology and FS Solution will continue to push the boundaries of innovation in the automotive imaging industry. With cars becoming highly automated, there is increasing requirement on the reliability of the processors inside the driver assistance systems. iCatch Technology has been working toward ISO26262 certification and will introduce AI image processor with functional safety qualification in the future to meet safety requirements. On the other hand, FS Solution has been actively developing AI algorithms for smart cabin application, including age and emotion detection, abnormal behavior detection and face recognition. Both companies are committed to help redefine the future landscape of transportation and drive the technological advancement within the rapidly evolving new mobility sector.