OMNIVISION, a leading global developer of semiconductor solutions, including advanced digital imaging, analog and touch & display technology, and iCatch Technology, a leading AI image processing IC design company, announced today a strategic collaboration to introduce a color pre-roll feature into the home security camera market. With pre-roll enabled users can save up to four seconds of video footage prior to the camera's motion detector triggering.The partnership involves integrating OMNIVISION's OA07600 ultra-low-power, always-on video co-processor with a pre-roll recording buffer and iCatch Technology's Vi57 artificial intelligence (AI) imaging system-on-chip (SoC) to enable continuous storage of pre-event color video footage. This integrated chipset delivers an innovative video doorbell solution that offers exceptional traceability and visibility during any triggering event.Pre-roll video doorbell scenarioPhoto: iCatch TechnologyiCatch Technology's Vi57 is an imaging SoC with ultra-fast capture and edge AI capability to improve the general usability of video doorbells. Taking the pre-roll footage from OMNIVISION's OA07600 co-processor, Vi57 SoC can seamlessly combine it with post-event footage into one video with minimal data loss. Moreover, with state-of-the-art image processing, the Vi57 SoC is capable of providing high-quality video in full color, even under extreme low-light conditions. With this innovation, color information can be utilized to provide users with a better understanding and enhanced traceability of the incident."We are thrilled to collaborate with OMNIVISION to integrate their advanced color pre-roll solution for the video doorbell market," said Weber Hsu, CEO of iCatch Technology. "By combining OMNIVISION's OA07600 video co-processor with our Vi57 AI imaging SoC, we are closing the gap of the user experience between wired and wireless home security cameras, offering both ease of installation and incident traceability at the same time."David Ho, Technical Director of Product Management at OMNIVISION, added, "The OA07600 is the industry's first ultra-low-power, always-on video co-processor with pre-roll. Our unique low-power design of the OA07600 makes it possible for the first time to bring high-quality pre-roll video into battery-powered systems. We are excited to partner with iCatch Technology to integrate the OA07600 with their Vi57 SoC and bring a new level of performance to wireless home security camera OEMs."The cooperation between iCatch Technology and OMNIVISION ensures that a battery-powered video doorbell with the color pre-roll feature delivers an enhanced user experience and elevates the security standard of the video doorbell to new heights. This color pre-roll video doorbell solution jointly developed by iCatch Technology and OMNIVISION is in mass production now and available for customer engagement. For more information, contact iCatch through their website.

Over its 25-year history, Prosemi has become a trusted source for testing electronic components among some of the world's largest CEMs and OEMs. As the largest test house in Southeast Asia, Prosemi is equipped to address the risks of counterfeit electronic and substandard components, which pose significant risks to the electronics industry, as they may compromise the functionality, reliability, and safety of devices. To go beyond baseline testing and assessment, Prosemi invests in the latest quality solutions and technology, as well as various certifications, to set the highest standards. This is where the C-mode scanning acoustic microscopy (C-SAM) tool is largely beneficial for customers concerned with defective, cloned, renewed, or recycled parts.Deploying the C-SAM ToolTo address the risks in the market, the industry has developed several standardized testing methods, which include destructive analysis. Destructive analysis is particularly effective in the recycled and remarked areas. One way to conduct an analysis is with C-SAM, a destructive testing tool where parts are submerged in deionized water.C-SAM ToolHow C-SAM WorksC-SAM utilizes high-frequency ultrasound waves to inspect and create images of the internal structures of samples, providing valuable insights into their properties. This technique is commonly used for quality control and failure analysis in numerous industries, including electronics, semiconductor manufacturing, aerospace, and materials science. It is particularly valuable for counterfeit analysis due to its ability to identify anomalies and inconsistencies in the packaging and construction of semiconductor components.By using C-SAM, the internal structure of the packaged semiconductor can be visualized without physically opening them. The tool tests for internal voids or delamination between molding to die and molding to lead frames. By comparing these images with known authentic components, any deviations or irregularities can be identified, indicating potential counterfeiting.Delamination occurs when different layers within a semiconductor package separate. Through C-SAM, cracks, voids, or delamination between the die and die paddle can be detected, indicating potential repackaging or improper assembly, or handling or storage issues. These delamination problems are often found in counterfeit devices that have undergone improper handling or rework, particularly with recycled parts from printed circuit boards (PCBs).Prosemi's Commitment to Authentication and Quality AssuranceProsemi's acquisition of a high-end C-SAM machine and extensive expertise represents a significant advancement in authenticating electronic components and ensuring top-quality assurance. The company's commitment to unique value propositions and innovative approaches have been recognized with the prestigious Manufacturing Technology award that Prosemi recently received at the SBR (Singapore Business Review) National Business Awards, recognizing its exceptional in-house electrical testing solutions.Combining the C-SAM tool with the addition of IDEA-STD-1010, and leveraging other cutting-edge equipment like Scanning Electron Microscope, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, electrical functional, and JTAG boundary scanning test solutions, Prosemi confidently positions itself as a leader in driving advancements and shaping the future of testing methodologies and solidifies its prominent standing within the industry.Are you worried about the authenticity of electronic components? Get in touch with Prosemi today.Prosemi has built a reputation among the world's largest CMs and OEMs for testing electronic components and providing baking, tape and reel, and IC programming services. Prosemi's world-class services are driven by their commitment to quality, extensive industry experience and exceptional technical capabilities. Learn more about Prosemi's quality program and view current certifications here.

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

As the world grapples with mounting environmental challenges and income disparity, startups are seeking to address niche markets and deliver innovative, sustainable solutions that generate real value for end users. Takachar is focused on harnessing the power of pyrolysis to transform agricultural and forestry residues into valuable resources. With a mission to relieve the pressing waste disposal needs of rural communities, Takachar offers a valuable solution to both local farmers and the global ecosystem, thereby advancing climate justice on behalf of rural, underserved communities. By converting waste biomass into biofuels, charcoal, and other valuable organic products, Takachar not only reduces environmental pollution but also unlocks economic opportunities and promotes sustainable practices.DIGITIMES Asia spoke with Kevin Kung, co-founder, president, and CTO of Takachar, about his company's product and sense of purpose, as well as some of the challenges in bringing new technologies to markets where few have sought to tread before.Residual matter: an old problem redeveloped as a new opportunityWaste biomass, also known as agricultural or forest residues, comprise matter from farms or woodlands that are generally regarded as having no market value. Examples can include nut shells, corn husks, wheat chaff, and tree bark. Lacking better methods of waste biomass disposal, rural communities around the world turn to open burning for their agricultural and forestry residues, resulting in pollution and wasted economic opportunities. Takachar estimates that the real value of those waste products – from coconut shells to rice husks and tree branches – represents around US$120 billion dollars per year.Takachar envisions this vast mass of organic waste as a lucrative opportunity rather than a problem. With a novel thermochemical process at the core, they have designed and patented small-scale, low-cost, portable equipment capable of transforming waste biomass into fuel, fertilizer, and specialty chemicals. This process is not only economically viable but also helps in reducing pollution.Takachar's machine, a self-contained moving bed reactor called the MiniTorr, is designed to be towed by a tractor or hauled by a pickup truck, able to be operated and maintained simply and safely with some basic training and common tools. The MiniTorr empowers small, rural communities to convert their agricultural and forestry waste into useful and commercially viable organic products such as fuel and soil additives."The machine itself was designed to be pretty simple," said Kung. That simplicity, however, was its own engineering challenge. "It's difficult to design something that works in rural areas often without electricity or running water. It's meant to be maintained and repaired locally with off-the-shelf parts." Operating a unit is similarly uncomplicated, with only some basic training required thanks to the MiniTorr's control system and safety features. "If you have different inputs today, or because it rained today and the input material is wet, or you want a different output today, then our control system knows how to handle that so the farmer or local end user doesn't have to become a chemical engineering expert to make that work."Takachar prioritizes safety in operating the MiniTorr. Kung emphasized that "the equipment training is more so on the operation and safety side." They equip users with the necessary skills to handle heavy loads safely and minimize exposure to high temperatures within the thermochemical reactor. By providing a safe and user-friendly system, Takachar empowers farmers and local communities to utilize their technology effectively.At the time of the interview, Takachar currently deploys five MiniTorrs: one in British Columbia, one in California, and three in India. In the South Indian coconut-growing belt to which several MiniTorrs are deployed, Takachar's technology finds relevance as it converts discarded coconut shells into activated carbon precursors. Local growers benefit from cleaner and more environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional production methods, allowing them to participate in the activated carbon supply chain and improve their material conditions.You can do good and do well: a plan for sustainable growthMiniTorrs that have already been deployed have demonstrated their value in turning waste into saleable goods. When asked about the next steps in growing the business, Kung is quick to lay out Takachar's strategy. "We'd be targeting the same supply chain, the hardware OEMs (original equipment manufacturers), who can produce and sell this as a complementary product to their clientele through the existing dealership network." By collaborating with OEMs, Takachar aims to scale their operations without the limitations of individual ownership and operation.While there already exist some processes for disposing of or converting waste biomass, those solutions are out of reach of most rural agricultural communities. "A lot of the current conversion process is such that you find a long term offtake with a mill or a centralized place where you can get a 20 year contract for the conversion, and you would then invest or do a project development around that, which often will cost at least a few million dollars in terms of capital, equipment, and so forth. That is one viable business model, especially if you have a point source on biomass. But those technologies tend to exclude a lot of the rural biomass because they are fundamentally incompatible," explains Kung. "So where we play is really at those more remote and hard to access regions where it does not make sense for a lot of those large scale technologies to deploy. That's how we think of ourselves."Trash to treasure"A lot of the value is derived from upgrading the residue into something that's higher value," explains Kevin Kung. Takachar's model creates value through upgrading residues into higher-value products like soil amendments. These outputs not only offer economic benefits, attracting investors and buyers but also contribute to a cleaner and greener environment, making their technology more sustainable and impactful. "There's also the carbon credit piece, because a lot of our outputs are carbon negative or carbon mitigating, which means that you can take it out to the carbon market and fetch additional revenue from prospective carbon credit buyers. So that is another value being created."Takachar's journey goes beyond their current deployments. "We have growing interest in North America, especially in the forestry side of things," says Kung. Takachar is exploring opportunities in Kenya and East Asia, including Taiwan, where Kevin was raised during his early childhood. Kung remembers the smell of rice stalk stubble being burnt after the harvest. "That stays with me as a nostalgic memory," he says, "but when I visit Taiwan now and take the high speed train through central or southern Taiwan, I still see that today." He highlights the significance of community-centric design, ensuring Takachar's technology resonates with users and fosters lasting impacts within communities."I think when it comes to biomass," continues Kung, "one big challenge is that it's highly context dependent. The coconut value chain is different from the rice value chain, which is different from forestry. So traditionally, it has made things very difficult to scale. And I think for us, especially as a decentralized fleet, to scale, we need to master our operations with regard to these different contexts. And not only respect, but also design and co-design with those local communities with respect to local needs, which are often very different."Takachar's journey is a testament to the power of sustainable technology in combatting climate change and driving positive change in rural communities. With their MiniTorr machine, the startup is blazing a trail for a greener, cleaner future, transforming waste biomass into valuable resources while creating economic opportunities and reducing pollution. Through a combination of innovation, partnerships, and human-centric design, Takachar is a bright example of how environmental technology can pave the path towards a more sustainable and prosperous world.

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