Note: This feature was first published on 5 September 2024.
MINDS and ITE were showcasing their solutions on the sidelines of the Dell Technologies Forum 2024. Photo: Dell.
At this year’s Dell Technologies Forum, we were presented with AI-based projects from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and Movement for the Intellectually Disabled in Singapore (MINDS).
While there is a lot of hype around AI, especially generative or gen AI, gen AI isn’t the only AI option out there as the projects from ITE and MINDS were to show.
The world of education and community services is being transformed by artificial intelligence (AI), as shown by innovative partnerships like those between Dell Technologies, MINDS and the ITE. They show how AI can enhance learning, social inclusion, and quality of life while targeting diverse needs and community groups. MINDS and ITE are employing various AI technologies that go beyond the scope of the more familiar gen AI, while demonstrating their commitment to inclusivity and innovation.
MINDS and Dell: Enhancing Accessibility and Inclusion
Some of the development team sharing details on the SportTogether app. Photo: HWZ.
MINDS is dedicated to improving the lives of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (PWIDs) through its Life+ framework, which emphasises social inclusion, especially in leisure and recreational activities. During Dell InnovateFest 2023— a hackathon with a social impact focus, MINDS presented how they wanted to use technology and AI to enhance accessibility to sports and promote the quality of life for PWIDs through a partnership with Dell.
The challenge faced was that many PWIDs struggle to participate in sports due to factors such as a lack of opportunity and support in accessing community sporting facilities as well as limited motivation, often resulting in them having reduced physical activity. As Assistant Manager for Experimentation and Innovation at MINDS, Lenny Lai said, “We believe technology can be an enabler to solve this.”
How the app works. Photo: HWZ.
The solution that emerged from this collaboration was SportTogether, a mobile application designed to foster inclusivity and safety in sports activities for PWIDs. The app allows volunteers to host sporting events that PWIDs can join, featuring real-time notifications and GPS tracking to provide caregivers with peace of mind. It also includes a user-friendly interface, tailored specifically for PWIDs, that has been rigorously tested with the MINDS community. The application can also be extended to support other social-recreational activities beyond sports.
According to Lai, the main challenge was to simplify the right technology to best cater to the needs of the PWIDs, with the app needing to be user-friendly for the PWIDs. “SportTogether was a result of the partnership between MINDS and Dell Technologies. Through this collaboration, MINDS brought their expertise on understanding the needs of the PWIDs, while Dell provided mentorship to the students on the appropriate technology to use,” Lai added, “Dell guided the students in cloud-native software development and production capabilities. Combining the strengths and expertise of both organisations was the key to the project’s success.”
How location tracking will work. Photo: HWZ.
The potential of AI in SportTogether goes further, with plans to integrate personalised recommendations based on user preferences and activity patterns. The team also envisions AI-driven speech-to-text capabilities to assist PWIDs with reading difficulties, making the application even more accessible. These features align with Dell's mission of using AI to drive human progress and empower underserved communities.
To deal with privacy and security concerns, the team received training from Dell in building a secure app with privacy and security in mind. The app will only collect data necessary for its functionality, minimising the risk of data breaches. Additionally, the team was also trained to apply role-based access controls, ensuring only verified users can access the mobile application. Users will also have the option to withdraw consent for tracking within the app.
Having undergone three rounds of testing with the volunteers and PWIDs so far, the team that developed SportTogether hopes to launch the mobile application for Minds by March 2025.
ITE and Dell: Empowering Education through AI
How PoseMaster tracks your movements. Photo HWZ.
The Institute of Technical Education (ITE) has also embraced AI to advance educational experiences, with a particular focus on innovative learning tools. During the Dell Technologies Forum, ITE showcased two groundbreaking solutions: PoseMaster and eLITE (Enhanced LLM for Institute of Technical Education).
PoseMaster originated during the COVID-19 pandemic as a response to the limited access to exercise guidance when people were confined to their homes. This AI-powered tool uses pose estimation models to provide real-time feedback on body posture during exercises. It can be used in different forms, ranging from helping fitness enthusiasts to guiding dancers and even providing fall detection for elderly care. Such adaptability underscores AI's potential to cater to diverse needs, the development team says.
An eLITE generated course guide. Photo: HWZ.
eLITE, on the other hand, focuses on enhancing the educational process. It can be used to generate lecture notes including interactive sessions, and breakout recommendations for teachers.
eLITE works by leveraging open-source large language models (LLMs) and integrating Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) techniques, eLITE streamlines curriculum development and supports teaching and learning.
Retrieval augmented generation is a technique for enhancing the accuracy and reliability of generative AI models with facts fetched from external sources. It works by retrieving the relevant data and using it as augmented context for the LLM. Instead of relying solely on knowledge derived from the training data, a RAG workflow pulls relevant information and connects static LLMs with real-time data retrieval.
eLITE emphasises data privacy and security through on-premise hosting, which is crucial in an educational setting. This initiative was further supported by Dell's loan of high-performance workstations, which allowed ITE students to develop and showcase their AI-driven innovations.
Differentiating AI Applications: Beyond Generative AI
One form of gen AI for fun is the Playbrary app from The National Library Board Singapore (NLB) that turns books into adventure games using gen AI. Photo: NLB.
While the term "AI" often brings to mind generative AI models that create text, images, or other content (like OpenAI's GPT-4), the initiatives by MINDS and ITE showcase different facets of AI. SportTogether and PoseMaster utilise AI for real-time feedback and personalisation based on user interaction, which falls under the category of applied AI. These systems focus on using existing data to improve user experience and accessibility rather than generating new content.
eLITE, incorporating elements like RAG, blends AI with data retrieval techniques to enhance the functionality of LLMs, making them more responsive and context-aware. This approach contrasts with purely generative models by integrating existing knowledge bases and enhancing AI’s utility in practical, real-world applications.
The collaboration between Dell Technologies, MINDS, and ITE exemplifies the transformative potential of AI in education and community services. By leveraging different types of AI — ranging from pose estimation and personalised recommendations to secure, enhanced learning models — these organisations are paving the way for a more inclusive and effective use of technology. These initiatives not only address current challenges but also set a precedent for how AI can be harnessed to foster inclusivity, enhance learning experiences, and ultimately improve the quality of life for various community members.
Read Next: Catch up on more AI and Gen AI stories from HWZ.
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