Yongin’s Smart Monitoring System Elevates Citizen Safety
Yongin City has launched an innovative welfare initiative dubbed the ‘AI Well-Check Service,’ leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and big data analytics from power and telecommunications sectors to ensure the safety and well-being of citizens living alone, who are at high risk of social isolation.
Implemented as a proactive one-stop safety net, the service began as a pilot project in July last year following collaborations between the city administration, Korea Electric Power Corporation, SK Telecom, and the non-profit Happy Connect Foundation. The initiative now extends its protective embrace to around 200 households.
Those benefiting from this service are carefully identified through comprehensive surveys administered by administrative welfare centers at the local community level, as well as through reports from residents. The service proceeds with the provision of consent by the selected individuals.
The ‘AI Well-Check Service’ operates without the need for installing any additional devices in the homes. Instead, it monitors electricity and communication usage patterns in conjunction with a caregiving app to rapidly detect signals that may indicate a crisis.
In the event that 24 hours pass without any detected communication or power usage, an AI-powered call is made to check in on the individual. Should there be no response, city control center personnel make a second, direct attempt to reach out. Failure to establish contact prompts a personal visit to the household in question.
From January to March of this year, the system registered 194 instances of potential danger signals, leading to 116 secondary check-ins and 4 cases necessitating on-site visits.
Officials underscore the growing necessity of such welfare services for increasing single-person households and those in the vulnerable social strata. The employment of AI systems for the ‘Well-Check Service’ and other smart technology integrations is seen as pivotal for elevating the quality of welfare services provided by the city.
Advantages of Yongin’s AI-Powered Welfare Program:
– Enhanced Safety: The system detects potential emergency situations by monitoring utility usage, enabling rapid response to ensure the safety of citizens living alone who may be at risk.
– Prevention of Social Isolation: Regular check-ins promote community engagement and help prevent the social isolation often experienced by single households.
– Cost-Effective: Utilizing existing infrastructure such as power and telecommunications data, the program does not require additional costly devices or installations.
– Scalability: The use of AI and big data analytics allows the program to be easily scaled to cover more households as needed.
Disadvantages of Yongin’s AI-Powered Welfare Program:
– Privacy Concerns: The program’s heavy reliance on personal usage data may raise concerns over privacy and data security among participants.
– False Positives/Negatives: AI algorithms may not always accurately interpret signals, potentially leading to unnecessary check-ins (false positives) or missing genuine cases of distress (false negatives).
– Technology Limitations: Residents without consistent patterns of utility usage may not be effectively monitored, and those not adept with technology might be inadvertently excluded.
Key Questions and Answers:
– What framework ensures the protection of the data collected? Detailed information about data protection is not provided in the article but would typically involve adherence to data privacy regulations and robust cybersecurity measures.
– How does the system determine whom to enroll in the service? Individuals are identified through surveys and reports from local residents and must provide consent to be enrolled.
– What happens after an on-site visit if a resident is found in need of assistance? This is not mentioned in the article, but typically, emergency services or welfare support would be provided as per the situation.
Key Challenges and Controversies:
– Data Privacy: Managing and protecting the sensitive data of citizens without infringing on their privacy is a key challenge.
– Technical Reliability: Ensuring the AI system consistently provides accurate and reliable monitoring is crucial to its success.
For more information on AI welfare initiatives or to understand how data and AI are being used responsibly in smart city projects, the following links could be explored:
– IEEE: Global technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology.
– Smart Cities World: A platform that provides insights on smart city developments around the globe.
– OECD: Offers research and guidelines on policies including digital government and AI.
– Privacy International: An organization that investigates privacy concerns in technology implementations.
The implementation of Yongin’s ‘AI Well-Check Service’ showcases an innovative application of technology in public welfare but also underlines the need for balanced consideration of benefits and potential drawbacks, especially pertaining to privacy and inclusivity.
The source of the article is from the blog foodnext.nl