Small businesses supported by the NSSN have received government funding to solve two priority state challenges: delivery of healthcare to linguistically diverse communities, and vital sign monitoring of inmates who are at risk of self-harm in their cells.

The two projects will help inmates at risk of suicide, and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities in the South Western Sydney Local Health District. Photos: AdobeStock

The NSW Government announced this week it has awarded over $1 million in grant funding to develop solutions for seven challenges facing NSW through the 2022 NSW Small Business Innovation & Research (SBIR) program.

VideoTranslator and Vital Photonics are two of 11 NSW small businesses which have received up to $100,000 each to undertake a feasibility study into their proposed solutions.

Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Challenge

VideoTranslator in collaboration with NSSN Machine Learning and Data Engineer Dr Ayu Saraswati and a University of Newcastle team led by Associate Professor Kiwako Ito will trial artificial intelligence (AI) powered solutions to support the real-time delivery of health services to Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities for the South Western Sydney Local Health District.

Medical interpretation services in the local health district are in high demand in the area which has a high proportion of English as a Second Language speakers and is one of the largest diverse communities in Australia.

The wide variety of languages is particularly challenging for midwifes and nurses when communicating with families and patients outside of the acute care setting.

“Interpretation services are crucial to provide quality care for all, including CALD communities,” Dr Saraswati said.

“AI has the potential to extend their reach and capacity to empower patients with their understanding of their care options, medical advice, consultations, treatment, prognosis and ongoing management.”

The VideoTranslator feasilibility study will look to provide AI chat text functions, audio and video transcription, translation and voiceover into 20 CALD languages, including Arabic and Vietnamese.

The study will also look at creating and maintaining a dictionary of around 2500 medical terms related to nursing and midwifery with an option for Auslan (Australian Sign Language).

It’s hoped the VideoTranslator study of voice-to-text transcription, translation and analysis software will eventually help with communication during antenatal visits and the multicultural patient experience.

Non-Invasive Vital Sign Monitoring Challenge

Vital Photonics Pty Ltd will conduct a feasibility study of a photonic-enhanced radar sensor paired with AI to monitor vital signs and detect potential irregularities for Corrective Services NSW.

The department is seeking non-invasive technology solutions to monitor the vital signs of inmates while in their cells, specifically to help prevent at-risk inmates committing self-harm.

Vital Photonics Pty Ltd is a spin-off whose co-founders are NSSN Co-Director Professor Ben Eggleton, Dr Ziqian Zhang (a Postdoctorate in Prof Eggleton’s team) and NSSN Environment Theme Leader Dr Tomonori Hu.

Their proposal is based on technology developed and patented by scientists at Sydney Nano and the School of Physics last year and published in Nature Photonics.

The application of the novel radar technology to vital sign detection was inspired by the NSSN’s leadership in sensors in aged care and co-design workshops on ageing in place.

The NSSN’s Dr Tomonori Hu and Dr Ayu Saraswati supported the project application.

NSW correctional centres already have several monitoring systems, including cell cameras, monitoring rooms manned by officers, and routine physical cell checks performed by officers.

However, the monitoring of vital health signs for at-risk inmates is reliant on camera or human vision that monitors numerous inmates in cells simultaneously.

A real-time, technologically advanced system placed in high-risk settings would allow the department to provide an advanced level of monitoring of inmates’ vital health signs that has not been possible before.

“We hope to come up with a solution for Corrective Services NSW that will non-invasively monitor at-risk inmates for movement, heartbeat, and respiration, and report and raise alarms in real-time,” Vital PhotonicsPty Ltd Co-Founder and NSSN Co-Director Professor Ben Eggleton said.

Next steps

If the three-month long feasibility studies are successful, VideoTranslator and Vital Photonics will have the opportunity to apply for further funding to undertake a proof-of-concept in 2024.

“The SBIR program demonstrates that the NSW Government is committed to leveraging the innovative capabilities of NSW small businesses and growing local jobs and industry through the power of government procurement,” NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte said.

“The SBIR program showcases the best of NSW Government agencies driving innovation to improve the quality and efficacy of government services in NSW.”

The NSSN’s success in this latest round builds on success in earlier rounds of the SBIR program.

Learn more about the SBIR program.

Innovative projects win funding to help vulnerable communities