“Kaiteki Watch" for the Prevention of Heat Stroke
New Cosmos Electric Co., Ltd.
| Publication date | September 1, 2021 (Posted on March 30, 2023) |
|---|---|
| Sector | Human Health |
Company Overview
Since our establishment, New Cosmos Electric Co., Ltd. has been developing residential gas alarms, industrial stationary gas detection alarms, portable gas detectors, as well as odor sensors and further products using our unique gas sensor technology, which have been used for safety, security and comfort in a wide range of scenes from households to industrial fields.
In recent years, we have also expanded into new areas, such as the sales of residential fire alarms that detects carbon monoxide, utilizing our expertise cultivated through gas alarms, and gas alarms and gas detectors that utilize IoT, as well as devices that detect carbon dioxide and help prevent the Three Cs for COVID-19.
Climate Change Impacts
In recent years, with the rise in temperature due to global warming, the number of emergency patients transported and the fatality rate due to heat stroke have been increasing. According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency's "Emergency Transportation Status Due to Heat Stroke in FY2008," about 40% of heat stroke cases occur in houses, and approximately half of them are senior citizens over the age of 65.
We were required to develop new products that made the most of the features of gas alarms that monitors the kitchen 24 hours a day at the same location, and focused on heat stroke.
Adaptation Initiatives
Under the nickname Kaiteki Watch, we have developed and have been providing residential city gas alarms, LP gas alarms, and residential fire alarms with carbon monoxide (CO) detection functions that are equipped with a new, unprecedented function that alerts the user of heat stroke and dryness (Figure 1).
In the summer, the Kaiteki Watch calculates the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) based on temperature and humidity, and alerts the user with a flash and voice when there is a risk of heat stroke. In the winter, the system monitors the absolute humidity and temperature, which are factors that connect to the spread of seasonal influenza, and alerts the user when the air becomes too dry, which is a factor that makes it easier for the virus to survive (Figure 2).
In addition, gas alarms are rapidly advancing into IoT devices, and a number of residential gas alarms with new services added by connecting them to the Internet have been produced. As an example, Kaiteki Watch SMART detects gas leaks and CO, and also notifies the user of the temperature, humidity, and the opening/closing of doors to smartphones by using the attached sensor. This is useful in a variety of situations such as simple security, daily life surveillance, and confirming family members coming home. "Sumapiko," currently sold by Osaka Gas, is a gas alarm with a unique function that uses a motion sensor that speaks when a person approaches, and is connected to the Internet to provide weather forecasts and disaster information for the area where the user lives, and alert the user to raise awareness for heat stroke. It is also the first city gas alarm in Japan to be collaborated with the municipal government (Osaka City and Osaka Prefectural Police).
Effects / Expected Benefits
In addition to the conventional functions of notifying gas leaks, carbon monoxide, and fires, alarms with new functions to warn dangers such as heat stroke will be a useful and indispensable part of our daily lives. The IoT is expected to evolve into an essential hardware to provide services that make our living environment more comfortable, and contribute to further safety, security, and comfort in our lives.
