Newton's Meter

What makes your solution innovative?

First and foremost, Newton's Meter is able to detect crashes and falls automatically upon impact. A majority of the time, people who fall, especially the elderly tend to either become unconscious or unable to move due to injuries from the fall, or from weakness which results in a long lie.

Existing manual activated SOS systems are unable to serve these individuals who are in fact the most vulnerable and most in need of immediate medical attention since the fall takes a greater toll on them. Timely medical help is crucial and for almost all injuries, treatment within the Golden Hour and ideally, the Platinum Ten for more severe injuries, is crucial. Thus, Newton's Meter is able to call for help on behalf of the people who both need it the most and are currently being underserved by existing solutions. The caregivers being notified of the accident/emergency within a second of its occurrence provides peace of mind and relieves caregiving stress.

The next differentiator here is the use of a patent-pending motion printing module in Newton's Meter. The motion printing module is a machine learning based application that is able to detect specific movements of the user, and in 150 hours of use determines a threshold that is tapered to the user. This ensures that Newton's Meter is reliably activated each time there's a fall or crash that could cause harm, while also keeping false positives below 1%. Through this, Newton's Meter acquires help for users while also not overburdening the healthcare system.

Another key feature here is the no-subscription model that we offer, along with global compatibility. This keeps Newton's Meter affordable, as well as removes the hassle of paying fees monthly. Global compatibility means that no replacement is needed when people travel or even migrate. This engenders much greater convenience and versatility compared to products in the market that charge subscriptions or only work locally. 

Newton's Meter also has a seamless patent-pending design, and allows for children to discreetly call for help if they feel threatened, without aggravating potential perpetrators. It is activated via long press and thus significantly reduces that chance of false alarms.

The Newton's Meter Mesh for Healthcare Systems also allows for Geofencing and Contact Tracing along with its use as a fall-detection device. It also allows for differentiation and marking between devices in a same set, this allows functional groups to be created and enforced seamlessly, which is crucial in pandemics like the one we're living in today. While many devices can perform bluetooth based contact tracing, and there are Geofence tokens available as well, Newton's Meter integrates all of these functionalities into one solution. This greatly increases convenience on the part of the Healthcare System as well as reduces the possibility of human error(not bringing/wearing a certain token). It thus provides an all-in-one safety, security, and data analytics solution. 

The most unique feature in the Newton's Meter Mesh is the security application of theft-proof Access Control. Common methods of access control such as physical keys or RFID cards can be stolen and then compromised. More secure methods, like Biometric passes require the storage of sensitive personal data and can also be prohibitively expensive. Newton's Meter addresses this gap. 

Due to its Bluetooth signals, Newton's Meter can be programmed as a key, and respective devices can be given authorisations as per the user. However, if anyone tries to steal another person's Newton's Meter, the motion printing module in the device immediately recognises that it isn't the same person due to fine differences in movement and deviation from the recognised profile. The moment this detection is done, the device automatically loses all authorisation and begins to send an alert stating that it's been stolen. This ensures a high level of security at great convenience and affordability without the need for storing sensitive data. This also allows for a leaner security presence required in Healthcare Systems, which are many times understaffed and lead to overwork among healthcare workers.

Lastly, and crucially, Newton's Meter champions the concept of simple plug-and-play senior centric design. In a world where technological solutions are becoming more and more complicated, and sometimes require specialist/prior knowledge to effectively set-up or use. Newton's Meter seeks to remove that hassle altogether, through a one-time set-up taking less than 10 minutes, with little knowledge or action required on the part of the user. We believe that this is crucial, as the gap between developers and users of technology widens, especially in eldercare applications. During the Lab on Wheels Initiative, many elderly participants told me that they found technological developments to be more of a frustration than a convenience, and that they felt disenfranchised by technology. Here is where Newton's Meter seeks to affect catalytic change across the entire industry by presenting and advocating for senior-centric design. This would make products much easier to use for caregivers, while also including our elderly users and giving them a sense of independence and empowerment.

What are your impact goals for the next year and the next five years, and how will you achieve them?

1. Ensure every person who requires medical attention after a crash/fall receives it rapidly.

With automatic detection upon impact, medical attention will be called for immediately after the incident, even if the victim is unconscious or alone.

2. Reduce fall-related fatalities and severe injuries among the elderly and children.

By significantly reducing medical response times, we are able to mitigate the severity of trauma related injuries since a majority of them are exacerbated by delayed response.

3. Reduce kidnapping and sexual assault cases against children, and prevent children from going missing.

Through discreet activation, children are immediately able to alert their parents and the emergency services of their exact GPS location. This reduces the need for them to describe their surroundings and is less likely to alert and aggravate a perpetrator. If a child is lost and does not know the way back, a simple long press can inform their parents of their location. This allows for rapid intervention without escalation of the situation.

4. Provide caregivers peace-of-mind even when they're not around.

With caregivers informed within a second of any accident, emergency, or threat, there isn't a need for constant monitoring. This frees up caregivers time, and allows for them to be assured that the people they care for are safe.

5. Facilitate greater Gender Equality in Caregiving and Care.

By reducing the time and labour intensiveness of caregiving activities in both eldercare and childcare, caregivers, who are 66% women, would be more free to pursue professional and personal aspirations, without compromising on the quality of care. 

Among the elderly population, women are also more likely to live alone and are thus currently underserved by existing solutions. Through Newton's Meter's automatic fall detection, they can receive the care they require rapidly, even if they're unconscious or alone.

6. Reduce overwork among healthcare staff.

By reducing the manpower requirement in healthcare systems through an integrated safety, security, and analytics system, we reduce the need for healthcare workers to double up as security personnel/engage in constant monitoring of areas. By heightening the levels of security in the healthcare system, hospitals are also more able to hire contract labour when required, reducing burnout.

7. Prevent the spread of infectious disease in eldercare centres.

Through contact tracing and ring-fencing, as well as geofencing applications,  we are able to quickly detect, track, and isolate close contacts and contaminated areas in infectious disease cases. This prevents the spread of disease, which is crucial in eldercare centres, since many patients have reduced immunity.

8. Show the elderly how technology can empower them.

Through intuitive and easy to use senior-centric design, we aim to close the technology gap between developer and consumer, and allow the elderly to interact with and use technology for their convenience, rather than be hassled by it.

How are you measuring your progress toward your impact goals?

1. Average time taken for medical help to be received after falls

2. (a) Fall Death Rate

    (b)Disability Adjusted Life Years(DALY) from Falls

3. (a) Number of Kidnappings against Children

    (b) Number of Sexual Assaults on Children

    (c) Number of Missing Children

4. Perceived Stress Scale

5. (a) Proportion of time spent on unpaid care work, by sex

    (b) Proportion of falls resulting in death or severe injury, by sex

6. (a) Maslach Burnout Inventory(MBI)

    (b) Average Working Hours among Healthcare Staff

7. (a) Number of Infectious Disease Clusters

    (b) Size of Infectious Disease Clusters

8. Technology Acceptance Model(TAM), notably

    (i) Perceived Usefulness(PU)

    (ii) Perceived Ease of Use(PEOU)

What is your theory of change?

With reference to the problems detailed earlier, (1: Unconscious Fallers remain unserved, 2: Seniors' lack of receptiveness to technology, 3: Child Abduction and Sexual Abuse, 4: Burnout among Healthcare Workers)

1. Newton's Meter calls for help automatically when the user can't; this significantly reduces medical response times and decreases both fatality and severe injury rates. This also provides peace of mind to caregivers and allows for greater flexibility and a lower investment of time required.

In the short term, we decrease the chance of serious injury from falls. In the long run, we can also reduce the post-fall anxiety syndrome amongst the elderly population. Post-fall anxiety syndrome can lead to depression, voluntary avoidance of movement, and anxiety. 

These can significantly hamper the quality of life of the person. However, many of these anxieties are induced through a long lie, a post-fall condition whereby the elderly person is unattended to and unable to get up.

Receiving prompt medical attention mitigates the chance of long lies and would thus reduce the occurrence of post-fall anxiety syndrome. This would lead to the elderly being able to pursue a more active lifestyle and enjoy a heightened quality of life.

2. Newton's Meter's intuitive and senior-centric design allows for greater ease of use among the elderly, while also serving a function useful to them is likely to engender greater acceptance as per the Technology Acceptance Model(TAM).

In the short term, this would mean that the elderly are able to have greater engagement with Newton's Meter and feel like active users of it. Elderly people living alone will also feel a greater sense of independence and feel empowered by it.

In the long run, this would result in a change of attitudes towards the idea of eldercare technology itself and spur greater adoption of technology, and the derived benefits thereof. This was one of our findings through the IMDA Lab on Wheels initiative, where exposure to intuitive technology engenders greater receptiveness to the concept of technology.

3. The emergency button feature on Newton's Meter allows for rapid and discreet dissemination of an SOS message with the exact GPS coordinates. 

This allows for better protection of children and informs caregivers immediately, without escalating the situation or putting the children at risk.

Short term impacts of this include potential perpetrators being less likely to attempt abduction or sexual abuse once knowledge of this solution becomes more widespread.

The long term impact here would be an end to the paralysing culture of terror that exists in certain communities among children and caregivers, where they constantly feel the need to be on the lookout. 

Now, children would be able to play freely with less fear while caregivers don't feel as much of a need to constantly monitor children.

4. Newton's Meter is able to conduct monitoring in the B2B setup, as well as enhance safety and security in the healthcare system. Newton's Meter can also perform contact tracing, a labour intensive job that is usually required of healthcare workers during infectious disease outbreaks. 

These applications make it such that healthcare workers have lesser need to multitask and have a comparatively lighter workload. These risk factors reduce the risk of healthcare workers burning out in the short run, creating a more sustainable workplace.

In the long term, this would lead to heightened quality of eldercare in these institutions as healthcare professionals would be able to have more focus and feel less exhausted, as well as significantly mitigate the risk of disease outbreaks in hospitals and nursing homes. This is crucial as the elderly are typically immunocompromised.

Sources:

Approach to falls among the Elderly (Singapore Medical Journal)

Technology Acceptance Model (MIS Quarterly)

Prevalence of Child Sexual Abuse and Resulting Fears (Hindustan Times)

Prevalence and Impact of Burnout in Healthcare Workers (PubMed Central)

Describe the core technology that powers your solution.

One of the core technologies in Newton's Meter is Machine Learning, which is the foundation of our motion printing module. This works by capturing each movement of the user over 150 hours of use until a profile is created. This profile allows for our machine learning module to adjust the impact threshold and serves as a reference point for theft-proof Access Control. This is because different people have different fall thresholds, with the elderly for example, likely to require medical attention for a fall that may not harm an adolescent.

Another key technology we use here is Internet of Things(IoT) technology. Essentially, Newton's Meter is able to 'communicate' with the mobile phone through the Bluetooth low-energy(BLE) connection, sending an SOS message and exact GPS coordinates. The phone then transmits this cellularly through SMS as coordinated by the Newton's Meter App. This application allows for Newton's Meter to call for help on behalf of someone incapacitated. We've also developed a prototype that uses Narrowband-IoT(NB-IoT) as an alternative means of transmission. The interconnectedness of the devices and and the transceivers in the Newton's Meter Mesh, with everything being monitored on the Command and Control Console is another manifestation of IoT technology in Newton's Meter.

Next, we also use sensor technology to help us detect the impact from crashes and falls, regardless of the orientation of the crash or fall. These includes accelerometers and 9DOF sensors, with Biometric sensors currently being looked into for R&D. We also use both sensor technology, as well as IoT technology to be able to deliver big data analytics for cost and productivity optimisation, such as noting areas with high and low footfall respectively. 

Which of the following categories best describes your solution?

A new application of an existing technology

Please select the technologies currently used in your solution:

• Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning
• Big Data
• Imaging and Sensor Technology
• Internet of Things
• Software and Mobile Applications

https://www.newtonsmeter.com

Which of the UN Sustainable Development Goals does your solution address?

• 3. Good Health and Well-being
• 5. Gender Equality
• 8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
• 9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• 11. Sustainable Cities and Communities

In which countries do you currently operate?

• India
• Indonesia
• Singapore

In which countries will you be operating within the next year?

• Chile
• India
• Indonesia
• Saudi Arabia
• Singapore
• United Arab Emirates

What type of organization is your solution team?

For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models

How many people work on your solution team?

15, full-time

How long have you been working on your solution?

6 years

What is your approach to incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusivity into your work?

Our leadership team consists of people across the world bringing perspectives from the communities they live and have been raised in. We're headquartered in Singapore and our team here comprises of people from all the major races in Singapore(Chinese, Malay, Indian), and we have a diversity of gender in core segments such as product development. We also have a team in India with strong regional diversity, as well as Indonesia, with people from ethnic and religious minorities(Christians, Indo people) represented. Lastly, we work closely with points-of-contact in Chile, the Nordic region, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, China, and Hong Kong.

The diverse backgrounds of our team members open up a tapestry of ideas and experiences, as well as specific challenges unique to countries and cultures, allowing us to be able to serve them in a more targeted and effective manner. Such challenges included concerns about Women and Children's safety in India, which led to the development of the Emergency Button. Another challenge was deep excavation sites for Mining in Chile, without cellular connection, which spurred the use of transceivers in the Newton's Meter Mesh.

We also have a great diversity in disciplines and approaches to problem-solving, with many of our team members not necessarily having backgrounds in technology. Beyond our team, we also try to incorporate diverse perspectives through discussions and programmes. A few that we've participated in have been the IMDA Lab on Wheels initiative from where we further optimised our senior-centric design and the Emerging Stronger Conversations where we advocated for it. We also have regular interfaces with young entrepreneurs through ACE, as well as initiatives such as CAMPFIRE. These allow us provide guidance and experience to new entrepreneurs while also learning about novel approaches to problem solving and business models.

Equity is crucial to us as a social impact enterprise and we try to maximise the participation of the underserved and unheard. One was the Lab on Wheels where we gained practical feedback from the elderly, who usually aren't considered in technological development, even when it's for them. During our Web Development process, we also made it a point to look for women developers, so that through action, we could encourage more women in technology.

Finally, inclusion lies at the heart of our workplace culture. We have zero tolerance for discriminatory rhetoric and viewpoints, and we promote inclusion through education. This is done via inviting team members to speak about their unique personal experiences and how their identities social, cultural, and professional have shaped them. This allows for knowledge sharing and strong cohesion while also ensuring that everybody's voice is heard. We also have an open feedback system and encourage the questioning of old methods. Our leadership's door is always open for any concerns to be raised and forums, public and private, are made available.

What is your business model?

1. Value Proposition: 

A. B2C Solution:

In the event of any fall/accident/emergency/threat, the mobilisation delay causes a majority of fatalities, as most of the time the victim is either unconscious or physically incapacitated due to injury and thus unable to call for help.

Newton's Meter is a machine learning based Internet of Things(IoT) wearable device, that facilitates the saving of lives. 

It works intuitively and automatically, sending real-time GPS location with an SOS message to 10 preset phone numbers, within one second of any fall/accident/emergency or threat occurrence. 

The machine learning module keeps the false alarm occurrence limited to 1%.

B. B2B solution,:

In addition to Patient Safety, Newton's Meter provides 

i. Preventive Security (Geofencing, theft-proof Access Control), 

ii. Cost and Productivity Optimisation

iii. Big Data Analytics 

Newton's Meter generates social impact by ensuring caregiving is more affordable, less intrusive, and less manpower reliant. This gives caregivers peace of mind and greater flexibility, empowers direct beneficiaries with greater independence, and provides analytics to further streamline the process.

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2. The key differentiating feature of Newton's Meter (B2C & B2B):

Supported by our Machine Learning module with patent pending motion printing technology, Newton's Meter works automatically upon impact, requiring no human intervention.

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3. Key Customers

A.B2C: Personal Smart Wearable

      Segment 1: Elderly

      Segment 2: Children

The Newton's Meter (B2C) personal smart wearable device retails at US$ 150.

It is a one-time cost and there are no subscription/recurring fees. Newton's Meter also works globally, requiring no adjustments/further purchases if users travel overseas.

The package includes a Newton's Meter Device, lanyards(for wearing), detachable baseplates(for placement on vehicles). The associated Newton's Meter App is downloadable for free on the App Store and Google Play Store. 

Customers: Caregivers and the Elderly

Beneficiaries: The Elderly and Children(direct), Caregivers(indirect)

B. B2B: Enterprise Safety and Security System

       Segment 1: Eldercare Homes

       Segment 2: Hospitals

The Newton's Meter (B2B) Industrial SMART Wearable System retails at US$ 25000 and upwards, depending on the breadth and depth of features required.

The B2B Newton's Meter Smart Wearable system comprises of the following components :   

1.A set of 50(or more) Newton's Meter Devices (to be given to patients and staff), 

2. Transceivers as required OR Custom Android App(to create a LAN)

3.Command and Control Console

4. Dashboard Analytics

The B2B system is seamlessly scalable and can be redeployed without any major changes in system configuration.

It takes just 2 hours to set up the entire system, with in-house support for set-up provided,

It works globally, can work in areas with no cellular reception, and without any recurring subscription cost.

Customers: Healthcare Systems 

Beneficiaries: Patients(direct), Healthcare Systems(indirect)

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4. Cost Structure

The Breakdown in Costs is as follows:

a. Bill of Materials(BOM): 70%

b. Production Cost inclusive of salaries, testing, and certification: 25%

c. Production Line Set-Up Cost: 3%

d. Packaging Cost: 2%

As we start to scale up, there will be additional costs for Employee Salaries as we'd require points-of-contact globally, as well marketing costs. After a greater level of expansion, grants such as the Small Volume Production(SVP) Grant may not be applicable, which can also lead to an increase in costs. Certification/Patenting/Regulatory costs are all likely to go down since a majority of them are/were one-time costs.

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5. Revenue Sources and Surplus Management

a. Revenue Sources

     i. B2B: 70%

    ii. B2C: 30%

b. Surplus Management

The majority of surplus will be directed towards Research and Development into further refining Newton's Meter in a few key areas

     i. Power Management, alternative power sources such as Solar/Kinetic to reduce both electricity costs and charging requirements for users

     ii. Greater Sensor Integration, such as certain biometric sensors for Preventive Accident Management as well as Healthcare Analytics

Do you primarily provide products or services directly to individuals, to other organizations, or to the government?

What is your plan for becoming financially sustainable?

We'll raise greater awareness through marketing initiatives and participating in more technology and entrepreneurship competitions. With this greater outreach, and as borders reopen, we'll start to set up greater distribution channels for our B2C offering. Tapping into networks we've built during CES, with some key target countries being Singapore and Japan to serve their ageing populations as well as India, where we can heighten women and children's safety, making childcare easier. For our B2B iteration, we will begin installation of our scheduled pilots in India(Healthcare, Road Safety), Singapore(Healthcare), the Middle East(Oil&Gas), Indonesia(Marine), Chile(Mining). We would also be exploring a B2G application in military safety, security, and healthcare. 

The expansion in distribution channels is likely to generate sufficient starting revenue as well as create greater awareness and trust as our B2B pilots start to turn into full-fledged contracts. The B2B contracts will lead to a significant increase in revenue and cover the costs of having more points-of-contact for our B2C channels, as well as warehousing and logistical costs.

Our production capacity in Singapore is currently 10000 units a month and that should be sufficient in the first few months of expansion. As we ramp up production, we will first use grants to offset the costs as long as we're eligible, so that we can direct the bulk of our surplus into Research and Development(R&D). Once we have managed to hit our current R&D targets, we will start directing more of our surplus towards machine tooling(for the new variant) as well as increasing production capacity along with branding and marketing. We will be less reliant on grants at this point, and would raise another round of private funding so that we're able to have greater global reach. With each new market, we'll incur an additional cost from holding focus group discussions, but the tapering to the market that this would engender would be able to offset the costs.

Since our B2B installations would have become more widespread by now, and generate significant revenue due to the safety, security, as well as productivity and cost optimisation features. We will also then begin to provide B2C iterations of Newton's Meter at a subsidised rate to vulnerable populations, as well as focus more on senior-centric design initiatives and raising awareness, while still staying sustainable.

Lastly, once there is sufficient global reach of Newton's Meter, we'd be looking towards going public through an Initial Public Offering(IPO) to raise funding so that we'd be able to have even greater distribution and expansion, grow our team and conduct research into the specific caregiving needs of the various communities we enter, as well as further subsidise our B2C iteration while also offering subsidised B2B iterations for healthcare systems in impoverished regions. 

Taking reference to the revenue models as linked above, we'd begin as an Embedded Social Enterprise with our social programme simultaneously being our revenue generating arm, progressing towards an Integrated Social Enterprise with our Industrial B2B Revenue facilitating the growth of our social B2C and B2B expansion. Thereafter, we would go public, becoming an External Social Enterprise, where we wouldn't require significant revenue considerations for our social initiatives.

Share some examples of how your plan to achieve financial sustainability has been successful so far.

In the concept stage, we started off by building seed funds through bootstrapping, as well as small investments by people in the entrepreneurial community.

Once we managed to develop the prototype, we were able to secure grants such as the Prototype Assistance Scheme(PAS) Grant from Enterprise Singapore, then known as SPRING Singapore. This provided partial reimbursement for developmental costs and reduced the burden on our personal finances. At this stage, a few of our engineers and developers bought-in and became shareholders in the company as they saw its potential. We also started to receive larger investments from previous investors, as well as attracted new investors through networking.

Through a few more rounds of interviews with Enterprise Singapore and further development to the Proof-of-Value(POV) stage, having created a product that was market-ready, we were provided the Market Readiness Assistance(MRA) Grant as well as the Small Volume Production(SVP) Grant by Enterprise Singapore. These allowed us to subsidise patenting, certification, and manufacturing costs. We were also invited to be part of Singapore's delegation to CES 2019 & 2020 in Eureka Park in Las Vegas, NV, USA, as well as the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. We also received media coverage(Reuters, TechStorm, CNet, CNA, ST, BT, CESDaily). The positive coverage and networks built, allowed us to start some initial B2C pilots, while B2B pilots scheduled in the Middle East, India, and Singapore, were disrupted by the pandemic.

In the following years, we won numerous awards, such as being Singapore's winner for the Premio Estrecho de Magallanes, EDGE 35 Under 35, the SG:D Techblazer Award, the APICTA Merit Award, National Youth Entrepreneurship Award, and Pitch-your-product Award. These boosted our profile and allowed us to grow numbers in our B2C Pilot, providing some additional funding. We also received further investment, with outreach supported by Enterprise Singapore after a valuation had been commissioned.