Tech for Good: How Samsung’s Citizenship Partnerships are Solving Social Problems

High-tech thermal imaging cameras might sound like the stuff of science fiction, but at the Samsung Developer’s Conference (SDC), it’s another dream come to life.

Every year Samsung brings together the world’s greatest minds in technology as they roll out the company’s latest developer tools, showcasing how it can make the world a better place by delivering on consumer demands and solving complex social problems.

uSound, for example, developed an app that helps detect risk of hearing loss. It’s all part of Samsung’s effort to encourage companies to innovate and apply technology for the greater good.

From November 7^th-8^th, Samsung will once again host its thought-provoking conference at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. Some of its most inspirational technology partners will be on display including Rehago, Dytective, and uSound.

From inspirational speeches to hands on experience with development tools, thousands of developers will have the opportunity to discover and take part in developing new applications and ground-breaking technologies. Here are just a few of the inspirational companies Samsung is already working with.

Rehago

Virtual reality meets rehabilitation with Rehago’s innovative training system that helps hemiplegic stroke patients, or those suffering with paralysis in half of their body due to stroke, during recovery. The company first came onto the radar at Samsung Electronics Germany’s “Life’s a Pitch” start-up competition in Frankfurt, where they won first place. The competition focuses on new technologies that will develop sustainable solutions for major societal challenges. Rehago has gone through a first prototype pilot test which will later be implemented for both inpatient and outpatient neuro-rehabilitation clinics. SDC attendees can see the project first hand at the company’s booth.

uSound for Samsung

With more than 6% of the world’s population suffering from disabling hearing loss, the Argentina-based company uSound saw an opportunity to help. They designed an app that helps detect the risk of hearing loss and improves quality of life through communication and education for those affected by it. Starting in Jujuy Province, Argentina the company provided access to a simple three-step diagnostic tool accessible from smartphones – entirely free of charge.  Together with Samsung, uSound will work to develop compatible apps, support product development and work towards international expansion.

Dytective

During 2017, Samsung and the Spain-based company Change Dyslexia worked together to help educators and families to detect the risk of dyslexia through the Dytective app. Dyslexia is a learning disability affecting an estimated 10% of population in reading and writing skills. It is often hidden or misdiagnosed and has become one of the main causes of school failure as a result. Using linguistic games, the app was created to detect dyslexia risk in early phases in just 15 minutes. After its launch first in Spain and then Argentina in 2017 as Dytective for Samsung, the campaign reached 80,000 downloads, resulting in more than 7,500 cases of dyslexia risk identified. Now Dytective continues their reach with 150,000 tests achieved so far through Change Dyslexia. Samsung’s partnership with the company was vital in the development of the application and its promotion at launch. Also, in Argentina, Samsung developed an online workshop which brings tools to parents and teachers and improves the education process, recommending technologies for reading and writing through sound, with almost 40,000 students completing the training so far.

Thermal Imaging Camera

Among Samsung’s more unique projects, Thermal Imaging Camera was born in Korea out of the company’s C-Lab, an incubator that helps accelerate start-up companies. Thermal Imaging Camera is a thermal imaging solution inspired by a real-life emergency experienced by firefighter Han Gyeong-Seung. Smoke impaired his vision on a rescue mission, causing him to be unable to see that a victim was left behind in a burning building. Thermal Imaging Camera helps firefighters see in smoke-filled buildings, improving their ability to rescue people in low-visibility situations. Traditional thermal imaging devices were too bulky and expensive to dispatch in real-world missions, so Han approached Samsung Tomorrow Solution, a social contribution contest, to request the development of a small, light, easy-to-use solution that can be attached to firefighters’ masks. Samsung has already donated 1,000 of the cameras to the National Fire Department of Korea and is studying the possibility of international distribution.

To learn more about Samsung’s social contribution, visit https://news.samsung.com/global/category/corporate/citizenship for news on their latest projects.