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NUHS Embarks on Holomedicine Research in Singapore, Using Mixed Reality Technology to Enhance Diagnosis, Education and Patient Care

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To be able to literally “see inside” a patient’s skull and identify the location of the tumour deep in the brain, right on the operating table, may no longer be science fiction with the help of a Mixed Reality (MR) headset.

The National University Health System (NUHS) has embarked on a research and development programme within the academic healthcare cluster to explore the use of MR technology in clinical care. The research programme hopes to support the development of next-generation clinical applications and improve patient safety. This would augment clinical processes, and enhance both undergraduate and postgraduate education. While the use of holographic technology in operating theatres is still nascent, NUHS hopes to apply it in multiple fields of surgery.

“Holographic technology may radically transform the way we practice medicine. Early adoption will place NUHS at the forefront of medical MR research and position us as a pioneer in the clinical use of this technology,” said Associate Professor Ngiam Kee Yuan, NUHS’s Group Chief Technology Officer, who is overseeing the research and development of the holomedicine programme in NUHS.

While holomedicine is new in the field of medicine, it has become increasingly prominent in the past year. “It leverages the concept of MR not only to augment our physical environment, but permits interaction with virtual objects superimposed onto the real world. The virtual objects can also be manipulated relative to the real world using natural hand gestures,” explained Dr Gao Yujia, Associate Consultant with the Division of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery, National University Hospital (NUH), and the programme lead for holomedicine at NUHS.

Potential of holographic technology in brain surgery

A team of neurosurgeons at NUH has initiated a study to assess the feasibility of using holographic technology to spatially locate brain tumours when operating on patients.

Using holographic visors[1], a three-dimensional (3D) hologram of a patient’s brain scan is projected into space and superimposed onto the patient’s head during surgery. This hologram is generated from the patient’s own brain CT scan using a 3D medical software created by apoQlar, called Virtual Surgery Intelligence (VSI). When the hologram is set in place on a patient’s head, surgeons are able to view the 3D holographic images of the brain from different angles.

They can also pull up information and alter the images in the visor by gesture and speech recognition, allowing them to interact with, and control the holographic image that is superimposed onto the patient.

Clinical Associate Professor Yeo Tseng Tsai, Head and Senior Consultant with the Division of Neurosurgery, NUH said, “With this holographic technology, you are able to see inside the brain. You will be able to see the blood vessels and most importantly identify the tumour quickly and precisely, as well as to know which angle and the exact location to make the incision. For over thirty years now, we have been using a handheld navigation system to navigate and identify the location of the tumour. In comparison, this new mixed reality system is more intuitive as we can now see inside the patient’s head without the need to look up and refer to a computer screen while performing a procedure.”

With the potential of higher precision and quicker localisation, patient care and safety can be improved. Furthermore, with the MR headset weighing only around 500 grams, it may one day replace existing bulky operation theatre equipment and even reduce the exposure to radiation in procedures such as spine operations, where X-rays are currently used to guide the insertion of metallic implants.

NUHS has completed the first phase of the research programme involving a proof of concept study, where various disciplines such as neurosurgery, plastics surgery and ophthalmology at NUH have evaluated the MR devices and brainstormed on future areas of development. The headsets were used for evaluation purposes to identify use cases, understanding of clinicians’ acceptance level, system evaluation, as well as assessing its long-term deployment sustainability.

NUHS has developed a holistic holomedicine roadmap, including short- and long-term research projects, integration with existing hospital systems, and procedures to onboard users and enhance the hospital’s infrastructure to support the system. Some potential use cases include streaming of live data from image acquisition machines, and the employment of artificial intelligence and machine learning for advanced image processing and predictive analytics. In addition, the HoloLens 2 device may also be used by patients to help them better understand the procedures they are to undergo. This is achieved by projecting a 3D rendering of a patient’s scan to better illustrate the steps of their procedure.

Clinical validation studies and trials will be necessary prior to the adoption of this holomedicine solution as a primary clinical method. This involves comparing MR technology to current gold standards of clinical practice and outcomes measured, including data on accuracy, stability, and potential risks and limitations of this capability. Registration with the necessary governing bodies including the Health Science Authority (HSA) will also be needed before this solution can be used in a direct patient intervention role.

Collaboration with industry

The NUHS team, in collaboration with the Engineering Design & Innovation Centre under the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Faculty of Engineering, has also been awarded a grant of $100,000 from the Engineering in Medicine Grant under NUHS and NUS in March 2021. The grant will enable the team to embark on a project on real-time volumetric rendering and positioning of ultrasound scans.

Industry collaboration is an integral part of the research and development of holomedicine in NUHS. NUHS has been collaborating with Microsoft and apoQlar in its holomedicine efforts. Moving forward, NUHS will continue to build on its existing partnerships and explore new industry collaborations to push the boundaries of MR technology in the healthcare environment.

NUHS is also privileged to be a founding member of The Holomedicine Association, an international organisation comprising clinicians, scientists and industry partners who are engaged in active research and development of holomedicine. With 12 members on the founding committee including the executive board of the association, NUHS is well poised to participate in collaborations with other hospitals, research institutes, and industry partners around the world.

“We are not just an end-user of holomedicine; we hope to be an active developer and to validate its use in medicine. We will work with our partners to make holomedicine customisable, more user-friendly and clinically applicable,” said A/Prof Ngiam Kee Yuan.

“The experience of the past year shows us that technology can empower healthcare workers and assist them to help protect and save the lives of patients. NUHS’s holomedicine study bears further testament to how innovative use of technology, such as Mixed Reality solutions and Microsoft HoloLens 2, may have a truly transformational impact in healthcare. Technology-enabled neurosurgeons may be able to perform safer procedures, enable improved outcomes and ultimately provide better patient care. We are proud to work with NUHS and other clinicians in the region to explore the full potential of digital technology in holomedicine across multiple therapy areas in the years to come,” said Dr. Keren Priyadarshini, Regional Business Lead, Worldwide Health, Microsoft Asia.

“Holomedicine has the potential to sustainably revolutionise medical standards in most – if not all – medical fields. We are very excited to join forces with NUHS, a world-renowned academic health system, to achieve our mission of further improving patient outcomes and safety,” said Mr Sirko Pelzl, CEO, apoQlar.

The software by apoQlar has successfully obtained HSA’s Class A License and the Singapore Standard SS620 certification in April 2021. NUHS hopes to promulgate holographic technology to all its hospitals and institutes within the healthcare cluster in the near future.

“The advancements in technology, especially in the field of MR, has opened new horizons to the medical profession. By merging other technologies such as artificial intelligence, real-time image recognition, and predictive modelling, these MR devices offer clinicians capabilities that were once thought impossible,” said A/Prof Ngiam Kee Yuan.

Artificial Intelligence

Highlights from the Finale: Day Three of the London Blockchain Conference Unravelled

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As the London Blockchain Conference draws to a close, attendees heard from industry experts on Driving Innovation with Blockchain.
LONDON, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Attendees at the London Blockchain Conference were in to witness the final day, which featured a line-up of informative and thought-provoking speakers. Throughout the day, there were exciting panels and presentations which featured cutting-edge ideas and insights.

Day 3 kickstarted with BSVA launching a new report focusing on the role of blockchain in safeguarding data and streamlining transactions.
Other sessions included:
The Intersection of Web3, AI, and Emerging Tech – Somi Aran, Founder of InPeak gave the opening keynote which explored the dynamic convergence of Web3, Artificial Intelligence, and emerging technologies. She delved into how these technologies are reshaping industries and redefining the boundaries of innovation and the potential impacts and opportunities these technologies present.
Bridging the gap: Making Web3 technologies user-friendly – Christine Leong, CIO, nChain – discussed some of the innovative strategies and practical solutions aimed at simplifying Web3 technologies. She also discussed how nChain is planning to transform Web3 from a domain exclusive to the tech-savvy, into a user-friendly ecosystem that empowers all users.
Is code law? – Rules applicable to blockchain networks – panel featuring Marcin Zarakowski, CEO of Token Recovery, Akber Datoo CEO of D2 Legal Technology, Jeffrey Golden, King’s Counsel (Hon) at 3 Hare Court Chambers, Andrei Kirilenko, Professor of Finance at Cambridge Judge Business School, Professor Sarah Green, Law Commissioner at Law Commission, where they discussed that rules apply to the nodes and validators which support the particular network and process its transactions. The group also discussed whether the blockchain protocols’ rules and software code are the only sources of regulation in blockchain networks.
An Introduction to nChain Identity – Thomas Moretti, Head of Product Development at nChain. He spoke about the Self Sovereignty Identity concept and showcased the latest project it is working on – nChain Identity.
Reimagining Roles: How regulated industry leaders are shaping the future of finance – a panel featuring, Andrew Mosson (Chief Commercial Officer of OneTrading, Néstor Palao, Head DLT & Corporate Clients at Sygnum Bank, Laurence Lewandowska, CFO/COO at BSV Association and Wojciech Kaszycki Chairman & Founder at Mobilum. The panel discussed how the new era of digital assets, traditional banking institutions, exchanges, and financial services are being reimagined in the context of emerging technologies such as blockchain and AI.
Please register here if you would like to listen to any of the sessions today. 
If you want to interview any speaker from today’s sessions, please email [email protected].
About the London Blockchain Conference NETWORK. LEARN. ENGAGE.  At the London Blockchain Conference, we show how Blockchain will change the world and help people see another way to manage data, build scalable on-chain solutions and achieve great things. We do this by creating valuable, insightful, and engaging events that educate and inform, allowing you to connect and network to build strong business relationships. Our conference is the best avenue to see blockchain innovations, ecosystem announcements, product launches, technology updates, keynote speeches, panels, and fireside chats from blockchain leaders. Join us and experience it for yourself. 

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Nord Anglia Education publishes new insights on the role of AI and metacognition in learning

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LONDON, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — INSIGHTS, the global publication from Nord Anglia Education, has published two new articles taking an in-depth look at AI in education and the role of metacognition in teaching and learning.

Exploring the role of AI in learning
https://www.nordangliaeducation.com/insights/2024/articles/the-generative-generationIn its ‘Generative Generation’ feature, INSIGHTS explores the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, and whether the technology is making it easier for children to learn. Speaking to Nord Anglia’s educators as well as leading experts from the world of academia, it also includes real-life examples of how Nord Anglia’s schools are using AI in the classroom.
For example, Nord Anglia’s British International School in Kuala Lumpur has adapted the technology to create an AI-powered teaching assistant that can personalise learning, guide students through content exploration, and deepen their understanding through interactive activities. Learners define the topic they want to explore and the course specification they are working to, and the AI explores the content with them in a conversational way, enabling them to ask questions as they go. 
Dr Bruce Geddes, Deputy Head of Secondary at the school, told INSIGHTS that AI represents “the biggest opportunity we’ve had in our lifetimes, for many, many spheres, but particularly in education”.
Avenues: The World School in New York, which became part of Nord Anglia in 2023, encourages its students to use AI in their work. As an example, in an app development project students use ChatGPT to generate the bulk of the coding, then review, correct and refine it. This saves them “hours of manual work by leveraging the appropriate tool in an academically appropriate way,” says Lia Muschellack, Director of Technology at the school.
The school also has its own generative AI chatbot, Savvy, built in 2019 and now powered by open AI technology. It can answer queries, provide information, and engage in “diverse discussions ranging from academic topics to casual conversations”.
“We understand that our students will be actively leveraging these tools throughout their academic and professional pathways, so we want to make sure they not only understand the potentials and limitations, but that they have tinkered and truly experienced them,” Muschellack explains.
Metacognition: a learning superpower
In its feature ‘Metacognition. Helping Kids Unlock the Power of ‘Thinking about Thinking’, INSIGHTS looks at how students can develop the important skill of metacognition.
“Metacognition is the ability to be aware of our cognitive or thought processes and to monitor, reflect on, and change those processes,” Dr Rose Luckin, Professor of Learner Centred Design at the University College London Knowledge Lab, told INSIGHTS.
Nord Anglia Education is working with Dr Luckin to develop its approach to metacognition and to help teachers introduce metacognitive strategies into classrooms. It has developed a metacognitive framework of six “Learner Ambitions” to help students develop the 6 Cs: to become critical, creative, committed, and curious learners, working compassionately and collaboratively in the classroom and beyond.
As the article explains, Nord Anglia’s deep dive into metacognition has many goals: developing student agency, boosting academic performance, and developing ‘future’ skills that employers want. The framework is being initially applied across 27 Nord Anglia schools around the world and its impact will be measured in independent research in partnership with Boston College, reporting in 2025.
Nord Anglia’s examination of metacognition also involves exploring personalised goals and thinking routines. For instance, students at Nord Anglia International School Hong Kong use the “Step In, Step Out, Step Back” routine to develop empathy and understanding in their studies. “It’s about asking the right questions; those really big questions that lead to even more questions,” says Raquel Thomson, the school’s Deputy Head of Primary. “Thinking strategies like this stay with students and serve a purpose whatever they do in their lives, whether they choose to be a scientist or a teacher or go into business.”
For media enquiries please contact: Francesca Milani Communications Manager, Digital Education Portfolio +44 20 7131 0000 [email protected] 
About Nord Anglia Education:
As the world’s leading international schools organisation, we’re shaping a generation of creative and resilient global citizens who graduate from our schools with everything they need for success, whatever they choose to be or do in life.  
Our strong academic foundations combine world-class teaching and curricula with cutting-edge technology and facilities, creating learning experiences like no other. Inside and outside of the classroom, we inspire our students to achieve more than they ever thought possible.  
No two children learn the same way, which is why our schools around the world personalise learning to what works best for every student. Inspired by our high-quality teachers, our students achieve outstanding academic results and go on to study at the world’s top universities.  
To learn more or apply for a place for your child, go to nordangliaeducation.com.
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Facing the Power Crunch: Tech Developers Push for More Efficient Hardware Amidst AI Boom

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USA News Group News Commentary Issued on behalf of Avant Technologies Inc.
VANCOUVER, BC, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — USA News Group News Commentary – In order to power the ongoing artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, behind the scenes there’s going to need a lot more investment and… power. This is because cloud based services, especially those fuelling new AI capabilities, requires lots and lots of power, which is allowing contractors to cash in on building rooms containing power management equipment. But while the demand for more AI solutions is set to threaten the world’s electricity grids according to Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, tech developers are working diligently to make hardware more efficient and to service this surging demand, with several developments recently announced by tech companies including: Avant Technologies Inc. (OTC: AVAI), Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMD), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT), Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ: AVGO), and Astera Labs, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALAB).

The article continued: According to Research and Markets, the Global Data Center Infrastructure Market alone is expected to nearly hit US$6 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 9.58%. Analysts at Exactitude Consultancy are also projecting the Global Data Centre Market as a whole, will reach US$536.38 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 10.72%.
Avant Technologies Engages Wired4Tech to Evaluate the Performance of Next Generation AI Server Technology
Avant Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB: AVAI) (“Avant” or the “Company”), a leading innovator and enabler of AI infrastructure technology, today announced its engagement with Wired4Tech, a renowned AI infrastructure consulting firm.
As part of its existing technology services agreement with Wired4Tech, Avant Technologies has engaged Wired4Tech to conduct comprehensive performance benchmarking of a next-generation AI cloud server that Avant is evaluating for future use in its AI data center cloud infrastructure.
Wired4Tech’s performance benchmarking will encompass a range of crucial metrics, including response time, throughput, CPU and memory usage, disk I/O, network latency, and error rates. These metrics are essential for assessing the server’s ability to handle complex AI workloads efficiently and reliably. Additionally, Wired4Tech will measure the server’s power consumption and anticipated cost savings.
Response time will be evaluated to measure the speed at which the server responds to various actions, providing insight into its overall responsiveness. Throughput analysis will assess the server’s data transfer capabilities, considering factors such as file size, cached or uncached content, and available network bandwidth.
Furthermore, CPU and memory usage will be closely monitored to gauge the server’s processing power and memory management efficiency. Disk I/O performance will be evaluated to ensure smooth data access and storage operations, while network latency measurements will provide valuable information on the server’s communication speed with external systems.
“We are excited to engage Wired4Tech to benchmark the performance of an innovative, next-generation AI server,” said William Hisey, Chief Executive Officer, at Avant Technologies. “By conducting rigorous benchmark testing of this promising server technology, we expect to validate its expected performance and cost-saving benefits.”
The results of the benchmark testing will enable Avant Technologies to further execute on its AI infrastructure business strategy.
CONTINUED… Read this and more news for Avant Technologies at: https://equity-insider.com/unlocking-the-trillion-dollar-ai-market-what-investors-need-to-know/
In other industry developments and happenings in the market this week include:
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMD), a leading global semiconductor company with Data Center, Client, Gaming, and Embedded segments, showcased its latest end-to-end compute and software capabilities for Microsoft customers and developers, that utilize AMD solutions such as AMD Instinct MI300X accelerators, ROCm open software, Ryzen AI processors and software, and Alveo MA35D media accelerators. By using these, Microsoft is able to provide a powerful suite of tools for AI-based deployments across numerous markets.
“The AMD Instinct MI300X and ROCm software stack is powering the Azure OpenAI Chat GPT 3.5 and 4 services, which are some of the world’s most demanding AI workloads,” said Victor Peng, president, AMD. “With the general availability of the new VMs from Azure, AI customers have broader access to MI300X to deliver high-performance and efficient solutions for AI applications.”
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT), global leader in developing and supporting software, services, devices and solutions, announced new computers called “Copilot+” PCS, with the company’s AI tech directly into them, serving to further boost the race among tech giants to push out AI tools to the public. According to CEO Satya Nadella at an event at Microsoft’s headquarters prior to its annual Build conference, adding computer chips tailored to run AI technology to its PCs and tablets will make AI tools and features run faster than if the technology runs through an internet connect, as most chatbots today run.
However, Microsoft is also continuing its efforts to expand cloud-computing services in East Africa, by announcing it is partnering with UAE-based AI firm G42 to invest $1 billion in a data center in Kenya. The data center will be powered by geothermal energy and provide access to Microsoft’s Azure through a new cloud region for East Africa.
Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ: AVGO), a global technology leader in a broad range of semiconductor, enterprise software and security solutions, announced its latest portfolio of highly-scalable, high-performing, low-power 400G PCIe Gen 5.0 Ethernet adapters to revolutionize the data center ecosystem. The new products offer an enhanced, open, standards-based Ethernet NIC and switching solution to resolve connectivity bottlenecks as XPU bandwidth and cluster sizes grow rapidly in AI data centers.
“Broadcom is prioritizing open standards and fostering collaboration with industry leaders to deliver the most extensive selection of high-performance connectivity solutions for AI infrastructure,” said Jas Tremblay, Vice President and General Manager of the Data Center Solutions Group, Broadcom. “Our 400G PCIe Gen 5.0 Ethernet adapters yet again underscore our commitment to enable the network-centric AI infrastructure platform.”
Astera Labs, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALAB), a global leader in purpose-built connectivity solutions that unlock the full potential of AI and cloud infrastructure, announced expanded PCIe 6.x testing capabilities in its Cloud-Scale Interop Lab to enable seamless interoperability between Aries 6 PCIe/CXL Smart DSP Retimers and a broad range of PCIe 6.x hosts and endpoints. The new capabilities pave the way for AI platform developers to design high-bandwidth, low-latency PCIe 6.x connectivity with confidence, reduce overall development time, and deploy at scale.
“As AI systems continue to advance at a rapid pace, data center operators need to deploy increasingly complex systems on an accelerated timeline,” said Thad Omura, Chief Business Officer of Astera Labs. “Expanding our Cloud-Scale Interop Lab test suite to support PCIe 6.x operation fast-tracks deployment for customers integrating Aries 6 – the industry’s lowest power PCIe 6.x/CXL 3.x Retimer – with solutions from our ecosystem partners.”
Source: https://equity-insider.com/unlocking-the-trillion-dollar-ai-market-what-investors-need-to-know/ 
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