Anti-poke umbrella wins Nantou high schooler international prizes

Anti-poke umbrella wins Nantou high schooler international prizes

2024-09-16

Nobody likes getting poked by a stranger’s umbrella on a rainy day. That’s why a young inventor from Chung Hsing Senior High School has come up with a contraption that avoids just that. Enter the anti-poke umbrella. The high-tech brolly emits a warning sound any time its sensors detect a person that’s getting too close. It also has a GPS system that alerts the user’s family in an emergency. Let’s hear from the inventor.

Hung Jui-chun
Anti-poke umbrella inventor
If you find yourself in an emergency, you can press a button and your location will be sent to your family. Your family gets a notification telling them where you are.

The umbrella is powered by a battery connected to solar panels. It has two sensors, one in the front, and one in the back. The GPS function is meant for older users, who can use the umbrella to call for help in an emergency. The device has been entered to national and international invention contests, where it has won two cash prizes.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

發明"不戳人傘" 南投中興高中學生奪兩項國際金獎

2024-09-16

南投中興高中，高二學生--洪瑞君，發明一把自動偵測的雨傘，能自動感應、避免傘珠戳到別人，這把自動偵測雨傘，在國、內外的發明比賽中，拿到二項國際發明展團體金獎。

[[自動偵測傘發明人洪瑞君]]
“當你有事情的時候，你就按下按鈕，它會發你的地點，然後提醒你的家人，家人手機就會發出警報聲，就知道你在哪裡”

傘面的太陽能板，可以提供充電；前後兩個感應器，一但有人太靠近，會自動發出警示音，避免戳到人；傘柄的GPS，是專為年長者設計，可自動定位，一但老人家突然身體不適，或有危險時，按下按鈕，家人就可以知道他的位置，前來救援。

更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
民視台灣台（152頻道）週日至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

Related News

Activists call for Taiwan’s inclusion in UN system

The United Nations General Assembly is on in New York, and as in previous years, Taiwanese activists are calling for Taiwan’s inclusion. This year’s march for Taiwan had more than 500 participants. Among them were members of the Taiwan UN Alliance and civic groups in the US. One of their key demands is that the UN hold a formal hearing on Resolution 2758, which China uses to claim sovereignty over Taiwan.

More than 500 people from the Taiwan UN Alliance and overseas Taiwanese groups march outside the UN headquarters in New York, calling for Taiwan’s inclusion.

Borcheng Hsu
Taiwanese American Council of Greater New York
Our motto is “Keep Taiwan Free.” We hope Taiwan will join this international organization and get the opportunity to speak on the same level as others. That could stop China’s constant threats.

Every year during the UN General Assembly, Taiwanese advocates make their voices heard in New York. This year, their momentum feels even stronger than ever.

Anna Tung
Taiwan UN Alliance
…the Taiwan United Nations Alliance, TAIUNA, right to advocate for Taiwan’s meaningful participation of the United Nations, UN, as a full and independent member under the name Taiwan. We respectfully request that the UN hold a formal hearing to clarify the interpretation of UNGA Resolution 2758.

Stan from Poland
YouTuber
China is a member of the Security Council, a permanent member of the Security Council. What do they do? They block any kind of participation of Taiwan in the UN system. And if you choose to believe China, they will just lie to you.

The activists were joined by YouTuber Stan from Poland, who stressed that Taiwan and China are two separate countries.

Stan from Poland
YouTuber
Because these days I’ve been going around New York, I went to the Chinese consulate, and asked them a simple question. Do you guys issue visas to Taiwan if you claim it as your territory? And they told me there: “No, you’ll have to apply for a separate permit for the two countries.” So people working in the Chinese consulate also know that they are two countries. I think that the whole world understands that the future of the Taiwanese people is up to the Taiwanese people to decide.

Chen Kuei-ling
Taiwanese Association of America
We’re telling the world that Taiwan deserves a spot in the UN. Taiwan deserves to be seen. The UN should acknowledge the human rights of the people of Taiwan, so that everyone can see Taiwan exists.

The activists hope their voices will be heard in the UN, so that Taiwan can be treated fairly as a member of the international community.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2024-09-16

Cathay United Bank’s successful fraud intercepting technology

Fraud has become a huge and worsening problem in Taiwan. In just a single day, on Sept. 4, fraudulent activities resulted in losses of NT$415 million. Cathay United Bank says it may have a solution, with its AI interception technology. On Monday, Premier Cho jung-tai led a delegation to learn about the tech.

This is not an action film set, but a demonstration of how the police take down a fraudster, at a bank lobby. Another installation at the venue shows how a man’s voice can be deep faked into a woman’s. These demos showcase the tricks of fraudsters in real time, to raise public awareness.

AI can be trained to learn and recognize fraud tactics, detect suspicious activities and strengthen precaution. Last year, using this technology, the Cathay United Bank successfully intercepted more than 6,700 incidents of fraud that would’ve cost victims NT$350 million. Premier Cho Jung-tai says he hopes to see more financial institutions adopt similar technologies to prevent fraud.

Cho Jung-tai
Premier
We’re fighting fraud in every possible way, from technology, to outreach, through front desk staff in banks. For the next year the central government has earmarked NT$730 million for fraud prevention.

Tong Chen-chang
Financial Supervisory Commission
The introduction of AI, we believe it to be of utmost importance, so the FSC has in the past requested that financial institutions adopt AI for information management and fraud prevention. We’ve also encouraged financial institutions to cooperate in fraud prevention.

A delegation led by the premier visited the headquarters of Cathay United Bank to better understand how the bank successfully intercepts fraud with four key methods. Their efforts paid off. According to the National Police Agency, Cathay United Bank was the top performer in fraud interception at the front desk, preventing just under NT$1.3 billion in losses to fraud.

Andrew Kuo
Cathay United Bank chair
Fraud prevention will be in our DNA. We’ll continue to cooperate with the authorities and our colleagues.

With cutting-edge technologies, banks and government agencies are united in safeguarding peoples’ hard-earned cash.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2024-09-16

A-Mei spends NT$200 million on staging for Taipei Dome concerts

2024-09-16

Zoo animals in Kaohsiung enjoy Mid-Autumn Feast

2024-09-16

Pet food maker offers festive mooncakes

2024-09-16

Better devices for disabled animals thanks to veterinary medicine

Advances in veterinary science mean that devices for disabled animals just keep on getting better. The devices for dogs with paralyzed limbs are particularly impressive. A number of dogs in Taiwan and abroad have found fame after getting “wheelchairs.” These impressive devices enable dogs with paralyzed limbs to keep walking or running after an accident. We met a Taipei vet who works with disabled dogs, as well as the owner of an adorable disabled canine, to hear more.

Scooty the dog runs along the beach in her assistive wheels as if they’re a chariot of fire. Similar disabled dogs are living their best lives in Taiwan.

“Didi” the Spitz was thrown out of a fifth-floor window more than a decade ago. Three of his legs were injured, and had to be amputated. Some thought it would be impossible for him to run again. But with these custom-made assistive wheels, Didi got back to bounding around freely, a big smile on his face.

Ms. Yang
Dog owner
Didi only has one leg left, his right front leg. We gave him the device, the wheelchair. When he was young, I used to call him “Racing Car Didi.” I would wave some jerky at him and he would rush over as soon as he saw it. He’s so fast. So when I film him, sometimes the video’s just a blur!

Yang Ching-yu
Vet
Paralysis is simply the result of, either a traffic accident, or a special factor such as a spinal bone spur, which are common for breeds like sausage dogs and corgis. That may cause obstructions in the transmission of neural information, which could result in the loss of mobility in the lower body. And we know some cases are human abuse of animals. If all our best efforts can’t achieve the outcome we want, then we may use some assistive mobility devices.

Caring for paralyzed dogs is hard work. But for these owners, it’s extremely touching to see their darling fur-baby walk or even run again. Although Didi passed away in February, his assistive wheels helped him enjoy more than an extra decade of life.

Ms. Yang
Dog owner
I put more care into looking after him. When I first rescued him, I told him, “Didi, if you can survive, I’ll take care of you for the rest of your life.”

With these wheels, paralyzed or disabled dogs can get back on their feet and keep living full and happy lives.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2024-09-16

Trade school grads earn higher salaries than university peers

Which kind of higher education gets students higher salaries? According to recent government data, on average vocational college graduates have a higher disposable income than university graduates. Trade school grads earn about NT$16,400 more per year than their peers with bachelor’s degrees. A job bank representative says the reason could be that trade school grads have specialized skills that can make them an asset for employers from the moment they start working.

He assembles and disassembles components expertly. This auto mechanics student pays close attention in class to get a good job after he’s graduated.

The average annual disposable income for workers with university education stood at NT$656,600 in 2023. That’s NT$16,400 less than workers with trade school diplomas. The median disposable income is also NT$30,400 lower for the former group, which has been outdone for 14 years straight.

Yang Tsung-pin
Job bank spokesperson
Employers hope to find new employees who can immediately become assets for the company, who can put the knowledge they acquired into practice. On that front, graduates from technical and vocational colleges have an advantage, as they tend to have professional certificates and experience from internships. That gives them an edge over university graduates.

Workers with master’s degrees have the highest mean and median disposable income compared with any other level of education.

University student
I am considering doing a master’s degree. Our teacher told us that starting salaries with a master’s are higher than without.

University student
My major doesn’t have a direct application career-wise. So if you want a higher salary when you start working, you would have to get a master’s.

According to a job bank survey, the biggest talent shortages can be found in the fields of nursing, power machinery and electrical engineering. That means companies in these sectors are more willing to offer higher starting salaries. Of course, only if you have studied the relevant subjects.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2024-09-16

Campers flock to mountains to take refuge from summer

2024-09-16

Pharmacies proliferate as Taiwan’s population demographics trend older

Taiwan’s pharmacy business just keeps growing. On some busy street corners, you might be in sight of half a dozen pharmacies. That’s partly because of the growing power of chain pharmacies, which in some cases are listing on the stock market. But there are still lots of more traditional mom-and-pop pharmacies up and down the country. The market can sustain ever more stores, as Taiwan’s population demographics trend older and older.

Baby products, maternity products, kids’ medicines… A shelf packed with health foods of all kinds, care from head to toe, from cradle to grave. It’s all in one store. And pharmacies are popping up everywhere as social demographics shift.

Wu Jen-yu
FTV reporter
Next year, Taiwan will become a “super-aged society.” More and more pharmacies are opening, banking on the “older adult market.”

Member of public
It’s near home and you don’t have to pay for a doctor’s appointment, you can just buy your medicines. It’s more convenient. I buy sore throat medicine and adhesive bandages.

Member of public
It’s very convenient for us now. It’s very expensive for old people like us to get a bus to the big hospital and have to queue up there.

As more stores open, competition heats up. Chain pharmacies are creating their own retail opportunities, and vying to get into capital markets. In 2016, the Great Tree chain was the first pharmacy to be listed on the stock exchange, and it was followed this March by Norbel and Your Chance.

Huang Wen-ching
Analyst
For a company, getting listed, or having shareholders or one shareholder with a strong capital structure… I think in the future, it will create a stronger and more complete supply chain, in terms of your future retail deployment and the results of your running operations.

This analyst suggests that as chain pharmacies proliferate, the market for smaller, traditional community-based pharmacies will shrink. Private pharmacy owners will have to adapt their business models and increase local services. They may also be pharmacies, but their revenue streams are very different from the big chains.

Shen Tsai-ying
Pharmacist
Prescriptions are about 30-40% of business at community-based pharmacies, especially individual single stores like this one. Health products and medications are probably another 30-40%. At some chain pharmacies, they may also offer assistive devices, and their medical equipment and assistive devices might be 20-30% of their business.

Many big corporations are getting into the pharmacy business, with the thought of Taiwan’s aging population in mind. The pharmaceutical retail business shows no signs of slowing down.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2024-09-16

Impact from Tropical Storm Pulasan may be minimal

2024-09-16