Cover The co-founders of Hong Kong health tech startup PanopticAI: Nick Chin, Kyle Wong and Teric Chan. The company’s app enables users to take their pulse using just the phone camera (Photo: HKUST)
The co-founders of Hong Kong health tech startup PanopticAI: Nick Chin, Kyle Wong and Teric Chan. The company’s app enables users to take their pulse using just the phone camera (Photo: HKUST)
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Health tech startup PanopticAI’s FDA-cleared app has developed a contactless technology that measures pulse rate using your phone’s camera, simplifying health monitoring with no extra equipment needed
Health tech startup PanopticAI has received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for its Vital Signs app, which can measure a human’s pulse rate contactlessly with 98 per cent accuracy.
The company, backed by Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund and Gobi Partners GBA, says this milestone makes it the first firm in Hong Kong to achieve FDA clearance for Software as a Medical Device (SaMD).
The app utilises a proprietary algorithm that turns smartphones and tablets into health monitoring tools. Within 30 seconds, vital signs, such as heart rate, breathing rate and oxygen saturation, can be measured through facial scanning, detecting subtle changes in skin colour.
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Above Chin scans his face using an iPad equipped with the company’s technology (Photo: HKUST)
Chin scans his face using an iPad equipped with the company’s technology (Photo: HKUST)
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“Traditionally, vital signs are measured with contact-based devices. They present everlasting pain points, including cost, usability issues, logistics and the need for frequent upgrades,” explains Kyle Wong, the company’s co-founder and CEO.
“By using a device nearly everyone has—a smartphone, tablet or laptop—we can capture these vital signs, providing an easy and accessible way for everyone to measure, monitor and manage personal health.”
Wong, a Gen.T Leader of Tomorrow 2023, shares more about AI’s role in this innovation and its practical, everyday applications.
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What inspired the development of this product?
Kyle Wong (KW): Our initial product was an enterprise-grade temperature monitoring system deployed at border control points and institutions across Hong Kong. However, we aspired to create a personalised innovation accessible to everyone. This ambition led to the development of the PanopticAI Vital Signs mobile app, which measures a range of vital signs, including heart rate, breathing rate, oxygen saturation and more.
How does AI contribute to the app’s functionality?
KW: We developed clinically accurate algorithms using advanced signal processing and machine learning techniques. Critically, we built a diverse dataset encompassing individuals of varying ages, skin tones, ethnicities, makeup usage, hairstyles and face shapes. To validate our algorithm, we simultaneously captured facial data with a standard camera and compared it to readings from medical-grade devices used in hospitals.
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Above A mockup of the Vital Signs software that transforms electronic devices with cameras into health monitoring tools (Photo: PanopticAI)
A mockup of the Vital Signs software that transforms electronic devices with cameras into health monitoring tools (Photo: PanopticAI)
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How do you ensure data privacy?
KW: Data security and privacy are paramount. Our data and software undergo regular third-party audits, penetration testing and cybersecurity assessments. Our algorithms process data locally on the user’s device before any information is transmitted to the cloud. This on-device processing effectively masks the data, ensuring we analyse only the derived signal changes, not the actual images.
Can you share successful use cases?
KW: Over the past two years, we’ve focused on business-to-business partnerships, tailoring our solutions to the needs of various corporations and institutions.
For example, our technology is integrated into the Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong mobile app, enabling users to track their vital signs and identify potential health issues. We’ve also partnered with insurance companies, telemedicine platforms and elderly care facilities, providing remote monitoring solutions for patients and residents.
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Above Wong, PanopticAI’s co-founder and CEO, introduces the company’s technology at a press conference (Photo: HKUST)
Wong, PanopticAI’s co-founder and CEO, introduces the company’s technology at a press conference (Photo: HKUST)
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What are your upcoming priorities for developing this software?
KW: Our current priority is developing accurate blood pressure measurement capabilities. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease—the world’s number one killer. As hypertension is often asymptomatic, regular monitoring is crucial for early detection and management.
Our goal is to empower individuals to proactively manage their cardiovascular health by providing a convenient tool for regular blood pressure screening, alongside heart rate, breathing rate and oxygen saturation monitoring.
Quotes are edited for clarity and brevity.
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Based in Hong Kong, editor Yoyo Chow covers the people and ideas redefining Asia’s future—from cutting-edge innovation and AI to bold moves in sustainability and diversity. She also drives content for Tatler Gen.T in Hong Kong, a platform and community spotlighting the region’s next generation of startup founders, creatives and changemakers.
Before that, she was a video journalist producing content for international TV and digital platforms, including Reuters and South China Morning Post. If you have a powerful story to share, she’s all ears. Send press materials, event invites and any inquiries to yoyo.chow@tatlerasia.com.
