YajanTech Co. Ltd. has made its mark in a wide range of fields by providing flexible and diversified services involving not only augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), but also facial recognition, data analysis, indoor positioning and more. Based on the philosophy “know the user,” the company works with public and private organizations in Japan and Taiwan to enable smart infrastructure by addressing real needs.

Smart city development needs intelligent solutions

As the world steps deeper into the 21st century, countries are striving to build cities that are better equipped to meet modern demands. However, according to YajanTech CEO James Tsai, successful design hinges on knowing what those demands are.

“From smaller quality-of-life improvements like helping to solve retail headaches, to larger smart-city solutions, they all aim to help users easily experience real life, whether physically or remotely,” Tsai said.

Remote experience is an area where YajanTech shines, and where the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) identified a need. With build-operate-transfer (BOT) projects scattered around the world, potential buyers require a way to view properties from a distance. Through YajanTech’s AR/VR technology, users can not only view the properties, but also experience them as though they were walking through in person.

“I think the main reason JICA favored YajanTech’s services is that our AR/VR technology is relatively lightweight and can run on whatever platform a consumer is using,” Tsai said. The software will stitch together images to seamlessly integrate different angles of view, allowing users to “wander” around at their leisure.

Currently, the company is working on a cross-platform AR composer to ensure that related content can be easily compiled for a user’s device of choice, overcoming the significant engineering and design investment that AR usually requires and opening more avenues for development, Tsai added.

Indoor positioning helps visitors find their way, alleviating stress on staff and volunteers

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Most weekends, the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium in Taiwan’s Pingtung County is packed with visitors wandering the exhibits and attending activities. Volunteer staff do their best to meet the increased demand, but are often unable to help guide every visitor.

Recognizing the opportunity for a technological solution, YajanTech collaborated with FarEasTone to install software and hardware for a beacon-based triangulation system. Visitors can now view their location on a digital map and even plan a route to follow, including reminders of when to leave for a scheduled event.

“Before the marine biology museum, we had already set up a beacon system at E-DA Theme Park in Kaohsiung, so we were able to extend this experience to our work at the museum in order to accelerate the development and installation process,” Tsai said.

Aside from these projects, YajanTech’s fully integrated positioning technology has also been implemented in department stores, successfully helping visitors and shoppers get the most out of their experience while easing the burden placed on staff.

Strengthening tourism through data analysis

Whether through VR, AR, mobile app development or other services, new technologies are shaping the future of tourism. To help get ahead of the curve, YajanTech has brought its suite of services to the mountains of Taiwan’s Nantou County.

The company is collaborating with the Nantou County Government, National Chi Nan University (NCNU), chocolate industry firms and Cingjing hotel operators on integrating YajanTech’s AR Smile and tour services into the county’s “Travel Passport” program to collect data on travel trends.

While visitors can enjoy free AR travel guides and discounts by taking selfies through the AR Smile facial recognition program, the county government and NCNU will analyze the related data to compose a tourism white paper, providing the government with a new approach to improving tourism planning and marketing.

When immersed in a VR world, children no longer fear the doctor

YajanTech made its first foray into the medical field after answering Bayer AG’s call to develop creative solutions to some of the biggest challenges in medicine.

The healthcare heavyweight in 2018 introduced its G4A program to Taiwan, identifying four challenges in need of new technological solutions. Among the many firms that submitted proposals, YajanTech was chosen to address hemophilia, introducing Tsai and the rest of his team to the hardships young patients and their parents must endure when receiving treatment.

“Through this program, we learned just how brave children with hemophilia are. If a child’s condition is serious, they have to go to the hospital every day to get a coagulation factor injection,” he said. The younger a child is, usually the more afraid they are and must be held down so the shot can be administered. “The longer this goes on, they only become more afraid.”

So YajanTech furnished Bayer and Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital with its VR software development kit (SDK), allowing nurses to quickly and easily create immersive scenes or games to divert children’s attention.

For example, a child while in the clinic will put on the headset and become immersed in an underwater world. As a shark swims closer, they will be told to be careful of its bite, providing the nurse a window to administer the shot. Each time, the child learns to be less afraid of the shark, and therefore less afraid of treatment.

Tsai said that both the hospital and children have given very positive feedback, and the company is working with hospital staff to upgrade the system.

“If we can help children, then we’re willing to invest more effort and research so that through this type of technology, we can really help those in need,” Tsai said.

Selling points:

• Diverse expertise — software, hardware, big data analysis, AR/VR, facial recognition and more, all from one provider
• Lightweight AR/VR combined with image-stitching technology allows for a smooth viewing experience on any device
• Integrated positioning software and hardware offers a simple solution to indoor navigation needs
• Facial recognition and other data improves targeted marketing and travel planning in a way that benefits both company and consumer
• Creative approach to technology development that centers human needs