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FDA Clears World’s First Mobile App for Contactless Pulse Rate Measurement

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PanopticAI’s tech turns smartphones and tablets into medical-grade vital sign monitors.This is a major milestone in the Hong Kong-based startup’s mission to ensure accessible, scalable healthcare.The AI-based technology’s diverse use cases include telehealth, remote patient monitoring, community health screening, decentralized clinical trials and personal wellness.PanopticAI’s early adopters include Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong (part of IHH Healthcare), Mannings (Hong Kong’s leading health and beauty chain) and Bupa (multinational health insurer).

HONG KONG, Jan. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — PanopticAI, a leading innovator in remote patient monitoring, announced today it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its contactless vital signs monitoring software. The PanopticAI Vital Signs app is the first FDA-cleared mobile application for contactless pulse rate measurement using the built-in camera of iPhones and iPads. This also distinguishes PanopticAI as the first Hong Kong-based company to achieve FDA clearance for a Software as a Medical Device (SaMD).

PanopticAI’s technology leverages proprietary remote photoplethysmography (rPPG) algorithms to transform readily available smartphones and tablets into medical-grade vital sign monitors. Advanced AI and signal processing techniques are used to analyze subtle color changes in the skin captured by the device’s camera, accurately measuring vital signs like pulse rate in just 30 seconds.

This FDA clearance represents a significant milestone in PanopticAI’s mission to make healthcare more accessible and scalable. By leveraging the ubiquity of smartphones, PanopticAI’s technology eliminates the need for specialized equipment, significantly reducing costs and expanding access to vital sign monitoring for a wider population. The company’s contactless vital signs monitoring technology is already used by hospitals, insurance providers and pharmacies. Its customers include Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong (part of IHH Healthcare, one of the world’s largest healthcare providers), Mannings (Hong Kong’s leading health and beauty chain) and Bupa (multinational health insurer).

Clinical testing was conducted on a diverse patient population reflecting US census data to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the PanopticAI Vital Signs app across a broad range of users. Rigorous non-clinical testing evaluated the app’s performance under various conditions, including different lighting, distances, and user characteristics, to ensure reliable operation in real-world settings. The PanopticAI Vital Signs app also underwent rigorous cybersecurity and human factors testing to ensure patient safety and ease of use.

“We are delighted to receive FDA clearance for our technology, validating our commitment to developing clinically sound, accessible health solutions,” said Dr. Kyle Wong, CEO & Co-founder of PanopticAI. “This clearance for contactless pulse rate measurement is the first of several anticipated approvals, and we look forward to building upon this success as we expand our technology’s capabilities.”

Dr. Kenneth Tsang, Chief Executive Officer of Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong (Gleneagles) and Regional Chief Executive Officer of IHH Healthcare North Asia, said, “Gleneagles embraces innovative solutions and new technologies to make personalised healthcare more accessible and encourage patients to have better awareness and management of their own health and wellbeing. As the first private hospital in Hong Kong to collaborate with PanopticAI to adopt the solution in the hospital’s mobile application, we are pleased to be able to help more patients through participating in the validation of the reliability and effectiveness of this innovative technology.”

Chibo Tang, Managing Partner of Gobi Partners, said, “Gobi Partners were early supporters of PanopticAI and are excited by this important milestone. Traditional vital sign monitoring wearables are often costly and uncomfortable, leading to poor adherence. PanopticAI’s FDA-cleared app, however, makes monitoring your vital signs as easy as using your smartphone, empowering patients to become active participants in their own healthcare journeys.”

The PanopticAI Vital Signs app is not intended to be the sole method to assess a subject’s physical health condition. The measurements it provides should complement, not replace, professional medical care and/or medication.

About PanopticAI

PanopticAI is Hong Kong’s leading health technology company revolutionizing vital signs monitoring with its clinically validated remote photoplethysmography (rPPG) technology. Our award-winning Vitals™ SDK transforms smartphones, tablets, and computers into medical-grade vital signs monitors, making health monitoring accessible and scalable for everyone. In just 30 seconds, Vitals™ SDK accurately measures key physiological parameters, including heart rate, heart rate variability, breathing rate, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, stress level and more – all without wearables or specialized equipment. This breakthrough in remote patient monitoring enables healthcare providers, wellness organizations, and insurance enterprises to reduce the burden on healthcare staff while empowering users with insights for early detection and chronic disease management. PanopticAI is backed by Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund, Gobi Partners, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and The Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation.

About Gobi Partners

Gobi Partners is an Asia-focused venture capital firm with US$1.6 billion in Assets Under Management (AUM). Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong, the firm supports entrepreneurs from the early to growth stages and focuses on emerging and underserved markets. Founded in 2002, Gobi has raised 21 funds and invested in over 380 startups with 62 operating in the Circular Economy. Gobi has grown to 15 locations across key markets in Bangkok, Beijing, Dhaka, Guangzhou, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Karachi, Kuala Lumpur, Lahore, Manila, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Singapore and Tianjin. As a Participant in the United Nations Global Compact, Gobi Partners is committed to aligning strategies and operations with universal human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption principles to ensure long-term value creation and sustainability across its portfolio. The firm launched its third Sustainability Report in June 2024. For more information about Gobi Partners, please visit https://gobi.vc.

CONTACT: hello@panoptic.ai

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SOURCE PanopticAI Limited

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HKAGE Showcases Gifted Students’ Learning Journeys at InnoCarnival 2026

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Promoting “Technology for Good” Through Innovation and Creativity 

HONG KONG, Oct. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (HKAGE) has been invited to participate in InnoCarnival 2026, organised by the Innovation and Technology Commission. Under the theme “Technology for Good, Innovation for All”, HKAGE will showcase the learning journeys of gifted students who have completed programmes on AI robotic arms, underwater archaeology, etc., demonstrating how technology can be harnessed to address societal needs.

Having proactively aligned its work with the education development strategies of the Education Bureau (EDB), HKAGE fully supports the EDB’s Blueprint for Digital Education in Primary and Secondary Schools, which seeks to advance the digital transformation of school education in Hong Kong. Building on its Talent Development Model, HKAGE systematically develops programmes, provides diversified learning experiences and engages in cross-sector collaborations to nurture gifted talents equipped with innovative capabilities, technological literacy, and a strong sense of social responsibility. At the exhibition this year, HKAGE will present how students applied knowledge gained through gifted education programmes and learning experiences in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, environmental science, underwater archaeology and sustainable development to design socially conscious solutions. These experiences reflect the students’ ability to serve society with knowledge and respond creatively to diverse challenges.

Among the highlights is the learning journey of students in the “Artificial Intelligence Course: Creative AI Robotic Arm for Inclusion”. After acquiring foundational knowledge in artificial intelligence, robotics and sensor applications, students designed, tested and refined intelligent robotic arm prototypes through real-time data analysis and algorithms. With the aim of improving the quality of life for the elderly and caregivers, students explored various application scenarios for intelligent robotic arms. Another showcase features the “Environmental Science Course: Bat Echoes – Voices of the Night”. Through acoustic monitoring, the exhibition demonstrates how students recorded bat voices and analysed related activity data and characteristics. The programme enabled students to gain a deeper understanding of local biodiversity and explore practical approaches to ecological conservation.

The HKAGE exhibition booth also features an interactive photo-taking device, allowing visitors to take photos with different gifted programme themes and share the joy of learning.

On the first day of the exhibition, a “Build Your Own Glider Parent-Child Workshop” is specially organised by HKAGE for the visitors. Under the guidance of instructors and assisted by HKAGE students, participants will learn the basic principles of aerodynamics, including lift, gravity, thrust and drag. They will also learn to design, assemble and decorate their own gliders by using lightweight and durable materials, experiencing the joy of science and engineering.

Mr WONG Chung Po, Acting Executive Director of HKAGE, said: “The Academy is committed to providing gifted students with diversified learning platforms and encouraging them to transform knowledge into innovative practices that generate positive social impact. Participation in this exhibition not only provides students with a valuable learning experience that helps consolidate the knowledge acquired in gifted programmes, but also enables the public to better understand how gifted education nurtures a new generation of creative and socially responsible talents to jointly advance the philosophy of ‘Technology for Good’.”

InnoCarnival 2026 – The Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education

Date:

24 Oct – 1 Nov

Venue:

The Hong Kong Science Park

Booth:

C08-09

Time:

10:00 – 17:00 (Mon to Fri)

10:00 – 18:00 (Sat & Sun)

 

About the HKAGE

Established in 2008 and subvented by the Education Bureau, the HKAGE offers gifted education services actively to local primary and secondary school students to unleash their potential. It also provides gifted education-related information and support for teachers, parents, and other relevant stakeholders.

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SOURCE Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education

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LEAP Group Relaunches HumanView, a Growth Intelligence System Built to Explain Why Customers Behave the Way They Do

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Reimagined from the ground up, HumanView pairs statistical modeling with expert analysts to turn millions of real-world customer signals into business decisions

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LEAP Group today announced the relaunch of HumanView, its growth intelligence service. The new version has been rebuilt from the ground up and now has a dedicated home at leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

HumanView analyzes what customers say and do across social platforms, e-commerce sites, review platforms, search behavior and user-generated content, including signals from Reddit, TikTok, YouTube, Meta, Amazon and Walmart+ that general AI tools cannot always access. Because the data reflects unprompted, real-world behavior, it avoids the response bias built into surveys and focus groups.

The service works in three layers. HumanView captures signals at scale, decodes millions of records through validated statistical models such as regression, correlation and clustering, and then relies on experienced analysts to interpret the patterns. Clients receive clear, human-validated insights instead of another dashboard.

“Machines find the patterns. Humans find the point,” said Alan Gilleo, CEO at LEAP Group. “The first version of HumanView showed us how much customers reveal when nobody is asking them questions. This version is built to explain why they act the way they do, and to put those answers in front of everyone making decisions, from product to service to marketing.”

HumanView focuses on three areas:

Growth Intelligence: customer motivations and how people perceive a brand and its competitors

Market and Category Intelligence: product pain points, service friction, unmet needs and competitive gaps

Audience Intelligence: new segments, positioning opportunities and gaps in the market

Every model is designed and validated by data scientists and benchmarked before it informs a recommendation.

To learn more about HumanView, visit leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

About LEAP Group
LEAP Group is a boutique marketing agency holding company with offices in Louisville, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Chicago. Guided by the belief that brands should “Market Less. Matter More.,” LEAP gives clients access to specialized experts across its entire network. Learn more at leapgroupnetwork.com.

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SOURCE LEAP Group

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STEPHEN A. SMITH ADDRESSES WHITE HOUSE DINNER ATTENDANCE, REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO HBCUs AND PROTECTING CORPORATE INVESTMENT IN BLACK EDUCATION

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NEW YORK, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Stephen A. Smith, media mogul, New York Times bestselling author, and proud 1991 graduate of Winston-Salem State University, is addressing the public discussion surrounding his decision to attend a White House dinner with President Donald Trump, emphasizing his commitment to the long-term financial stability of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

For Smith, the decision was rooted in a commitment to institutions that have educated generations of Black leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and public servants.

“I will always advocate for HBCUs and the students whose futures depend on them,” Smith said. “My reason for attending the White House dinner was to discuss the challenges these institutions face in securing long-term funding and to make the case that corporate America must continue to invest in them.”

Smith acknowledged federal support through the FUTURE Act while expressing concern that political tensions surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) could discourage private companies from supporting HBCUs. He maintains that these institutions deserve sustained corporate partnerships, philanthropic contributions, and public investment.

“If we truly believe in free-market capitalism, businesses should be able to support educational institutions and charitable causes without fear of criticism or repercussions,” Smith said. “HBCUs have made extraordinary contributions to this country. They deserve sustained public and private investment.”

Ashley Christopher, Esq., Founder and CEO of the HBCU Week Foundation, recognized Smith’s advocacy and decision to engage with the administration.

“Stephen A. Smith has been a powerful advocate for HBCUs, using his platform and influence to shine a national spotlight on our institutions,” expressed Christopher, “His continued support of HBCU Week helps advance our mission of connecting students with life-changing educational opportunities, and we are proud to have him as our ambassador.”

Since Smith became an HBCU Week Ambassador in 2019, the initiative has facilitated more than 15,000 on-the-spot college acceptances and raised and awarded more than $150 million in scholarships, according to the HBCU Week Foundation.

As public discussion continues, Smith is emphasizing the importance of ensuring HBCUs have the resources and partnerships needed to educate future generations and expand opportunities for students.

CLICK HERE to watch Smith’s full response to his White House visit.

MEDIA CONTACT:

media@mrsasinc.com

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SOURCE Straight Shooter Media

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