As Taiwan rapidly transitions into a super-aged society, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) is working with the Hsinchu City Government to transform preventive elderly healthcare into an engaging community experience — turning traditional health screening into AI-powered interactive games designed to support healthy aging.
The collaboration integrates the World Health Organization’s Integrated Care for Older People (iCOPE) framework into Hsinchu City’s newly launched “Silver Fitness and Wellness Stations” program, which officially began operating in May 2026. Combining artificial intelligence, sensing technologies, and community-based wellness programs, the initiative demonstrates how university research can be translated into real-world public health applications and meaningful university social responsibility (USR) impact.
Turning Health Screening Into Interactive Experiences
At the center of the project is an interactive assessment system led by Kuei-Ann Wen, director of the Silicon Guide R&D Center at NYCU. The system combines motion-sensing technology, AI-driven analysis, and gamified design to reimagine how elderly health assessments are conducted in community settings.
Traditional iCOPE assessments often involve lengthy questionnaires and formal evaluation procedures that can feel stressful or intimidating for older adults, reducing participation rates and affecting data quality. To address this challenge, Wen’s research team redesigned the process into intuitive, low-pressure interactive activities that encourage seniors to participate more willingly.
The system evaluates six key domains defined under the WHO iCOPE framework: cognitive function, mobility, nutrition, vision, hearing, and psychological well-being. Rather than relying solely on manual observation, embedded sensors capture subtle movement and behavioral patterns, while AI algorithms analyze long-term functional trends to help identify early signs of decline before serious disability occurs.
According to the team, the project aims not only to advance health technology but also to create a sustainable preventive healthcare model that older adults genuinely enjoy using. “Health assessments should not feel like tests,” the team noted. “When seniors are willing to participate regularly, healthcare providers can better support early intervention and healthy aging.”
Building a New Model for Smart Preventive Healthcare
The project has already been implemented across multiple community wellness stations in Hsinchu City, including two sites in the East District, two in the North District, and one in Xiangshan District. The program primarily serves residents aged 65 and above, as well as Indigenous citizens aged 55 and above. Beyond Hsinchu City, the system has already begun expanding into communities in Hsinchu County and Taipei, demonstrating the broader potential of AI-assisted preventive healthcare models for aging societies.
The project further integrates the Rabboni platform developed by Silicon Spectrum, bringing semiconductor sensing technologies and AI applications into elderly care settings. Researchers describe the collaboration as an example of how Taiwan’s strengths in semiconductors and digital innovation can be transformed into practical social impact.
The NYCU team believes the project could become one of the world’s first large-scale examples of “gamified health screening” integrated into community-based elderly care. “This is not only a breakthrough in health technology,” the researchers said. “It is also an important milestone in how Taiwan responds to the challenges of an aging society.”
