Software AG's University Relations' CeBIT Idea Contest was launched this summer for the fourth time, and now the winner has been declared: RWTH Aachen University. As the contest winner, RWTH will present its new volunteer notification system (VNS) at Software AG's booth at CeBIT 2015. The system ensures the fastest possible first aid for sudden cardiac arrest through a software-based network of volunteer first responders and laypeople with medical training. The team of scientists and students from RWTH Aachen University will receive a grant of up to €10,000 to continue development on their showcase project.
Sudden cardiac arrest is one of Europe's most common causes of death with over 350,000 victims annually. No other emergency is as time critical, because permanent brain damage can occur a mere three minutes after the heart stops beating. The notification system developed by the IMA/ZLW & IfU institute cluster at RWTH Aachen University steps in to improve the survival rate among victims. The goal: to significantly increase the number of cases where CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is administered before professional emergency services arrive. How does it work? When a call is placed to the emergency number, potential first responders who are in the vicinity and have medical training are automatically notified via an app. Not only does the system identify first responders and trained laypeople, it also maps the shortest route to the victim's location using the mobile device to ensure that first aid can be started as quickly as possible - before emergency medical services can even arrive.
The system consists primarily of three technological components:
- an interface to various emergency call centers that directs information about incoming cases and emergency calls to all registered first responders in the VNS and then initializes the selection of the most promising candidates.
- an intelligent decision-making system that uses an artificial intelligence process to identify the most suitable first responders nearby, even if no current live data is available.
- a mobile application that notifies the first responders and guides them to the victim's location.
In addition, volunteers who are already registered can receive information about further training in their area with the opportunity to sign up for it online.
Jesko Elsner, a graduate student in business information systems at the Information Management in Mechanical Engineering faculty at RWTH Aachen University is responsible for the system's development. "After introducing a prototype of our system in the Netherlands, we are almost ready to go live in Belgium. We are looking forward to demonstrating our system together with Software AG at CeBIT 2015 and anticipate widespread expansion into other countries."
Jürgen Powik, Senior Director of University Relations at Software AG, states: "We are completely convinced of the innovative power and benefits of this software-based lifesaver. Even if just one more life is saved by such a system, the effort has been worth it. Thanks to the scalability of our technology, a global implementation of this lifesaving system is quite simple."
The system will be demonstrated to the public at the Software AG booth at CeBIT on March 16-20, 2015. The showcase project highlights the use of Software AG's webMethods, Apama and Terracotta products.
Sudden cardiac arrest is one of Europe's most common causes of death with over 350,000 victims annually. No other emergency is as time critical, because permanent brain damage can occur a mere three minutes after the heart stops beating. The notification system developed by the IMA/ZLW & IfU institute cluster at RWTH Aachen University steps in to improve the survival rate among victims. The goal: to significantly increase the number of cases where CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is administered before professional emergency services arrive. How does it work? When a call is placed to the emergency number, potential first responders who are in the vicinity and have medical training are automatically notified via an app. Not only does the system identify first responders and trained laypeople, it also maps the shortest route to the victim's location using the mobile device to ensure that first aid can be started as quickly as possible - before emergency medical services can even arrive.
The system consists primarily of three technological components:
- an interface to various emergency call centers that directs information about incoming cases and emergency calls to all registered first responders in the VNS and then initializes the selection of the most promising candidates.
- an intelligent decision-making system that uses an artificial intelligence process to identify the most suitable first responders nearby, even if no current live data is available.
- a mobile application that notifies the first responders and guides them to the victim's location.
In addition, volunteers who are already registered can receive information about further training in their area with the opportunity to sign up for it online.
Jesko Elsner, a graduate student in business information systems at the Information Management in Mechanical Engineering faculty at RWTH Aachen University is responsible for the system's development. "After introducing a prototype of our system in the Netherlands, we are almost ready to go live in Belgium. We are looking forward to demonstrating our system together with Software AG at CeBIT 2015 and anticipate widespread expansion into other countries."
Jürgen Powik, Senior Director of University Relations at Software AG, states: "We are completely convinced of the innovative power and benefits of this software-based lifesaver. Even if just one more life is saved by such a system, the effort has been worth it. Thanks to the scalability of our technology, a global implementation of this lifesaving system is quite simple."
The system will be demonstrated to the public at the Software AG booth at CeBIT on March 16-20, 2015. The showcase project highlights the use of Software AG's webMethods, Apama and Terracotta products.
