Tag: Germany

  • Lacking health workers, Germany taps robots for elder care

    Lacking health workers, Germany taps robots for elder care

    The white-coloured humanoid “Garmi” does not look much different from a typical robot – it stands on a platform with wheels and is equipped with a black screen on which two blue circles acting as eyes are attached.

    But retired German doctor Guenter Steinebach, 78, said: “For me, this robot is a dream.”

    Not only is Garmi able to perform diagnostics on patients, it can also provide care and treatment for them. Or at least, that is the plan.

    Garmi is a product of a new sector called geriatronics, a discipline that taps advanced technologies like robotics, IT, and 3D technology for geriatrics, gerontology and nursing.

    About a dozen scientists built Garmi with the help of medical practitioners like Steinebach at the Munich Institute of Robotics and Machine Intelligence.

    Part of the Technical University of Munich, the institute based its unit specialising in geriatronics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, a ski resort that is home to one of the highest proportions of elderly people in Germany.

    Europe’s most populous country is itself one of the world’s most rapidly ageing societies.

    With the number of people needing care growing quickly and an estimated 670,000 carer posts to go unfilled in Germany by 2050, researchers are racing to conceive robots that can take over some of the tasks carried out today by nurses, carers, and doctors.

    “We have ATMs where we can get cash today. We can imagine that one day, based on the same model, people can come to get their medical examination in a kind of technology hub,” said Abdeldjallil Naceri, 43, the lead scientist of the lab.

    Doctors could then evaluate the results of the robot’s diagnostics from a distance, something that could be particularly valuable for people living in remote communities.

    Alternatively, the machine could offer a more personalised service at home or in a care home — by serving meals, opening a bottle of water, calling for help in case of a fall or organising a video call with family and friends.

    – ‘We must get there’ –

    In the Garmisch laboratory, Steinebach sat down at a table equipped with three screens and a joystick as he got ready to test the robot’s progress.

    At the other end of the room, a researcher designated as a test model took his spot in front of Garmi, which poses a stethoscope on his chest — an action directed by Steinebach from afar via the joystick.

    Medical data immediately appear on the doctor’s screen.

    “Imagine if I had had that in my old practice,” Steinebach said while moving the joystick.

    Besides the retired doctor, other medical practitioners also visit the lab regularly to offer their ideas and feedback on the robot.

    “It’s like a three-year-old child. We have to teach it everything,” Naceri said.

    It’s anyone’s guess when Garmi might be ready on a commercial scale.

    But Naceri is convinced that “we must get there, the statistics are clear that it is urgent”.

    “From 2030, we must be able to integrate this kind of technology into our society.”

    – Question of trust –

    And if it is indeed deployed one day, residents of the Sankt Vinzenz retirement home in Garmisch, a partner of the project, will likely see Garmi whizzing down the corridors.

    Just thinking about it made Mrs. Rohrer, a 74-year-old resident at the home, smile.

    “There are things that a robot can do, for example, serve a drink or bring meals,” she said as Eva Pioskowik, the director of the home, did her nails.

    Pioskowik, who battles staffing shortages on a daily basis, said she did not expect the robot to take the place of health workers.

    “But it could allow our staff to spend a bit more time with the residents,” she said.

    For Naceri’s team, one of the major challenges is not technological, medical, or financial.

    Rather, it remains to be seen if most patients will accept the robot.

    “They need to trust the robot,” he said. “They need to be able to use it like we use a smartphone today.”

    (AFP)

  • Japan stun Germany 2-1 in another World Cup upset

    Japan stun Germany 2-1 in another World Cup upset

    Goals from substitutes Ritsu Doan and Takuma Asano in the last 15 minutes gave Japan a stunning 2-1 upset over four-times champions Germany in their World Cup Group E opener on Wednesday.

    The Germans had dominated the contest at the Khalifa International Stadium and taken the lead with a 33rd minute penalty from Ilkay Gundogan after Japan goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda had fouled wing back David Raum.

    The second goal never came, however, and Japan’s raids into the German half became more and more frequent, culminating in Doan’s equaliser and a brilliant finish from Asano eight minutes later.

    The defeat was the third in a row in the opening match of a major championship for Germany after a loss to Mexico at the 2018 World Cup, when they bowed out in the first round as champions, and to France at Euro 2020.

  • Werner ruled out of Qatar 2022

    Werner ruled out of Qatar 2022

    Timo Werner

    Germany forward, Timo Werner, has been ruled out of the World Cup in Qatar due to an ankle injury, his club RB Leipzig announced on Thursday.

    Werner, 26, was taken off in the first half of Leipzig’s 4-0 Champions League group-stage win against Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday night.

    “Scans today in Leipzig showed that he has unfortu- nately torn the syndesmosis ligament in his left ankle and will therefore be out for the rest of 2022,” the Bundesliga team said in a statement.

    “A decision on his treatment will be made in the coming days.”

    Werner, who has 24 goals in 55 appearances for the na- tional team, was part of the Germany squad at the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020.

    Germany are set to open their World Cup campaign on November 23 against Japan.

  • FIFA U17 Women’s W/Cup: Flamingos beat Germany to claim bronze medals

    FIFA U17 Women’s W/Cup: Flamingos beat Germany to claim bronze medals

    Nigeria won their first-ever FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup bronze medals on Sunday in Mumbai after a 3-2 penalty kicks shootout win over Germany.

    Both teams had started the competition against each other, with the Germans coming back from a goal down to win 2-1 at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa.

    But, this time around, in spite of coming back from three goals down, they failed to clinch a winning goal and could not succeed at the shooting range.

    The Europeans, who lost through a late goal to Cup-holders Spain in Wednesday’s second semi-final, started the brighter side in this third-place match.

    They had the ball in the net through Marie Steiner in the fifth minute off a cross from Laura Gloning, but the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) ruled if offside.

    Nigeria however took the lead in the 21st minute through Opeyemi Ajakaye, after she got the better of Eve Boettcher from a flowing move.

    Goalkeeper Faith Omilana saved from Gloning five minutes later, while Nigeria should have been 2-0 up in time-added-on in the first half after Chidera Okenwa missed a one-on-one with Boettcher.

    The Flamingos continued the second half from where they left off in the first period and were more fortunate this time.

    Aminat Bello headed powerfully into the net from defender Miracle Usani’s corner kick in the 48th minute, while Edidiong Etim extended their lead only four minutes after replacing Okenwa.

    But Germany fought back gamely and reduced the scoreline in the 73rd minute when Veit Jella pulled one back.

    Five minutes later, Ajakaye had an opportunity to make it 4-1 but faltered.

    Paulina Platiner made it 3-2 with five minutes to go and on the dot of 90 minutes, Loreen Bender tied the scoreline to compel a third penalty kicks shootout for the Flamingos.

    Substitutes Blessing Sunday and Etim, and Player-of-the-Match Ajakaye scored from the spot for Nigeria, while defender Tumininu Adeshina missed.

    But it did not matter as Pauliner Bartz missed a crucial kick for Germany.

    Flamingos’ coach Bankole Olowookere said afterwards: “I am a very happy man that we did not leave India empty-handed.

    “It has been a great tournament with a lot of lessons learnt. We give God the glory.”