Realization of avatars using webcams, even facial expressions... Confidence in an anonymous space
KT ‘Tagi the’ Challenge Excellence Award… Exploring global insurance and business at next year’s CES
An important gateway to offline expansion of digital counseling... Opening a new horizon in the consulting field
"'You're young because you're sick?' “If you are sick, you need to meet with an expert, talk to them, and get counseling. Using Metaverse, we will become the ‘first mover’ in the field of non-face-to-face counseling where you can receive counseling as easily and comfortably as going to a convenience store.”Many people in their 20s and 30s, including teenagers, experience mental health problems caused by stress, such as difficulties with grades, employment, and interpersonal relationships. Last year, Korea's suicide rate was 25.2 per 100,000 people, failing to escape the stigma of being the highest among OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) member countries. Even though psychological counseling has become widespread, many people are still reluctant to receive face-to-face counseling due to fear of stigma.
Lee Seong-chan (39, photo), CEO of YATAV, said, "Using the expandability and characteristics of the metaverse, we want to provide a partner for honest and deep conversation rather than heavy psychological counseling through a channel tailored to the youth's level." He added, "By collaborating with KT, “We also provide digital psychological counseling services,” he said.
YATAV has developed 'META FOR:EST', a psychological counseling platform that people can comfortably access using Metaverse and AI (artificial intelligence) technology. Recently, it participated in KT's 'Warm Technology Plus' challenge, now in its third year, and was recognized for its growth potential and was selected as the final excellent company and received an excellence award. As part of KT's ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management activities, Tagithe discovers, fosters, and supports social ventures that solve social problems, such as Yatav Entertainment.
Representative Lee, who majored in psychological counseling in college, said, “It started with publishing the world’s first paper where a counselor and client talk and counsel using an actual metaverse,” adding, “Even if face-to-face counseling is difficult, real-time counseling in an anonymous space is possible.” “By doing this, the client gains confidence and the courage to tell what’s on their mind,” he said.
YATAV's Metaforest program is characterized by counseling using an avatar in a virtual space. In the case of other non-face-to-face consultations, the screen is usually turned off and the consultation is conducted using only voice, making it difficult to detect non-verbal aspects such as facial expressions and gestures. YATAV applied AI facial expression recognition technology to overcome the limitations of non-face-to-face consultation. This was solved by tracking facial expressions using a laptop's webcam or smartphone camera and implementing them as avatars.
CEO Lee said, "Instead of HMD (head mounted display), which was considered a limitation due to inconvenience and low penetration, we used a webcam to recognize facial expressions and have them displayed on the avatar in real time. We will continue to evolve technology to increase the accuracy of facial expressions using webcams. “I’m on my way,” he said.
In the early days of YATAV's business, the direction was B2G (business-to-government) with a focus on educational institutions, but at the suggestion of the KT ESG team, the business scope was expanded to B2C (business-to-consumer). While we are also turning our attention overseas and participating in KT's Tagi The Challenge, we are contacting three schools in the United States and conducting POC (technology verification). We will participate in 'CES 2024' held in Las Vegas, USA in January next year and meet with global insurance companies to seek business expansion opportunities.
CEO Lee said, "I was thinking about how to improve the quality of communication between clients and counselors, and with KT's proposal, I was able to expand the contact points of Metaverse counseling to corporate management foundations and professional NGOs (non-governmental organizations)." He added, "Service test. “We received a lot of help in terms of technology, content, and business, including reflecting feedback into the service,” he said.
KT and professional NGOs are also promoting a psychological counseling project targeting youth victims of digital side effects such as cyberbullying, game addiction, and smartphone overdependence.
He said, “There may be people who question whether it is right to provide a solution through digital technology to people who are experiencing side effects from digital technology, but in reality, digital is the most effective channel for them to access, so it is right to start there.” “I think that, unlike existing methods, digital counseling is expected to serve as an important gateway and passageway to start in an online environment and expand offline,” he said. In addition, CEO Lee's expectation is that the combination of Metaverse and AI will open a new horizon in the counseling field.
Realization of avatars using webcams, even facial expressions... Confidence in an anonymous space
KT ‘Tagi the’ Challenge Excellence Award… Exploring global insurance and business at next year’s CES
An important gateway to offline expansion of digital counseling... Opening a new horizon in the consulting field
"'You're young because you're sick?' “If you are sick, you need to meet with an expert, talk to them, and get counseling. Using Metaverse, we will become the ‘first mover’ in the field of non-face-to-face counseling where you can receive counseling as easily and comfortably as going to a convenience store.”Many people in their 20s and 30s, including teenagers, experience mental health problems caused by stress, such as difficulties with grades, employment, and interpersonal relationships. Last year, Korea's suicide rate was 25.2 per 100,000 people, failing to escape the stigma of being the highest among OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) member countries. Even though psychological counseling has become widespread, many people are still reluctant to receive face-to-face counseling due to fear of stigma.
Lee Seong-chan (39, photo), CEO of YATAV, said, "Using the expandability and characteristics of the metaverse, we want to provide a partner for honest and deep conversation rather than heavy psychological counseling through a channel tailored to the youth's level." He added, "By collaborating with KT, “We also provide digital psychological counseling services,” he said.
YATAV has developed 'META FOR:EST', a psychological counseling platform that people can comfortably access using Metaverse and AI (artificial intelligence) technology. Recently, it participated in KT's 'Warm Technology Plus' challenge, now in its third year, and was recognized for its growth potential and was selected as the final excellent company and received an excellence award. As part of KT's ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management activities, Tagithe discovers, fosters, and supports social ventures that solve social problems, such as Yatav Entertainment.
Representative Lee, who majored in psychological counseling in college, said, “It started with publishing the world’s first paper where a counselor and client talk and counsel using an actual metaverse,” adding, “Even if face-to-face counseling is difficult, real-time counseling in an anonymous space is possible.” “By doing this, the client gains confidence and the courage to tell what’s on their mind,” he said.
YATAV's Metaforest program is characterized by counseling using an avatar in a virtual space. In the case of other non-face-to-face consultations, the screen is usually turned off and the consultation is conducted using only voice, making it difficult to detect non-verbal aspects such as facial expressions and gestures. YATAV applied AI facial expression recognition technology to overcome the limitations of non-face-to-face consultation. This was solved by tracking facial expressions using a laptop's webcam or smartphone camera and implementing them as avatars.
CEO Lee said, "Instead of HMD (head mounted display), which was considered a limitation due to inconvenience and low penetration, we used a webcam to recognize facial expressions and have them displayed on the avatar in real time. We will continue to evolve technology to increase the accuracy of facial expressions using webcams. “I’m on my way,” he said.
In the early days of YATAV's business, the direction was B2G (business-to-government) with a focus on educational institutions, but at the suggestion of the KT ESG team, the business scope was expanded to B2C (business-to-consumer). While we are also turning our attention overseas and participating in KT's Tagi The Challenge, we are contacting three schools in the United States and conducting POC (technology verification). We will participate in 'CES 2024' held in Las Vegas, USA in January next year and meet with global insurance companies to seek business expansion opportunities.
CEO Lee said, "I was thinking about how to improve the quality of communication between clients and counselors, and with KT's proposal, I was able to expand the contact points of Metaverse counseling to corporate management foundations and professional NGOs (non-governmental organizations)." He added, "Service test. “We received a lot of help in terms of technology, content, and business, including reflecting feedback into the service,” he said.
KT and professional NGOs are also promoting a psychological counseling project targeting youth victims of digital side effects such as cyberbullying, game addiction, and smartphone overdependence.
He said, “There may be people who question whether it is right to provide a solution through digital technology to people who are experiencing side effects from digital technology, but in reality, digital is the most effective channel for them to access, so it is right to start there.” “I think that, unlike existing methods, digital counseling is expected to serve as an important gateway and passageway to start in an online environment and expand offline,” he said. In addition, CEO Lee's expectation is that the combination of Metaverse and AI will open a new horizon in the counseling field.