BEHIND THE LINES, DOTS AND CURVES College students write notes utilizing the iSULAT pen, which helps detect potential problems based mostly on one’s handwriting, on the 2024 Nationwide Science and Expertise Week held in Cagayan de Oro Metropolis in December. The know-how was developed by researchers on the College of Santo Tomas with help from the Division of Science and Expertise (DOST). —PHOTO FROM DOST
Filipino scientists have developed a wise pen that may analyze kids’s handwriting and detect potential psychological situations affecting their vanity or educational efficiency, in keeping with the Division of Science and Expertise (DOST).
The handwriting evaluation software dubbed “iSULAT,” quick for “Clever Stroke Utilization, Studying, Evaluation and Testing,” can spot potential well being situations hampering the total mind and motor growth of a kid, akin to “developmental delays” and neurological problems like autism, consideration deficit hyperactivity dysfunction (ADHD), dyslexia and stroke, DOST stated.
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The 2-year venture, whose first part concluded in October final 12 months, was led by researchers from the College of Santo Tomas and funded by the DOST’s Philippine Council for Well being Analysis and Improvement.
The invention was among the many tasks offered final month within the 2024 Nationwide Science and Expertise Week in Cagayan de Oro Metropolis.
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‘Lazy’ or ‘unenthusiastic’
In keeping with the DOST, the iSULAT pen has a built-in “microcontroller” that transmits knowledge to a cell utility. Its findings are then processed and analyzed by iSULAT earlier than it may be despatched to occupational therapists for correct analysis.
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The division harassed that failure to achieve proficiency in handwriting, which it deemed the “most speedy type of graphic communication,” might end in “far-reaching damaging results on each the tutorial success and vanity of a kid.”
Engineer Jomel Herras, the venture supervisor, stated the workforce factored within the inaccessibility of conventional handwriting remedy within the nation in developing with the brand new diagnostic software for college kids having difficulties of their handwriting or in writing legible letters or sentences.
“It principally addresses the dearth of occupational therapists and the excessive value of remedy,” Herras stated in a press release.
His workforce’s invention addresses the “root trigger” of a kid’s drawback with handwriting, he famous, including: “They do it of their on a regular basis lives. They write even in Math, Arts and English topics.”
Herras cited cases when a child could seem “lazy” or “unenthusiastic” in writing or in jotting down notes when she or he might have already got underlying situations.
The venture’s pilot testing, which coated college students from ages 6 to 10 in three faculties: Juan Sumulong Elementary Faculty in Pasay Metropolis; Villa Maria Elementary Faculty in Porac, Pampanga province; and Bulacan Montessori Faculty, Inc. in Bulakan city, Bulacan province.
Increasing the venture
The kids discovered to have handwriting points underwent simultaneous evaluation in batches, and the iSULAT studied the handwriting “based mostly on letter alignment, spacing and consistency,” DOST stated.
Herras is dedicated to increasing the venture to learn adults with ADHD and autism as nicely.
To this point, it has already linked up with the Metro Manila division of the Division of Schooling for the conduct of extra checks this 12 months.
“Hopefully by 2026, we can conduct the second part the place it might be utilized not solely to kids, [but also adults],” he stated.
A quantitative analysis research revealed in 2023, titled “The Effectiveness of Revolutionary Educating Device to Improve Handwriting Expertise of Grade 1 Pupils in Cateel Central Elementary Faculty,” emphasised the significance of handwriting as an “important ability” in studying and a “huge contributor” in a scholar’s “failure, underachievement or lack of ambition for tutorial efficiency.”
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The research discovered that sure educating instruments and interventions have been efficient in enhancing handwriting legibility and creating a “stronger basis of literacy expertise” in younger elementary college students within the Davao Oriental faculty.
