Inspire’s Digital Development Lead, Gillian Cameron, reflects on her recent trip to Nara, Japan for the IEEE eHealthCom conference.
Last week, I had the privilege of attending and presenting at the IEEE eHealthCom 2024 conference in Nara, Japan. This annual event brings together researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers to discuss the latest advancements in eHealth technologies. With topics ranging from artificial intelligence in healthcare to patient-centric innovations, the conference provided a platform for dynamic discussions and showcased the cutting-edge developments shaping the future of health and wellness.
Presenting My Research on Data Analysis on Employee Mental Health Data
At the heart of my participation was the opportunity to present my research on clustering user groups from an employee wellbeing platform dataset. This work focuses on identifying patterns and trends in user behaviour to create more personalised and effective wellbeing interventions. By analysing user data, my research aims to enhance engagement and outcomes on platforms that support employee mental and physical health.
Presenting this research to an audience of experts was both exciting and rewarding. I received valuable feedback and sparked discussions about the potential of data-driven approaches to improve workplace wellbeing. It was inspiring to see how my work aligned with broader themes at the conference, such as leveraging big data and machine learning to deliver tailored healthcare solutions.
Highlights from IEEE eHealthCom
The conference offered a packed schedule of keynote speeches, presentations, and networking sessions. One of the standout talks for me was from the University of Massachusetts, highlighting how we can utilise technologies already within the home, such as smart speakers, to monitor and detect early onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s.
The use of camera-based stress detection using face-related and emotion-related features was also incredibly interesting, from the University of Tokyo, with researchers looking at 41 action movements in the face to detect stress.
There were several talks on recommender systems in health, personalising health-related content based on preferences and patterns of a similar user group, which gave me inspiration for our own platforms, with the potential for personalised mental health content recommendations.
The keynotes were all fantastic, including Wenjing Lou discussing “Rethinking Privacy Protection in Federated Learning in the Face of Model Inversion Attacks”, bringing to the forefront the risks facing researchers when building machine learning models.
Meeting new friends in Nara
While the conference itself was a professional milestone, being in Nara added a unique cultural dimension to the experience. Nara is famous for its rich history and serene landscapes, and I took some time to visit its iconic sites. A highlight was the encounter with Nara’s historic bowing deer, a symbol of the city’s harmonious relationship between nature and culture. Feeding the deer and observing their gentle bows was a delightful break from the academic intensity of the conference.
Looking Ahead
Attending IEEE eHealthCom 2024 was an unforgettable experience, combining professional growth with my love of travelling. My presentation on employee wellbeing platforms reaffirmed the importance of data-driven innovation, while the insights from other sessions provided fresh perspectives for my work.
As I return to my work and research, I am inspired not only by the advancements in eHealth but also by the connections made and the shared vision of improving global health outcomes. For anyone passionate about the intersection of technology and healthcare, I highly recommend attending a conference like IEEE eHealthCom. It is an incredible opportunity to learn, share, and contribute to the future of eHealth.
A big thank you to the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 who have supported this work through my Industrial Fellowship, Inspire and Ulster University for their ongoing support.
More from our blog
Menopause and work
The menopause is a natural biological process. It occurs when your ovaries age and naturally produce lower levels of reproductive hormones. The menopause may have a significant impact on home life and work performance. This can be unsettling, particularly if a particular role carries lots of responsibility. The hormonal changes…
Understanding Stepped Care and its role in workplace wellbeing
The stepped care model is a fundamental part of Inspire's workplace offering. So, what is it and why is it so important?
Mental Health on the Agenda at King’s College London
Inspire’s Policy & Campaigns Office, Matthew Coyle, reflects on his recent trip to King’s College London and the knowledge gained at the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health’s annual conference. I had the privilege earlier this month of attending the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health’s third annual conference in…
Healthy Organisations Commit to Person-Centred Wellbeing
Employment takes up a good deal of our time. According to the Office of National Statistics, the average UK worker spends over 36 hours in work every week; in Ireland, that figure is 38.5. On World Mental Health Day, understand the effect that wellbeing washing can have on workers and…
On World Mental Health Day, Here’s How to Avoid Wellbeing Washing
As we count down to World Mental Health Day on 10th October, Inspire’s focus is very much on our ‘Don’t Wellbeing Wash’ campaign. Wellbeing washing is similar to green washing, its arguably more infamous cousin. It describes a company or organisational ethos that focus more on the illusion of staff…
World Mental Health Day: Don’t Wellbeing Wash
World Mental Health Day (WMHD), which takes place every year on 10th October, offers us all an opportunity to gather and talk about mental health, demonstrating to everyone that this is a subject worthy of open, honest discussion and explanation. In 2024, Inspire is marking WMHD by highlighting the important issue…
Government Action on Work-Life Balance a Positive Sign
The UK Government has announced plans to introduce new codes of practice for businesses, which are aimed at tackling burnout and codifying a right to switch off. This follows on from Labour’s campaign pledge to empower workers, providing them with the freedom to disconnect from their jobs outside regular hours and…
Line Managers are Key to Workplace Wellbeing
According to new research published by Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Nottingham, strong links exist between positive business performance and mental health training for line managers. Furthermore, the analysis of workforce practices suggests that recognising this, and acting on it, could save organisations millions every year. The study…
Workplace Conflicts Require Proactive Approach
Discord between colleagues is not unusual. The average workplace brings together individuals from different walks of life, people with distinct characteristics, objectives, points of view and ways of doing things. Quarrels are bound to develop from time to time. They can, however, have a significant impact on an organisation’s productivity,…
CIPD Conference Stresses Authentic, Empathetic Leadership
Inspire\'s Noelle Higgins, Business Development Manager – Therapeutic Services reflects on the recent CIPD conference and research. My colleague Jonathan Cody and I recently took the opportunity to head to the CIPD conference at the RDS, enjoying a day away from our e-mails and catching up with a range of…
Time to celebrate Workplace Wellbeing Day
Workplace Wellbeing Day takes place across Ireland on Friday 26th April and business group Ibec is encouraging employers everywhere to get involved. Workplace Wellbeing Day represents an opportunity for organisations to rebalance and refocus on the things that benefit their employees\' mental, physical and emotional wellbeing. It also provides them…
If It’s Okay Campaign Launched
A pair of newly published polls have revealed how people across the island of Ireland perceive mental illness. In response to figures highlighted by the research, Inspire has launched the If It’s Okay campaign, which focuses on the voices of individuals with lived experience of shame stemming from mental illness. Two surveys,…