Metropolia launches AI-driven app to help young men win the game of life
Thanks to the emergence of apps, health tech can reach people in their everyday lives more easily. From the perspective of healthcare professionals, apps can also get to target groups that remain rather elusive. One such group in Finland is young men (16-29 years) who are facing mental health challenges and are in danger of being marginalised. Metropolia University of Applied Sciences developed an AI-based solution.
A new app – that is about to hit application stores in September 2020 – wants to help these young men to cope with their problems. Called Peili (Mirror), the app assists the young men in recognising their own strengths and guides them towards services and solutions that will bring a better balance to their lives. Using the app, youth can feel empowered and discover new things about themselves, thus unlocking their true potential. Better self-awareness goes a long way towards figuring out what one’s role in the world could be.
Metropolia takes charge
Spearheaded by Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, the Peili project has brought together a plethora of experts from various fields. Project lead Kaisa Puuronen from Metropolia says that there are professionals from e.g. IT technology, service design, health promotion and social services behind the launch of the app.“We have a wide network with plenty of expertise in order to make sure that we cover all aspects in the lives of the target group,” she says, adding that during the project, also the views and opinions of the young men themselves have been taken into consideration to create an app that really connects with the group.According to Puuronen, there have been projects and tools that try to reach this particular target group previously, too – but the approach of Peili is a little bit different:“We are really solution-oriented and committed to serving the target group very closely,” she says. Part of the “magic formula” is taking the time to map out the problems young men face first – and in sufficient depth – and then zero in on the solutions.“In Finland, we have a situation where there are plenty of organisations and actors readily standing by to help these young men – but the target group is not always even aware that such support exists.”
AI to improve the service
A key part of the project is the use of AI tools to harness the data. According to Puuronen, as the app will gain more users – hopefully thousands and thousands across Finland – important information will start to accumulate and AI can start mining that data for improved service.“We’re obviously not there yet, but, eventually, we want to develop great solutions based on lots of user data.”Right now, the makers of Peili are hoping that through the use of the app the various service providers and the youth are able to “find each other” a lot better than has been the case previously.“We need to do a better job of connecting the two and Peili has been designed to achieve just that.”
It seems evident that these types of AI services will become mainstream in healthcare.
Huge leap for Metropolia
Metropolia is not exactly known for its AI prowess and Puuronen acknowledges that the launch of the app represents a “big new step” for the university. Still, having found quality partners – such as Adventure Club who did the actual code-writing for the app – Metropolia has ventured into unknown waters with growing confidence.“Starting this project two years ago, we knew it was going to be something different. Now it seems evident that these types of AI services will become mainstream in healthcare, so we’re glad to have made the transition.”Looking at the entire health tech ecosystem in the Greater Helsinki area, Puuronen is convinced that new partnerships and innovations will continue to emerge here.“The field of healthcare is growing and developing all the time,” she notes.
What’s next?
As the Peili project is now coming to ahead, Metropolia is hoping for someone to “pick up the torch” and keep developing the app further.“What we’re launching in the fall is version 1.0. We’re still looking for some actor – perhaps from the third sector – to step in and continue this important work.”’
Want to know more?
Metropolia is presenting the Peili app in the Health Capital Helsinki virtual showroom of HIMSS & Health 2.0 European Health Conference & Exhibition. The presentation is on Wednesday 9 September 2020, 13-14 EET (Helsinki). Read more. Peili app is launched in the Näe mies 2025 online seminar on 22 October 2020.Contact information: Kaisa Puuronen, PEILI, Project Manager RDI Services, Metropolia, kaisa.puuronen@metropolia.fi, tel. +358 40 750 2455Text: Sami J. Anteroinen
Photos: PEILI development team
Metropolia fast facts
- 16,200 students, 930 staff
- 2,794 Bachelor’s and 477 Master’s graduates in 2019
- Most popular University of Applied Sciences in Finland in terms of applicants: 3.1 first-choice applicants per study place in 2019
- 69 degree programmes – 11 of them in English
- 43 Bachelor’s degree programmes – 6 of them in English
- 26 Master’s degree programmes – 5 of them in English
- R&D&I total volume in 2018 was appr. EUR 13.3 million
- Publicly funded and owned by Cities of Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Kirkkonummi and Kauniainen
from Greater Helsinki
