Improving usability through a series of small updates
Editor: Please tell us about the updated features.
Yuasa: We improved the usability and convenience of the app based on feedback from childcare workers. Specifically, if a child is checked as absent on "hugnote," the child is excluded from the noon check for that day, the date and time are automatically inserted when entering special information about the child's physical condition, and the menu, screen, and the noon check table required for audits by local governments have been made easier to read. We will continue to make small updates such as these. We hope that we can continue to make these small updates to improve convenience.
Editor: Has the hugsafety Noon Sleep Watching Service shown any clear results in reducing SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)?
Yuasa: We haven't been able to obtain such data yet. It may take a few more years before we have proof that our service has reduced the number of fatal accidents that occur during sleep at daycare centers. First of all, we hope to contribute in the form of reducing the burden on childcare workers.
Editor: The fact that there were several products on display at the Childcare Expo 2020 with the theme of "noon sleep monitoring" suggests that this is one of the major themes in baby tech.
Yuasa: Yes. Not only in Japan, but also worldwide, the theme of "daytime sleep monitoring" is attracting a lot of attention. Since a few years ago, when BabyTech began to attract attention, products that use a wide variety of sensors have been actively developed.
Winner of the Grand Prize at the BabyTech Awards Japan 2020 (Safety Measures and Watching) for 2019 and beyond
Editor: You won the Grand Prize at the BabyTech Awards Japan for the second year in a row. How was the response? I think there have been many opportunities to feel the growing interest and growth of BabyTech.
Yuasa: I think it would have been completely different if we hadn't won the grand prize. However, I often feel that BabyTech has yet to fully penetrate the market. I feel that interest in baby tech has increased dramatically over the past few years, but it's still not as strong as it is overseas. In Japan, there is still a culture that considers it a virtue to take care of and raise children. The number of dual-earner households has also increased in Japan, but this may be due to the social background where it is difficult for women to go out to work.
