By Shane Rachel del Rosario
Photos can capture smiles, stories, and memories that connect communities. Whether it's your best selfie or a snapshot from a recent family vacation, sharing these moments online strengthens those connections. But did you know that with just your mobile phone and a knack for photography, you can also contribute to scientific research and innovation?
Photo retrieved from: https://asti.dost.gov.ph/communications/news-articles/kooha-a-new-photo-sharing-mobile-application-that-is-societally-relevant/
Enter the Department of Science and Technology - Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI)’s Kooha, a photo-sharing application that enables real-time participatory photo and sensor data collection using mobile devices.
Coined from the Filipino word, “kuha” which means to take or capture, it was developed by Filipino scientists and engineers who aim to marry science and the Filipinos’ love for selfies.
‘Capturing science’
Who would have thought of the possibility that a random photo of a sky, or your photo behind a sunset could be converted into useful data?
There are four ways on how users can use the Kooha application. First is Capture, where the application senses data as a user takes a photo. Second, Enhance, data is then blended into the photo where sensor data will be embedded in the exit header of the photograph. Photos can be blended and fused in with data for better display using available templates.
Photo retrieved from:https://asti.dost.gov.ph/communications/news-articles/kooha-a-new-photo-sharing-mobile-application-that-is-societally-relevant/
Third, Share, users can publish their photos to other users through the Kooha community. Their photos can gather views and reactions from other Kooha users. Lastly, Explore, wherein they could see photos captured by other users from different locations.
Photos captured and shared through the application are embedded with data, including location, temperature, sound, network signal, humidity, and luminance. If the user also has an external sensor device which they can plug into their mobile devices, using a Bluetooth low energy, they can collect other sensor data such as ambient temperature, infrared temperature, pressure, and acceleration.
‘Capturing, connecting communities’
This data can be viewed and accessed by other users in the Kooha community. These can also be used to draw insights and generate new knowledge for data scientists, researchers, and citizen scientists in establishing innovations for global problems.
As an Android application, it employs AI and machine learning to transform in-depth analyses of environmental conditions into actionable information for experts in environmental monitoring, preservation, and disaster risk management.
Photo retrieved from:https://asti.dost.gov.ph/communications/news-articles/kooha-a-new-photo-sharing-mobile-application-that-is-societally-relevant/
All of these are in line with Kooha’s aim to “carve out a niche for big data generation.” Through the culture of photo-sharing, they envision an online social network of students, enthusiasts, researchers, and citizen scientists built on the concept of sharing and mapping the contributions of photographs and sensor data across the globe.
As a participatory tool, the app promotes disaster risk reduction awareness among community members while highlighting the significance of data science.
They also aim to empower the general public to contribute to the scientific community as well as by providing a medium for data scientists, researchers, and citizen scientists to make positive use of big data generated by the Kooha application.
The application can be downloaded on Google Play. For more information on Kooha’s features and latest updates, you can also visit kooha.asti.dost.gov.ph or their Facebook page.
‘Capturing the global scene’
Kooha is set to connect with a larger innovation network as it participates in the National Science and Technology Fair in Thailand this August 16-25, 2024. Their participation is in line with DOST’s move to showcase Filipino innovations in the global stage, foster international collaborations, and further the commercialization of local technologies.
Photo retrieved from:https://asti.dost.gov.ph/communications/news-articles/kooha-a-new-photo-sharing-mobile-application-that-is-societally-relevant/
As it marries photography, data science, and disaster risk reduction awareness, Kooha serves as a testament to Filipino excellence which also believes that science takes a premium on communities’ participation. Indeed, it takes a community to pursue and forward innovations.
** This article is part of the "SPICE: Science and Technology Promotion for International Contest and Exhibits" campaign for the National Science and Technology (NST) Fair Thailand 2024. For more information and event updates, visit the DOST-TAPI website at www.tapi.dost.gov.ph.**
