Press

Interview

Playtag's AI-Powered Child Behavior Analysis Solution Gains Trust from Both Parents and Teachers

Dailian News,  Hwang Ji Hyun | 2024.08.26

August 26, 2024 — Playtag, a startup founded by Hyun Soo Park, a Computer Science Professor at University of Minnesota, is revolutionizing AI-powered child behavior analysis solutions. Playtag has developed an AI-driven behavioral analysis service, StoryLine, which has received widespread acclaim from parents and early childhood educators.

Since March 2024, the Gangseo Childcare Center, under the Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service, has been issuing a unique “Smart Notification” — an AI-generated Behavior Analysis Report setting it apart from conventional daycare updates.

The system leverages multi-angle video analysis from CCTV cameras installed throughout the center to track and evaluate each child’s interactions and behavior. Parents receive detailed reports outlining which friends a child interacts with and what activities they engage in. In addition to text, images and short video clips (1 to 3 seconds long) are also provided. 

The reaction from parents has been overwhelmingly positive. Hyung Seon Ham, the center’s assistant director, noted that expectations were high when the system was first introduced. "We held an orientation before implementing this system, and parents were very excited. Now, with AI analysis, they can visually track their child’s behavioral data, and satisfaction levels have been very high," says Ham.

The AI Behavior Analysis Report, which has garnered widespread praise from parents is part of "StoryLine," a service developed by PLAYTAG, a startup specializing in AI-powered behavior analysis founded in 2022 by Hyun Soo Park, an associate professor of Computer Science at University of Minnesota.

A Visionary’s Leap from Academia to AI Entrepreneurship

ⓒPLAYTAG

Hyun Soo Park, CEO of Playtag, is a recognized expert in 3D behavioral reconstruction and AI-powered motion analysis. He earned his Mechanical Engineering degree from Pohang University of Science and Technology and completed his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, followed by postdoctoral research in Computer Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. Park later joined the University of Minnesota as an associate professor in Computer Vision. Over the course of his academic career, he has published more than 50 research papers in leading computer vision journals and conferences.

In March 2022, Park took a leave of absence and founded Playtag, driven by his passion for applying AI to practical applications. “Technology should not exist in isolation. It must be applied, create value, and continuously evolve in real-life scenarios,” says Park in an interview . 

Currently, Playtag has 25 employees and operates in both South Korea and the United States, specializing in AI development and behavior analysis solutions.

StoryLine – AI-Powered Insights on Child Behavior

StoryLine uses AI to select and share photos and videos of a child's activities at school with parents. ⓒPLAYTAG

PLAYTAG’s flagship service - StoryLine, uses AI-powered behavior analysis to automate daycare reports, providing parents and teachers with detailed insights into children's daily activities. The system analyzes video footage from CCTV cameras installed in daycare centers and compiles reports on each child’s routine, interactions, and engagement throughout the day.

StoryLine is divided into two key categories. The "Story" section summarizes a child’s day with photos and short video clips (1 to 3 seconds long) from drop-off to pick-up. The "Insight" section provides quantitative behavioral data, including physical activity levels, play preferences (such as time spent on math games or block play), and social interactions (who the child interacts with and for how long). 

The “Insight” category in StoryLine tracks activity levels, social interactions, and play preferences. ⓒPLAYTAG

According to Hyun Soo Park, CEO of Playtag, the system tracks physical activity without the need for pedometers or smartwatches, monitors play preferences by measuring the time spent on specific activities, and assesses social interactions based on engagement duration with peers. To collect this data, eight observation cameras are installed per classroom, allowing for daily, monthly, and semester-based developmental tracking.

StoryLine Earns High Satisfaction from Teachers and Parents 

이미지 캡션

A 3D visualization of teacher and child behavior captured by CCTV, powered by PLAYTAG’s technology. ⓒPLAYTAG

Park emphasized that StoryLine is a service that benefits both teachers and parents. He noted that in educational institutions worldwide, the student-to-teacher ratio often makes continuous observation of each child challenging. StoryLine helps bridge this gap by automating behavior tracking and reducing the administrative burden on teachers. "Teachers traditionally take photos and write observation logs while also managing consultations with parents. AI can now handle this task, significantly easing their workload," Park explains.

Additionally, Park highlighted that many daycare centers and preschools seek unique differentiators to attract parents. Some institutions have reported an increase in enrollment after implementing StoryLine, as parents recognize the value of AI-assisted behavior monitoring. A survey conducted among teachers and parents post-implementation showed that 70–80% expressed high satisfaction with the service.

Beyond daily behavior tracking, StoryLine’s data-driven insights have been used to detect developmental concerns. Park shared an example of a teacher suspecting a child had ADHD, but the parents were initially skeptical. "With StoryLine’s data, we could show that the child's activity levels were twice as high as their peers while displaying significantly lower social interaction skills. This helped convince the parents to take appropriate action," he says. 

Source: https://dailian.co.kr/news/view/1398966/?sc=Naver