Japanese companies are offering hi-tech services for health monitoring and rehabilitation at care facilities and at home.

A subsidiary of electronics company NEC is providing devices attached to toilets for nursing homes, many of which are facing chronic staff shortages.

Through the built-in sensor and artificial intelligence, the device can analyze the users' stools and determine how long or how frequently they use the toilet.

The results are sent to the staff's smartphones, enabling them to monitor the residents' health remotely and swiftly respond to any emergencies.

Mieno Tsutomu, who is in charge of product development, says he wants to solve the problems that caregivers are facing.

A joint venture established by the Sony Group and a medical information company, M3, has developed a smartphone app for supporting rehabilitation at home.

Users send videos of their rehabilitation with their smartphones. The app analyzes the information and gives advice on how to adjust body movements.

The firm's president, Yamane Yukiko, says many people say it is difficult to continue rehabilitation for a long time at home even if they understand its importance. She says she wants to offer services that can reduce users' anxiety.