Panasonic EW to Launch Demonstration of Infectious Disease Outbreak Prediction Content Delivery via "Machibell" Apartment Intercom Service

Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd. (hereinafter Panasonic EW) will begin a demonstration of delivering infectious disease outbreak prediction content (Note 1) via its apartment intercom-based lifestyle information service, "Machibell," starting July 1, 2026. This will enable residents to check infectious disease outbreak predictions on their apartment intercoms during their daily lives, such as before leaving home or after returning.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, public interest in infectious diseases has continued to grow. Furthermore, infectious diseases, including influenza, are no longer confined to traditional seasons, and we have entered an era where preparedness for year-round outbreak risks is required. Against this backdrop, Panasonic EW will commence a demonstration to deliver AI-based infectious disease outbreak prediction information, developed through joint research by Professor Hajime Kurosawa of Tohoku University and J-Sys Inc., as new content for "Machibell."

"Machibell" is a lifestyle information service that utilizes apartment intercoms, which residents naturally see in their daily lives, to deliver community information, lifestyle information, and advertisements related to the community and lifestyle to residents. With the concept of "New discoveries in the community and lifestyle, starting from the intercom," it promotes information dissemination that fosters connections with the community, enriches daily life, and supports mental and physical health through "Well & Community."

Furthermore, it aims to create value for various stakeholders, such as improving resident satisfaction and property value for developers and management companies, and providing advertising distributors with opportunities to deliver information directly to residents along their daily routes.

The service began in new large-scale condominiums in the Tokyo metropolitan area in April 2024, and proposal activities nationwide started in August 2025. Currently, it has been introduced in a cumulative total of 9 buildings, reaching approximately 4,500 households.

The addition of infectious disease outbreak prediction content this time is an initiative that goes beyond simple information provision to encourage behavioral changes among residents and support their healthy daily lives. By sharing infectious disease risks with families and raising awareness of prevention, it aims to contribute to the mental and physical health of each resident and to the creation of a community where people can live with peace of mind.

In this demonstration, infectious disease outbreak prediction content will be delivered to select targets (Note 2) from July 2026 to December 2026. Based on the results, such as resident acceptance and viewing data, the goal is to deliver it to all "Machibell"-equipped apartments from January 2027 onwards.

"Machibell" will continue to expand its content to support the daily lives of apartment residents and aims for further evolution and growth as a unique lifestyle information media utilizing apartment intercoms.

Machibell Website

https://www2.panasonic.biz/jp/densetsu/machibell/

About Machibell

- Resident satisfaction rate of approximately 97% (Note 3) for continued use, an information service for apartment residents -

"Machibell" is provided free of charge to apartment residents and is utilized as a medium for information delivery that naturally reaches them in their daily lives. It achieves high satisfaction, with approximately 97% (Note 3) of residents expressing a desire for continued use in a resident survey.

We will continue to provide various information that supports the improvement of residents' condominium life under the theme of "Well & Community."

About Infectious Disease Outbreak Prediction Information

- AI-based outbreak prediction information developed through joint research by Professor Kurosawa of Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine and J-Sys Inc. -

AI-based infectious disease outbreak prediction information developed through joint research by Professor Hajime Kurosawa of Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine and J-Sys Inc. On the intercom screen, residents can check 1. Alerts, 2. Warnings (Note 4), and 3. AI-based outbreak predictions (AI Forecast) (Note 5) for each prefecture.

[Image of Infectious Disease Outbreak Prediction Content Display Screen]

This is an image and may differ from the actual specifications.

[Table of Infectious Diseases Covered]

Infectious Disease Name

1. Alert, 2. Warning

3. AI Forecast

Influenza

○

○

Pharyngoconjunctival Fever (Pool Fever)

○

○

Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis (Strep Throat)

○

○

Infectious Gastroenteritis

○

○

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

○

○

Herpangina

○

○

Epidemic Keratoconjunctivitis (Pink Eye)

○

○

Varicella (Chickenpox)

○

—

Epidemic Parotitis (Mumps)

○

—

Acute Hemorrhagic Conjunctivitis

○

—

Erythema Infectiosum (Slapped Cheek Syndrome)

○

—

RS Virus Infection

—

○

COVID-19

—

○

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (Roseola)

—

○

Note 1: The infectious disease information displayed in this content consists of two types: "Alerts/Warnings" and "AI-based Infectious Disease Outbreak Predictions." "Alerts/Warnings" are issued based on the infectious disease surveillance data conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, when the number of reported cases from sentinel medical institutions exceeds a certain threshold. Target infectious diseases include influenza, hand, foot, and mouth disease, and infectious gastroenteritis. "AI-based Infectious Disease Outbreak Predictions" are for 10 types of infectious diseases, including COVID-19, supervised by Professor Hajime Kurosawa in a joint research project between Tohoku University and J-Sys Inc.

Note 2: Approximately 4,500 households in Tokyo where "Machibell" is already installed as of July 2026, and approximately 1,000 households in Osaka Prefecture where "Machibell" will be newly installed from August 2026, totaling approximately 5,500 households.

Note 3: In the Panasonic EW "Machibell Survey" (Target: Residents of 5 out of 7 buildings where Machibell was installed at the start of the survey / Respondents: 267 people / Survey period: June 13, 2025 - July 2, 2025 / Survey method: Survey distributed via Machibell), approximately 97% responded "Yes" to the question "Do you want to continue using Machibell?"

Note 4: Alerts/Warnings: When reports of diseases subject to sentinel surveillance exceed a certain level, local governments issue warnings or alerts.

[Alert]: A large-scale outbreak is suspected to be occurring or continuing.

[Warning]: Before an outbreak, there is a high probability of a large-scale outbreak occurring within the next 4 weeks. After an outbreak has begun, the outbreak is suspected to be continuing.

Source: Tokyo Metropolitan Infectious Disease Information Center

https://idsc.tmiph.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/survey/#alert

Note 5: AI-based outbreak prediction information (AI Forecast): Infectious disease outbreak prediction information using an AI ensemble model developed through joint research by Professor Kurosawa of Tohoku University and J-Sys Inc.

[Contact Information]

Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.

Materials & Energy Solutions Business Division, Wiring Systems Communications BU

Phone: 06-6908-1131 (General Inquiries 9:00 - 17:30)