Broad aspirations with social consciousness

Tamil Murasu, சமூகச் சிந்தனையுடன் பரந்த லட்சியங்கள்

(Translation)

Singapore University of Technology and Design’s Create4Good Innovation Grant supports entrepreneurs whose work aims to reduce inequality in society.

Because someone in her family has special needs, Qistina has personally seen the difficulties that people with special needs face when getting around.

“People with special needs may need months of training before they can travel independently to places that are far away,” Qistina said.

Qistina and her team discussed how road-safety rules and navigation skills could be taught to them in a simpler and more engaging way. This led to the creation of JourniAble.

Its AblePlay software uses simulated roads in a game so that students can learn how to cross roads in different situations. The team is currently conducting trials in special-needs schools.

The team is also developing another software application, AbleMaps, which it says will function like a simplified version of Google Maps.

JourniAble was among 10 teams that presented their projects on 1 September in a bid for SUTD’s Create4Good Innovation Grant, which supports socially focused initiatives. Successful teams can receive up to S$50,000 each, without having to give up equity.

The fund was established through a donation made in 2015 by the late Singapore businessman Kwek Leng Joo. This year, 28 teams took part in various workshops over three months and received guidance from industry leaders. The fund is part of SUTD’s DIVE programme.

Computer programming is not out of reach for anyone

PhysiCode helps people with special needs learn robotics and computer programming.

Team member Kevin said conditions such as ADHD, autism and dyslexia can affect the way a person reads. Some may also have hand tremors. This can make it difficult to programme on a computer or assemble a robot using screws.

To remove these barriers, PhysiCode takes programming out of the computer and into the physical world. Students can arrange instructions such as “move forward four steps” and “move left three steps” on a table. They then take a photograph and upload it into the PhysiCode app, which converts the sequence into programming language and makes the robot move. The robot also uses larger components, making it easier to assemble.

PhysiCode is currently being tested with students with special needs.

The team also won the Mapletree Budding Entrepreneurs Challenge and recently set up a booth at VivoCity. The team was encouraged when even parents of children without special needs bought PhysiCode.

Reviving memories through play

REMNIX is a puzzle designed to help people with dementia and older people recall past memories.

When a photograph is uploaded onto the REMNIX platform, it is transformed on the device into puzzle pieces that users can physically move. This can encourage meaningful conversations about the scenes and memories in the photograph.

Team members Hrehaan and Connor said it can be difficult for care facilities to provide personalised memory therapy for every individual. With REMNIX, different memories can be turned into puzzles using the same device.

The team hopes eventually to include features such as sound and question prompts.

Another team developed Ora, a device that talks to older people at home and helps trigger memories from their past. If the device senses that the older person is longing for something, it informs the person’s family members.

A bridge between tourists and social enterprises

Shukshuk co-founder David Pong said that 16.9 million tourists visit Singapore each year and spend S$5 billion on goods. While tourists may want to buy products made by artists with special needs, they may not have enough time to seek them out.

Through Shukshuk’s initiative with hotels, tourists can scan a QR code when they enter a hotel, learn the stories of social enterprises and heritage businesses, and buy their products. The products are then delivered quickly to the hotel.

Sunday lends a hand to people with visual impairment

R Praveen had personally seen, through a relative, the difficulties visually impaired people face when using mobile phone apps.

Although phones have TalkBack, many users still report difficulties. This led Praveen and his team to develop a software named Sunday.

Sunday allows a visually impaired person to operate apps such as Shopee, Grab and Lazada by voice, although banking apps are excluded.

For example, if a user says, “I want to take a Grab from here to Jurong Point,” Sunday can open the Grab app, operate it and tell the user which taxis are available and their prices. The user can then make a decision and approve payment.

Tests are currently being conducted with users from the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped.

NuPoint helps with stroke recovery

With close to 10,000 people in Singapore suffering strokes each year, NuPoint is developing a wearable device to improve stroke rehabilitation.

The device records data from the shoulder to the fingertips, both in clinics and at home, and provides information on patients’ progress to therapists and family members.

The NuPoint team also took second place in the final round of the Hult Prize competition held at SUTD.

Other solutions presented included eKampung, which helps charities find skilled volunteers, and the AI-based learning platforms Korosen and Tiny Equations.