Innovative Inventions That Help Address Real-World Challenges
Tamil Murasu, குறைபாடுகளைக் களைய உதவும் நவீன கண்டுபிடிப்புகள்
(Translation)
The Hult Prize, an annual international competition, continues to inspire students to develop solutions for the world’s most pressing social challenges, including food security, water, and education. Following the success of the Singaporean ed-tech firm ‘Stick ‘Em,’ which won the $1 million USD grand prize in 2025, the momentum has shifted to this year’s qualifying round held at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). Several innovative student projects were showcased during the ‘InspireCon’ event last month, highlighting how technology can be used with a deep social conscience.
The standout winner of the qualifying round was ‘Neural Drive,’ a groundbreaking device designed to assist those who have lost the ability to speak. Co-founded by SUTD student Khambhati Mohammed Huzefa, the device translates a patient’s eye blinks and brain signals into voice output. Beyond just speech, the tool allows users to operate smartphones and laptops; for instance, a stroke survivor could use it to send a message to their child via WhatsApp. Huzefa noted that the device is designed for ease of use, requiring no professional training and taking only ten seconds to set up, all while being ten times more affordable than existing alternatives. The technology is set to undergo an 18-month trial with 30 patients at Tan Tock Seng Hospital starting this June.
Other significant innovations also secured top rankings during the competition. NuPoint, a wristband that monitors data to track the recovery of stroke patients, and AI-driven platforms like PitchMe, which improves public speaking skills, and TinyEquations, which tracks student learning journeys, took the following three spots. These projects have received support through the university’s ‘BabyShark’ or ‘Create4Good’ grants.
In addition to medical recovery, students focused on digital accessibility. First-year SUTD student R Praveen, inspired by the difficulties a relative faced with screen readers, teamed up with Rajaselvam K to create Sunday. This software acts as a voice-responsive assistant that makes smartphone navigation easier for the visually impaired, helping with tasks ranging from online shopping to checking taxi fares. Similarly, the sixth-place project, Flaire, founded by S Sanyukta Saravanan, Tissya Satyen Lulla, and Harshita Bhatia, offers a medical management platform for autoimmune diseases. It allows users to log pain symptoms on a 3D body model in real-time, ensuring they do not forget crucial details before their next doctor’s appointment.
Further bridging the gap between tradition and technology, the Ayupulse team introduced a modern wristband that combines AI with the traditional practice of ‘Nadi Pariksha’ (pulse diagnosis). Team member Tejaaswin Vaidheeswaran explained that unlike standard fitness trackers that provide surface-level data, their solution captures signals from varying depths, similar to traditional techniques. Meanwhile, the Squiggles team is working to encourage visually impaired individuals to enter STEM fields through an accessible learning management platform. As these teams move forward, the selected winners will represent Singapore on the international stage.