Students Build ML Powered Wearable for Visually Impaired

Students from the Ramaiah Institute of Technology’s IEEE Computational Intelligence Society chapter in Bangalore, India, have developed a low-cost wearable device called OurVision to assist visually impaired individuals. The device utilizes computer vision techniques, optical character recognition, machine learning, and Google APIs to read text aloud and provide navigation assistance. The goal is to enhance educational and career opportunities for the visually impaired and promote independent living. The IEEE CIS chapter received a grant for the project and collaborated with the National Association for the Blind in Karnataka, India.

OurVision can read text from various sources and languages, and it works without Wi-Fi. The team has built 11 devices, which are currently in use by approximately 100 visually impaired students. The estimated price of the device is $206, and future enhancements may include currency recognition and color recognition. The students gained valuable experience and collaborated with a high school to provide technical solutions for the community. The device has not yet been released to the market.