Young Bahraini sisters Noor and Fatima Ghazwan have collaborated to develop the prototype of a ‘smart hat’ for the blind to ensure their safety using sensors and artificial intelligence (AI).
The fourth and fifth grade students of Salmabad Primary Girls School, aged 10 and 11 respectively, said the hat would provide audible and vibrating alerts every time the wearer is set to encounter something that might hurt them or impede their movement.
“We began the project by identifying the challenges faced by people with visual impairments and then started scouting for technology-based solutions,” Noor told the GDN.
“We took around three months to complete the project as we designed the hat prototype and tested it several times until it was ready,” she added.
“We used ultrasonic sensors and linked them to simple AI-based programming to determine the type of obstacles and their distance from the user. “The sensor embedded in the hat would then send audio alerts through a small speaker.”
The innovators credit their family as well as their science teacher Shaima Abdul Moneim for providing support and ensuring the successful completion of the smart hat, which they say was put on by a number of visually impaired people who found it beneficial.
“We faced several challenges, including the initial difficulty of accurately connecting the electrical circuits inside the hat and programming the system to operate efficiently and without errors,” Fatima said.
“However, with the encouragement and support of our teacher and family, we were able to overcome these difficulties.”
The girls paid tribute to their teacher Ms Abdul Moneim, calling her ‘our greatest supporter’.
“She helped us with planning and organisation, guided us in selecting the appropriate tools and techniques and was present with us throughout every phase of the project,” Fatima added.
Ms Abdul Moneim expressed pride in the girls’ achievement.
“I am filled with both pride and joy for the girls and fully believe in their abilities and this incredible achievement is only the beginning of a path filled with success and innovation,” she said.
The sisters also revealed that they would put their thinking caps on to further develop the hat, as well as pursue other projects, with this being their first.
“We have plans to further develop the hat by connecting it to a smartphone application,” Noor said.
“We are also considering other projects that contribute to supporting people with various disabilities, and serving the community,” Fatima added.
The GDN earlier reported that a young Bahraini boy from Al Sehla Primary Intermediate Boys School had successfully developed the prototype of a smart shoe for the visually impaired that uses ultrasonic sensors and makes noises to alert the wearer when they approach obstacles on the way.
rima@gdnmedia.bh
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