EMPOWERING THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED: MACHAKOS UNIVERSITY STUDENTS UNVEIL GROUND BREAKING APP

A team of dedicated students from Machakos University have recently unveiled a groundbreaking mobile application designed to make a meaningful impact in the lives of visually impaired individuals. The app, named “Blind Eye,” aims to bridge accessibility gaps and enhance the independence of the visually impaired community.

Blind Eye, developed by a group of five talented students at Machakos University, is a cutting-edge application leveraging the power of technology to assist visually impaired individuals in their daily lives. The app offers a range of features crafted with the specific needs of the visually impaired in mind.

This project uses a camera to capture images and videos. The intelligent system processes this information instantly, delivering on-the-spot audio descriptions in real-time, enhancing accessibility and providing immediate assistance through audio feedback. Internet accessibility is also required to ensure some features on the application run effectively.

Blind Eye is the result of collaborative efforts from School of Engineering and Technology and School of Pure and Applied Sciences students of Machakos University. The interdisciplinary team of students worked tirelessly to create a solution that addresses the challenges faced by visually impaired individuals in their daily lives.

“Blind Eye App represents our commitment to leveraging technology for the social good. We believe that everyone, regardless of their abilities, should have equal access to information and opportunities,” said Ombui Mark, lead developer of Blind Eye.

“Machakos University is proud to support initiatives that promote inclusivity and technological innovation. The Blind Eye project is a testament to the creativity and dedication of our students,” commented Erick Omuya, Lecturer, School of Engineering and Technology at Machakos University.

While the app is not yet finalized for commercial use, the prototype showcases promising features that highlight the team’s commitment to addressing accessibility challenges.

Name: Ombui Mark

• School: Engineering and Technology

• Department: Computing and IT

• Course Enrolled: Computer Science

• Home County: Kisii

• • Contribution to the Project: Lead Developer, Ombui Mark, our tech luminary, wielded an unparalleled command over Android and AI development, leaving an indelible mark on our project. Fluent in the languages like Java and Kotlin, Mark not only refined AI models but built them into transformative innovations. His role contributed in actualization of our first viable product.

Name: Brian Kiplagat 

• School: Pure and Applied Sciences

• Department: Mathematics and Statistics

• Course Enrolled: Mathematics and Computer Science

• Home County: Elgeyo Marakwet

Brian K

• • Contribution to the Project: Brian, the artistic maestro and neural navigator, propelled our project to new heights. His expertise in artificial neural networks (ANN), mobile development, and design transformed our vision into a captivating reality. Fluent in the languages of Java, XML and Kotlin, Brian’s creative design finesse not only elevated the aesthetics but also pushed the boundaries of what’s conceivable.

Name: Annjoy Njoroge

• School: Pure and Applied Sciences

• Department: Mathematics and Statistics

• Course Enrolled: Mathematics and Computer Science

• Home County: Kiambu

• • Contribution to the Project: Annjoy, the cognitive architect, dived into the realms of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and human intelligence, shaping our project with unparalleled insights. Her fusion of human psychology and mastery in LSTM intelligent parsing elevated the project’s friendliness to users

Name: Kevin Ogachi

• School: Engineering and Technology

• Department: Computing and IT

• Course Enrolled: Computer Science

• Home County: Kisii

• • Contribution to the Project: Kevin Ogachi, the data guru, orchestrated the field of big data and machine learning, conducting Vicuna and TensorFlow models with finesse. His mastery in handling vast datasets was the building block on our select niche

Name: Wycliffe Mutisya

• School: Engineering and Technology

• Department: Computing and IT

• Course Enrolled: Computer Science

• Home County: Makueni

• • Contribution to the Project: Wycliffe, the architect of intelligence, specialized in the interesting realms of deep learning and Large Language Models (LLM) techniques. His command in the new gpt technologies brought a human like consciousness to our application.

Machakos University played a pivotal role in the team’s success. The university provided essential infrastructure, technological resources, and a conducive environment for collaboration. From facilitating the hackathon to offering mentorship and guidance, the university fostered an atmosphere that encouraged innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration. This support extended beyond individual contributions, creating a cohesive team dynamic and enhancing the overall quality of our project. The university’s commitment to supporting emerging technologies and academic excellence was evident throughout their journey, making Machakos University an integral part of the success story.