Many of us go through our daily routines without thinking much about them. For young individuals with Down syndrome, executive functioning differences can make some everyday tasks more challenging to navigate. These individuals often require constant reminders and support from caregivers to complete their everyday routines, placing additional pressure on family members and caregivers to guide them through the demands of daily life.

For Team BuddyBot from Edgefield Secondary School, the newly-crowned Grand Prize winner of the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2025 competition, technology is the key to unlocking greater autonomy for these individuals. Their winning solution, BuddyBot, is a game-changing smart assistant designed to help young people with Down syndrome build independence in their daily routines, while alleviating the burden on caregivers to provide continuous guidance and support.

“Our goal is to help young individuals with Down syndrome develop greater independence when managing their daily routines, while reducing the demands on their caregivers. BuddyBot offers users guided, step-by-step instructions, promoting autonomy and confidence in everyday activities. Designed with accessibility, empathy and inclusion in mind, we hope that it will make lives easier for families with children that have special needs,” said Shannon Ong from Team BuddyBot.

A Smart Assistant for Everyday Routines

Key features of the BuddyBot Companion (left) and the BuddyBot Caregiver App (right)

BuddyBot consists of the BuddyBot Companion – a portable, compact device for users and the BuddyBot Caregiver App. Caregivers can customise the daily routines and break down each task — such as brushing teeth, washing hands and getting dressed — into simple steps using the app. The BuddyBot companion device then delivers instructions through visual prompts and voice guidance to users, guiding them through each task to complete their routines with confidence.

Beyond breaking down the steps into easily digestible instructions, BuddyBot harnesses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to analyse users’ past actions to uncover patterns — such as skipped steps or longer time spent on tasks — and identifies areas where additional support is needed. It also compares the data from the user’s everyday behaviours against the designated routine to provide further suggestions for improvement. This enables BuddyBot to optimise routines and provide timely reminders to help users foster greater independence over time.

Inspiring Youths to Champion Social Change Through Innovation and Technology

Highlights of the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2025 Grand Finale

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Singapore is an annual competition designed to ignite the passion for championing social change among youths. Now into its ninth year, the competition received 90 entries from over 260 secondary school students addressing four key themes: Environmental Sustainability, Sport, Health and Technology, Inclusivity and Social Harmony, and Digital Readiness and Security, presenting innovative solutions that can help build a better and more secure future for Singapore.

As the Grand Prize winner of this year’s competition, Team BuddyBot received $7,000 in cash, $10,000 worth of Samsung products, and a sponsored trip to Samsung’s headquarters and innovation facilities in South Korea. During the trip, Team BuddyBot visited the Samsung Innovation Museum and saw how Samsung’s innovations – from its earliest cathode ray tube (CRT) TVs to the advanced mobile devices of today – solved real-world problems and achieved global impact. They also visited the eX Home, a fully-furnished smart home with over 300 interconnected devices that seamlessly integrate technology into consumers’ everyday lives using Samsung SmartThings. The experience taught them that true innovation is not just about creating cool gadgets, but about connecting vision and fundamental discoveries with societal needs to create tangible long-term impact.

Team BuddyBot receiving their prize from Leonard Tan Bahroocha, Director of Product and Innovation,

Samsung Southeast Asia and Oceania (left), and visiting Samsung’s headquarters in South Korea (right)

“Participating in the Solve for Tomorrow competition has truly expanded our horizons. The trip to Samsung’s innovation facilities in South Korean was an eye-opening experiencing that taught us how innovation that combines vision, fundamental values and the desire to solve real-world problems can create long-lasting impact. Seeing Samsung’s remarkable innovation journey, as well as the passion and inventiveness of other teams, spurs us on to continue our innovation journey. I believe we can achieve so much more if we set our minds to it, and with the right support, mentorship and partners, we can create the change that we want to see in our future” said Bella Teo from Team BuddyBot.

For more information about the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition, visit the website.

Samsung has always been committed to delivering a consistent experience for all Samsung Galaxy users. In line with this effort, Samsung is highlighting Universal Gestures^[1], an innovative accessibility feature for the Galaxy Watch. Designed to empower individuals with a touch-free experience through simple and intuitive movements, Universal Gestures was introduced as part of the One UI 5 Watch update.

Universal Gestures offers users a valuable alternative to the interactions needed to operate the device, all without lifting a finger or pressing a button. With four distinct gestures – Make Fist, Make Fist Twice, Pinch and Double Pinch – users are able to navigate their Galaxy Watch in ways that work best for them.

How To Turn On Universal Gestures

To activate Universal Gestures on the Galaxy Watch^[2], follow these simple steps:

Image simulated for illustrated purposes.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Click on Accessibility > Interaction and dexterity > Universal gestures

Once the Universal Gestures feature is enabled, make a fist twice to seamlessly switch from the regular touch-based navigation method.² Your Galaxy Watch will indicate it with a customizable colored outline, allowing you to utilize this intuitive mode for a tailored and accessible experience.

Make Fist To Open Action Menu and Select

Within Universal Gestures, the Make Fist gesture simplifies the process of selecting and opening items on the Galaxy Watch.

Make Fist Twice gesture unveils the Action menu, which will present an array of convenient options accessible right from your wrist. Imagine this menu as a toolbox packed with essential tools, such as opening the apps menu, going to the previous screen and displaying recent apps, readily available whenever you need it. The Action menu is also dynamic, adjusting its content based on whichever screen is currently open when the user activates the Action menu. When you are ready to select the item, simply make a fist.

Pinch To Navigate Back and Forth

The Pinch and Double Pinch gestures on the Galaxy Watch offer new touch-free ways for users to interact with their Galaxy Watch, which are especially beneficial for individuals facing mobility limitations. With these two gestures, you can navigate from one item to another or go back to the previous item.

Scroll through your messages, browse your calendar items or peruse your photo album — these are all made possible with the Pinch gesture.

Accessibility is about removing barriers and delivering seamless experiences to everyone. That is why Universal Gestures offers users intuitive control over their Galaxy Watch. For instance, Samsung Galaxy users can easily change any of the actions of these four gestures, further personalizing their device to better serve their needs.

Another Notable Galaxy Watch Control Feature

The Galaxy Watch’s Gestures^[3], located within Advanced features, is another standout feature that offers a convenient shortcut for actions — answering calls, dismissing alerts or swiftly quick launching apps — all achievable through simple hand and arm motions.

^[1] Available on the Galaxy Watch6, Watch5 and Watch4 series with One UI 5 Watch.
^[2] Activation gesture, used to activate Universal Gestures, may vary based on the Galaxy Watch model, software version, region and carrier.
^[3] To enable Gestures, go to Settings > find Advanced features and scroll down to Gestures > Turn on each gesture.