Karan Pillai from Team redbluegold tests out a prototype of SilentGuide, a pair of smart glasses that takes in spoken words from an individual’s surroundings and transcribes them into subtitles.

Most of us take the normal function of our five senses for granted. More often than not, it takes a personal encounter with someone who has experienced a loss of their sensory function to truly understand how it is like to be unable to participate actively in social conversations. In Singapore, one in 11 people between the ages of 18 to 74 grapple with hearing loss. The prevalence of self-reported hearing loss is also on the rise, increasing from 1.3% in 2013 to 9.2% in 2023, indicating that more needs to be done to help the growing hearing impaired community bridge existing communication gaps to create a more inclusive society.

For Team redbluegold from Anglo-Chinese School (Independent), the winning team of the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2024 competition, tools that enable individuals with hearing impairment to understand and participate in social interactions should be affordable and accessible to the majority of people who need it. Inspired by an encounter with a classmate with hearing impairment who struggled to maintain a two-way conversation in a noisy classroom, yet lacked access to an affordable solution to overcome his challenges, the team set out to develop a solution that is comfortable to wear, convenient to use and low in cost.

Following several iterations, the team developed SilentGuide – a pair of smart glasses that processes spoken words directed at an individual and transcribes them into subtitles, helping users with hearing impairment understand and actively take part in social conversations. Designed to function independently without an Internet connection, SilentGuide is able to offer timely support to users wherever they go.

“Individuals with hearing impairment are often not able to take in or understand spoken words from the people they are conversing with effectively. As a result, many of them feel isolated in social settings because they cannot participate meaningfully in them. Our hope is that SilentGuide can change all that. We want to help individuals with hearing impairment pick up spoken words easily and understand them in real-time. This way, they can participate more meaningfully in social conversations and be more integrated into our society,” said Karan Pillai from Team redbluegold.

(Clockwise from top left) An earlier prototype for SilentGuide, a student trying out SilentGuide, and the 3D printing process while developing the prototype

Housed within an easily portable and lightweight frame, SilentGuide utilises an I2S Microphone to capture spoken words and transmits the information to a Raspberry Pi 4.  The captured audio is then processed using the Vosk speech recognition toolkit and transcribed into subtitles for on an integrated I2C OLED Screen for the user to read. This empowers users with the ability to understand conversations as it happens, in real-time.

With the convenience and affordability it offers, the solution has the potential to improve communication and social integration for many of the 500,000 individuals with hearing loss in Singapore, helping them lead more connected and fulfilling lives.

Team redbluegold’s Aiden Lim receiving the grand prize from Dennis Jang, President, Samsung Electronics Singapore (2024)

“We want to make use of technology in a way that overcomes existing barriers for individuals with hearing impairment, to help create a more connected and inclusive society. By using augmented reality technology to put spoken words right in front of their eyes, this heightens their awareness of social conversations and makes them feel more included,” said Aiden Lim from Team redbluegold. “The Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2024 competition gave us the platform and the drive to create our solution. Not only did it bring out the boldness in us to present our idea to an experienced panel of judges, it also showed us that with imagination and determination, we can play a part in helping shape a better future for communities that matter,” added Aiden.

Dennis Jang, President of Samsung Electronics Singapore (2024) and a member of the Solve for Tomorrow 2024 judging panel, remarked, “I am inspired by the creativity, imagination and heart showcased by our youths at this year’s Solve for Tomorrow competition. Their ideas not only reflect a deep passion for creating a better Singapore, they also demonstrate that with boldness and imagination, our youths can truly transform our community and the world.”

About Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Singapore

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Singapore is an annual competition designed to ignite the passion for championing social change among youths. Into its eight edition this year, the competition received 75 entries from over 240 secondary school students, who contributed ideas for social change focusing on five key areas – Environmental Sustainability; Health, Sports and Wellness; Inclusive Harmonious Society; Learning and Education; and Singapore’s Digital Future.

Over the course of the competition, participating teams are encouraged to think deeply about pressing issues in the society, and dream big to come up with new solutions to address them through technology and innovation. The competition provides a platform for students to develop interdisciplinary skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving, as well as expand their Science, Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) knowledge. The goal of the competition is to enable youths to unleash their fullest potential while preparing them for the future workforce.

Finalist and winning teams at the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2024 grand finale

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

Team redbluegold’s Aiden Lim (left), receiving the prize from Dennis Jang, President, Samsung Electronics Singapore (right), as the grand winner of Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2024 in Singapore

Samsung Electronics Singapore has crowned Team redbluegold from Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) as the grand winner of its Solve for Tomorrow 2024 competition in Singapore. The team, comprising Aiden Lim and Karan Gopu Pillai, impressed the judging panel with their project, SilentGuide – a pair of smart glasses that transcribes spoken words into subtitles, helping people with hearing impairment participate more meaningfully in social conversations.

As the grand winner, Team redbluegold received $7,000 in cash and $10,000 worth of Samsung products, providing them with the resources to further develop their project and make a tangible impact.

Into its eight edition this year, the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition is designed to ignite the passion for championing social change among youths in Singapore. By providing a platform for secondary school students to contribute ideas that address social issues through technology and innovation, Solve for Tomorrow has inspired thousands of youths over the years to become changemakers who are helping to create a better future for their communities.

This year’s Solve for Tomorrow competition received 75 entries from over 240 secondary school students, contributing ideas that focused on five key themes – Environmental Sustainability; Health, Sports and Wellness; Inclusive Harmonious Society; Learning and Education; and Singapore’s Digital Future.

Breaking Barriers: Smart Glasses Transforms Communication For The Hearing Impaired

Inspired to help low- to middle-income individuals with hearing impairment bridge existing communications gaps and participate more meaningfully in the society, Team redbluegold set out to develop a solution that is wearable, convenient to use and low in cost. Following several iterations, the team developed SilentGuide – a pair of smart glasses that processes spoken words from an individual’s surroundings and transcribes them into subtitles, to help users with hearing impairment understand and take part in social conversations.

(From left) Prototype for SilentGuide, a student trying out SilentGuide, and the 3D printing process while developing the SilentGuide prototype

The solution utilises an I2S Microphone to capture spoken words in real-time and transmits the information to a Raspberry Pi 4, which processes the audio and transcribes the audio into subtitles. The resulting subtitles are displayed on an I2C OLED Screen for the user to read.

Designed to function independently without an internet connection, SilentGuide has the potential to enhance communication and social integration for up to 500,000 individuals with hearing loss in Singapore. The solution can also benefit a growing number of people with disabling hearing loss worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, 430 million people have disabling hearing loss globally, a number expected to exceed 700 million people by 2050.

“Many individuals with hearing impairment don’t have access to affordable solutions that can help them bridge the communication gap. Our solution, SilentGuide, aims to address the communication challenges they face, helping them to participate more meaningfully in social conversations. With the convenience it provides and its relatively low cost, SilentGuide will empower individuals with hearing loss to live more fulfilling lives,” said Aiden Lim.

“Today, the world is navigating unprecedented social and economic challenges. It is more urgent now than ever to ignite the desire to champion social change among our youths, encourage them to think deeply about societal issues and leverage technology and resources to shape a better tomorrow. I am inspired by the creativity, imagination and heart showcased by our youths at this year’s Solve for Tomorrow competition. Their ideas not only reflect a deep passion for creating a better Singapore, they also demonstrate that with boldness and imagination, our youths can truly transform our community and the world,” said Dennis Jang, President of Samsung Electronics Singapore and a member of the Solve for Tomorrow 2024 judging panel.

This year’s Solve for Tomorrow judging panel also featured industry leaders who are passionate about inspiring youth action and leadership. These include Lim Ee Ling, Co-founder and CEO of Wavesparks, Executive Director for Global Programs at 500 Global, and Council Member of the National Youth Council; Hyder Albar, Head of Social Innovation at Halogen Foundation; and Leonard Tan Bahroocha, Director and Head of Product Innovation Team at Samsung Southeast Asia & Oceania.

Shaping a Better Tomorrow for All with Technology and Innovation

(From left) Team Calm Haven receiving their prize from Lim Ee Ling, Co-founder and CEO of Wavesparks, Executive Director for Global Programs at 500 Global and Council Member of the National Youth Council; key features of the Calm Haven app

Team Calm Haven from Cedar Girls’ Secondary School secured second place with their project, Calm Haven – a smartwatch application designed to help preteens with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) overcome daily communication, emotional regulation and dietary challenges. The app incorporates communication aids to help users express themselves, emotion-tracking alerts to inform guardians when users are feeling overwhelmed and an eating diary to help users and caregivers track their nutritional intake. With the app, the team hopes individuals with ASD will have greater ability to communicate, perform daily tasks and integrate better into the society.

(From left, clockwise) Navigation function in Smart Vision, Team Smart Vision working on their prototype, Smart Vision prototype, Smart Vision mock-up

The third prize went to Team Smart Vision, comprising of students from Hwa Chong Institution, Nanyang Girls’ High School and the School of Science and Technology, Singapore. Their solution, Smart Vision, is a pair of smart glasses aimed at improving the vision, communication and navigation to improve the overall quality of life for the elderly. Smart Vision incorporates a speech recognition system and speaker that transcribes spoken words into text displayed on the glasses, a navigation function that guides the user via an onscreen map and audio instructions to the destination, and a hearing aid that enhances audio clarity for the user. With the smart glasses, the team aims to help elderly users overcome communication barriers and reduce social isolation to lead more fulfilling lives.

Health+, a Personalised Nutrition Guide and Assistant that aims to simplify health management to improve overall health outcomes for patients

Team Health+ from Whitley Secondary School won the People’s Choice Award for receiving the most online votes for their project, Health+ – a mobile application that uses a large language model (LLM) to interpret complicated medical reports and provide personalised dietary recommendations. By simplifying health management through the app, the team hopes to improve overall health outcomes for patients.

“By leveraging the power of technology to champion social change, our youths have unlimited potential to transform their community, country and eventually the world. Solve for Tomorrow provides them with the platform, technology, resources and opportunities to bring their ideas for social change to life. The exposure to innovative ways of thinking and new ways of solving social problems will empower them with the confidence to become the change that they want to see in our society in time to come,” said Hyder Albar, Head of Social Innovation at Halogen Foundation.

For more information on the Solve for Tomorrow 2024 competition, see Appendix A or visit https://www.samsung.com/sg/solvefortomorrow/.

Appendix A

Competition Overview

Youths aged 12 and above and are full-time Secondary 1 – 5 students in Singapore are eligible for the competition. For students in secondary schools with 6-year Integrated Programme (IP), only full-time students in Secondary 1 – 4 are eligible to participate. The full list of eligible schools is available here.

This year’s competition received 75 entries from over 240 secondary school students, focusing on five key themes – Environmental Sustainability; Health, Sports and Wellness; Inclusive Harmonious Society; Learning and Education; and Singapore’s Digital Future.

10 finalist teams were shortlisted to participate in the finals, where they presented their ideas to a panel of judges, for a chance to win up to $37,000 in prizes. The finals took place on 14 November 2024.

The ideas from the 10 finalist teams were also made available for online voting by the public. The finalist team with the most votes won the People’s Choice Award.

Judging Criteria for Finalist Teams

• 30%: Feasibility – Elaboration on how the solution can be created and implemented.
• 20%: Creativity – Innovativeness, uniqueness and originality of proposed idea.
• 25%: Technology – Elaboration on the use of technology involved and how it is used to solve the problem.
• 20%: Presentation – Flow and effectiveness of the presentation.
• 5%: Public Voting – Finalists’ ideas were posted online for public voting.

Prizes

• First Prize – Samsung products worth $10,000 and $7,000 cash prize
• Second Prize – Samsung products worth S$7,000 and $5,000 cash prize
• Third Prize – Samsung products worth S$5,000 and $3,000 cash prize
• People’s Choice Award: Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro

For Team Blahaj from NUS High School of Mathematics and Science, the winning team of the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2023 competition, this is not just a statistic; it is a call to action. Their inspiration stemmed from a desire to improve the lives of not just the visually impaired, but also seniors in their community, including their own grandparents who are facing vision problems.

 

“My hope for the future is where the visually impaired can live normally again, experiencing the world without worrying about their safety,” shares Wang Zerui, the team leader of Team Blahaj. “By leveraging modern technologies like AI, we hope to address the needs of these individuals and help forge a more inclusive society for everyone.”

 

The obstacle navigation map created by Team Blahaj through LiDAR technology and camera-based object detection technology

 

Christian Tan, another member of Team Blahaj, elaborates on their innovative solution: “By converting the sense of sight to touch, we enable the visually impaired to ‘see’ again, allowing them to feel the world around them. Our invention consists of two components: a software part and a hardware part. We utilised LiDAR technology and camera-based object detection systems to create an ‘obstacle map’ that provides users with a tactile representation of their environment.”

 

Christian tested the prototype of their solution and experimented with how the tactile interface could help people navigate around obstacles without sight

 

The hardware component involves developing a unique case that translates the visual data captured by the device into tactile feedback. The tactile interface consists of an array of pins that gently push into the user’s fingers depending on the distance of obstacles, enabling users to get an accurate map of their surroundings without having to scan around. This innovative combination of technologies not only aids the visually impaired in navigating their environment but also brings a greater sense of independence to their daily lives.

 

Vincent discussing with his team members on how they can further refine the prototype of their tactile feedback component

 

Vincent Kwok, another member of Team Blahaj, emphasises the importance of the journey: “Our biggest takeaway from Solve for Tomorrow was the process. The journey has been exciting and enriching, giving us the chance to tackle real-world problems and bring our ideas to life. The hands-on experience not only offered us a glimpse into what our future careers in computing and software development might entail but also allowed us to sharpen our problem-solving skills, foster teamwork, and apply our knowledge in practical ways.”

 

Vincent’s sentiment resonates with one of the core tenets of the Solve for Tomorrow competition, which is to provide the opportunity for youths to develop interdisciplinary skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving capabilities as well as expand their Science, Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) knowledge. The goal is to enable young people to elevate their potential while preparing them for the future workforce.

 

The Solve for Tomorrow 2024 competition is currently open for entries from all secondary school students in Singapore until 4 August 2024. With the theme “Dare to Dream: Be the Champion of Social Change,” the competition aims to empower the next generation of innovators and changemakers to address social issues in their communities and drive positive change through innovation.

 

Secondary school students can now form teams of 2 to 4 and submit their ideas at the Solve for Tomorrow 2024 website here

 

Dennis Jang, President of Samsung Electronics Singapore, encapsulates this vision perfectly. “At Samsung, we believe in the immense potential of our youths to positively impact our society and environment through their passion and creativity. Solve for Tomorrow is more than just a contest; it’s a platform for young minds to explore their potential and turn their ideas into tangible solutions.”

 

Dennis with Team Blahaj at the Solve for Tomorrow 2023 awards dinner

 

“Team Blahaj’s dedication to addressing real-world challenges is inspiring, and Samsung is proud to champion their efforts,” adds Dennis. “I look forward to seeing how these young changemakers will contribute meaningfully to our society and create a better future for all.”

 

The story of Team Blahaj is a rallying call to students everywhere: your ideas matter, your innovations can change lives, and your participation can make a significant impact. As Wang Zerui, Christian Tan, and Vincent Kwok have shown, the path to a brighter tomorrow is paved with curiosity, creativity, and a commitment to making a difference.

 

Embrace the challenge, dare to dream, and you could be the next champion of social change. Find out more at the Solve for Tomorrow website.

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow returns for its eighth edition in Singapore. Themed ‘Dare to Dream: Be the Champion of Social Change,’ the competition aims to inspire youths to address the social issues affecting their community and drive positive change through technology and innovation.

“At Samsung, we believe in the immense potential of our youths to positively impact our society and environment through their passion and creativity,” said Dennis Jang, President, Samsung Electronics Singapore. “Solve for Tomorrow is more than just a contest; it’s a platform for young minds to explore their potential and turn their ideas into tangible solutions. We are excited to see the innovations that our youths can bring to the table and proud to empower them to leverage technology for a brighter collective future.”

Wang Zerui, the leader of Team Blahaj, the winning team of the previous Solve for Tomorrow competition, shares his experience: “Solve for Tomorrow stands out as it not only advocates for technological creativity but also emphasizes the actualization of solutions that can make a substantive difference in the community. It was this dynamic blend of innovation and societal impact that resonated with us. Throughout this journey, we feel that we have pushed ourselves beyond the limits of our skills, allowing us to gain invaluable experiences along the way”.

The competition is in support of the national Digital for Life movement, which mobilises partners from the private, people and public sectors to help Singaporeans embrace digital as a lifelong pursuit and enrich their lives through digital technology. Solve for Tomorrow 2024 also provides the opportunity for youths to develop interdisciplinary skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving capabilities as well as expand their Science, Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) knowledge. It is designed to empower young people to elevate their potential while preparing them for the future workforce.

“Solve for Tomorrow’s emphasis on technology-driven solutions and societal impact makes it a perfect match for enhancing their skills and broadening their practical experiences”, highlighted Phylliscia Chew, head of Computer Science at NUS High School and the team’s mentor. “The competition bridges the gap between the theoretical knowledge learned in class and practical application, enabling students to tackle real-world issues directly. These experiences are crucial in preparing students for future challenges and careers.”

Addressing Singapore’s Present and Future Challenges

Samsung has identified five broad themes for this year’s competition. Participants can develop their ideas around any of these themes:

	1.     Environmental Sustainability Sustainability remains a crucial challenge in our current landscape. Bold ideas are essential to address our pressing environmental issues, foster a circular economy, and forge a sustainable future for future generations.
	2.     Health, Sports & Wellness In today’s dynamic and rapidly evolving society, health, sports, and wellness hold significant importance in improving our quality of life and creating a more resilience populace. Technological innovations have the potential to reshape our understanding and enhance our practices in these areas.
	3.     Education & Learning The future workplace demands adaptability, critical thinking, and creativity. By integrating innovative technology into education, we can better prepare our youths for their future careers.
	4.     Inclusive, Harmonious Society Building an inclusive and harmonious Singapore requires fostering connections across communities. We will need platforms and approaches for people to share their stories, values, and experiences, celebrate our diversity, and build a sense of shared purpose.
	5.     Singapore’s Digital Future Singapore’s digital transformation is not just about keeping pace with the world, it is about creating solutions that resonate with our local identity. Our next generation of innovators holds the key to unlocking solutions that are uniquely Singaporean.

Competition Details

From today until 14^th July 2024, students can submit their entries for the competition by forming groups of two to four from the same school and submitting their innovative ideas or solutions on the Solve for Tomorrow 2024 website.

• Eligibility: Full-time students aged 12 to 18 years old, enrolled in any secondary school in Singapore.
• Secondary 1 to Secondary 5 if they are enrolled in the following:
  • Government schools (including autonomous schools)
  • Government-aided schools (including autonomous schools)
  • Independent schools
  • Specialised independent schools (SIS)
  • Specialised schools
  • Special education (SPED) schools

• Secondary 1 to Secondary 4 students if they are enrolled in IP (Integrated Programme) secondary schools with 6-year IP programmes.

Prizes

The top three teams will receive the following prizes:

• First Prize Winning Team
  • S$10,000 worth of Samsung products
  • S$7,000 cash prize
• Second Prize
  • S$7,000 worth of Samsung products
  • S$5,000 cash prize
• Third Prize
  • S$5,000 worth of Samsung products
  • S$3,000 cash prize

For more information visit https://www.samsung.com/sg/solvefortomorrow or reach out to the team at samsungsolvefortomorrow@infom.asia