Smart Glasses That See Through Sound: Tushar Shaw’s Perceivia Wins National Innovation Award

Nineteen-year-old Tushar Shaw from Bengaluru, pursuing second-year engineering student from Scaler School of Technology, has crafted not just a gadget but a gesture of social imagination. His creation, Perceivia — intuitive glasses for the visually impaired — earned him a place among the national winners of Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2025.

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is the company’s flagship education programme that challenges young minds to identify real-world problems and develop solutions using technology. This year the four winning teams from the themes AI for a Safer, Smarter, and Inclusive Bharat; Future of Health, Hygiene, and Well-being in India; Environmental Sustainability via Technology; and Social Change through Sport and Tech, received a grant of ₹1 crore incubation support at IIT Delhi.

Perceivia is designed to help visually impaired users perceive their surroundings through sound. Using an integrated suite of audio sensors, object-recognition cameras, and AI-based spatial analysis, the glasses detect and describe what lies ahead — from identifying objects and estimating distances to recognising human voices and faces. The device alerts users through subtle vibrations or real-time voice feedback, creating a kind of “sensory map” of their environment.

I grew up next door to a visually impaired neighbour,” Tushar recalls. I saw firsthand how daily tasks like crossing a road, identifying people, or locating objects could become monumental challenges. I knew I had to create something that gave them a sense of independence.

At the time, he admits, his ambition far outpaced his technical competence. “I had no background in computer vision or hardware design,” he says. “But Samsung Solve for Tomorrow gave me not just the resources, but also the confidence and mentorship to bridge that gap.”

I used Gemini 2.0 Flash for screen description and built facial and object recognition features using datasets contributed by visually impaired volunteers,” he explains. Their feedback helped me identify gaps in the prototype — what worked in theory often needed to be rethought in practice.

The Samsung Solve for Tomorrow programme, which invited thousands of young innovators across India to develop solutions for the nation’s most pressing challenges, gave Tushar both the stage and the support system to bring his idea to life.

We were taught how to understand markets, conduct research, and engage with potential partners. It was a crash course in how to turn an idea into an enterprise, says Tushar.

Tushar’s project was selected by a distinguished jury comprising senior Samsung leadership and experts from academia, government, and industry. His innovation emerged as a winner under the theme ‘AI for a Safer, Smarter, and Inclusive Bharat’, one of four focus areas in this year’s competition — alongside Future of Health and Hygiene, Environmental Sustainability through Technology, and Social Change through Sport and Tech.

For Tushar, the triumph marks both an end and a beginning. “Winning Samsung Solve for Tomorrow has opened doors I hadn’t even dared to knock on,” he smiles. “I want to collaborate with brands specialising in accessibility tech, refine the product’s design, and make it affordable for people across India. I’m also continuing my studies — there’s still so much to learn before I can build something truly transformative.”

In the coming year, he plans to test Perceivia with a wider group of users, gather feedback from mobility trainers, and integrate features for indoor navigation. His ultimate goal? To make the device as ubiquitous and indispensable as spectacles — not a luxury for the few, but a right for all.

AssisTech Foundation Launches India’s First Startup India Seed Fund for AT Startups

AssisTech Foundation (ATF), India’s pioneering Assistive Technology ecosystem enabler, has set up India’s first and exclusive Startup India Seed Fund for AT startups under Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) through the support of Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Government of India, wherein a capital pool of INR 5 Crores will be invested in 32 AT startups in the next 3 years. This dedicated fund aims to support early-stage startups in the Assistive Technology (AT) space by providing crucial seed capital for innovation, prototyping, and market entry.

Startups chosen under the scheme have a provision of grant, equity and debt where they can apply for grants up to ₹20 lakhs and equity investment up to ₹50 lakhs.

Prateek Madhav, CEO & Co-Founder, AssisTech Foundation said, “The launch of the SISFS Fund for Assistive Technology (AT) start-ups marks a significant milestone in the AT ecosystem. This dedicated fund will provide much-needed early-stage capital to AT start-ups, enabling them to validate ideas, build prototypes, and accelerate market entry. By leveraging the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme, ATF aims to bridge the critical funding gap faced by entrepreneurs working to empower persons with disabilities. This initiative reinforces ATF’s long-standing commitment to nurturing impactful solutions that drive accessibility and independence, while helping to build a more inclusive and equitable society through the power of technology.”

Through its support for early-stage innovators under the scheme, ATF advances its strategic vision of strengthening the Assistive Technology (AT) innovation pipeline in India. By providing targeted seed funding, ATF is helping build a robust, self-sustaining ecosystem that effectively addresses the real-world needs of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).

To apply under the scheme, a start up must be DPIIT-recognized and incorporated within the last 2 years. It should not have received more than ₹10 lakh in monetary support from any other Central/State government scheme and have at least 51% Indian promoter shareholding at the time of application.

Startups creating innovative solutions that empower persons with disabilities and promote inclusive living are encouraged to apply.

Learn more about the eligibility criteria and apply at: https://seedfund.startupindia.gov.in

About AssisTech Foundation

AssisTech Foundation (ATF) is India’s first Assistive Technology (AT) ecosystem enabler that focuses on empowering Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) by enabling Learning, Livelihood, and Living opportunities (3Ls of Empowerment). ATF does it by harnessing the power of AT and supporting the development of innovative technology products and services. In a span of 6 years, ATF has impacted the lives of over 1 million Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) through its high-impact programs and initiatives and has established a network of over 500 AT Startups in the country. ATF is accelerating 54 AT Startups as a part of the portfolio, who have collectively developed 110+ AT products and secured over 50 patents.

In A Bundle of Assistive Tech Features, Apple Devices To Speak Your Voice After 10-Minutes of Training

Apple has announced that by the end of the year, users of iPhones and iPads will be able to hear their devices speaking in their own voice as part of a collection of new bundle of software features for cognitive, speech, vision, and mobility accessibility, the tech giant provided a preview of 'Personal Voice' on May 16th. This upcoming feature will display random text prompts to generate 15 minutes audio and capture user's voice.

Furthermore, Apple's 'Live Speech' tool will allow users to save commonly used phrases, which can then be spoken by the device on their behalf during phone calls, FaceTime conversations, and in-person interactions.

In a press release, Apple previewed software features for cognitive, vision, hearing, and mobility accessibility, along with innovative tools for individuals who are nonspeaking or at risk of losing their ability to speak.

For people with cognitive disabilities, Apple's "Assistive Access" uses innovations in design to distill apps and experiences to their essential features in order to lighten cognitive load.

For users at risk of losing their ability to speak — such as those with a recent diagnosis of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) or other conditions that can progressively impact speaking ability — Personal Voice is a simple and secure way to create a voice that sounds like them.

Users can create a Personal Voice by reading along with a randomised set of text prompts to record 15 minutes of audio on iPhone or iPad. This speech accessibility feature uses on-device Machine Learning to keep users’ information private and secure, and integrates seamlessly with Live Speech so users can speak with their Personal Voice when connecting with loved ones.

Personal Voice allows users at risk of losing their ability to speak to create a voice that sounds like them, and integrates seamlessly with Live Speech so users can speak with their Personal Voice when connecting with loved ones. 

Personal Voice can be created using iPhone, iPad, and Mac with Apple silicon, and will be available in English.

In addition, Apple highlighted a number of other features coming to the Mac as well, including a way for deaf or hard-of-hearing users to pair Made for iPhone hearing devices with a Mac. The company is also adding an easier way to adjust the size of the text in Finder, Messages, Mail, Calendar, and Notes on Mac.

For users who are blind or have low vision, Apple is introducing "Detection Mode in Magnifier", which offers Point and Speak, which identifies text users point toward and reads it out loud to help them interact with physical objects such as household appliances.

Point and Speak in Magnifier makes it easier for users with vision disabilities to interact with physical objects that have several text labels. For example, while using a household appliance — such as a microwave — Point and Speak combines input from the camera, the LiDAR Scanner, and on-device machine learning to announce the text on each button as users move their finger across the keypad. Point and Speak is built into the Magnifier app on iPhone and iPad.

Point and Speak will be available on iPhone and iPad devices with the LiDAR Scanner in English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Cantonese, Korean, Japanese, and Ukrainian.

AssisTech Foundation (ATF) welcomes 10 Assistive Technology Start-ups to ATF Enable Acceleration Program Cohort 5

Bengaluru based AssisTech Foundation (ATF) has announced the portfolio of India’s first Assistive Technology Start-up Acceleration Program : ATF Enable Acceleration Program Cohort 5.

ATF received an overwhelming response from aspiring disability technology start-ups who applied for the program. It is more enriching that the applications were diverse in nature, covering all areas of disabilities, impact areas, and were in different stages of their start-up journeys. Over the past weeks we have discussed & debated a lot while reviewing so many quality Assistive Technology (AT) solutions.

Congratulating all the passionate technologists for the innovative ideas and aspirations, ATF announced, "We are happy to note that this year’s cohort winners are diverse in terms of covering different disabilities including visual, mobility, speech, cognitive, neural and hearing impairment alongwith one focussing on geriatric care too. They are based not only in the metros but are spread out across Tier 2 and 3 Indian cities and are in various stages of their entrepreneurial evolution."

The list of 10 winners are as follows (in alphabetical order):

Backyard Creators Pvt. Ltd.

Backyard Creators is building a world's first Adhesive Non Surgical hearing device for by birth and severe hearing loss patients without the hearing implant surgeries. They are overcoming all the disadvantages of Implantation surgery by providing a non-surgical adhesive hearing aid.

Dextroware Devices

Dextroware Devices is a startup that is developing a head mouse for people with upper-limb disabled to control smart devices.

H Vision & Innovations LLP

Vision has invented a wallet that allows blind people to identify currency notes and also determine if they are authentic or fraudulent. Vision has also invented the world's most compact currency note checker for the sighted people which is so compact that one can use it as a key chain, attachment on smart phone cover, wallet/ purse etc.

Kidaura Innovations Pvt Ltd

A startup developing a digital game based screening tool for autism and developmental conditions. They are also creating a child therapy delivery platform for providing assistance in home-reinforcement of therapies.

Learn and Empower Pvt Ltd.

Startup that developed a game based teaching and assessment platform that enables the deaf and hard of hearing kids practice and understand what they learn at school 4-6x better while enabling the educators to use it as a teaching aid and assessment tool.

NEMA Artificial Intelligence Pvt Ltd.

NEMA AI is India’s first EEG based special education platform for the children with special needs that helps in assessment and curation of learning content based on their strengths and weaknesses.

Ripple Healthcare Pvt Ltd

A startup developing a product “HIP PRO+” is a smart wearable device that protects elderly from the traumatic and often deadly fall-induced hip injuries. With an acceptable design offered at a fractional cost, it empowers the elderly to lead a dignified lifestyle.

Punarjeeva Technology Solutions

A startup reimagining the rehabilitation of society through gamified physiotherapy by exploiting the technological tentacles and providing opportunities that help them lead an independent and supreme life by stitching knowledge into the tasks. Their portfolio of products include Samatved (Balancing Gamified Exercises for Lower Body), Hasth (Handtracking based system for fine motor skills), Tatvika (VR based solution for physio motor, cognitive and music therapy) and Nibodh (Blended Learning product for problem solving and creative skill development.)

Robo Bionics

Assistive Tech Solution company with a focus on Rehabilitation of Hand related issues like Amputation, Limb Difference, Nerve Damage, Paralysis, Tendon Injury etc. Their Core competency involves providing a Sense of Touch to such solutions to improve the user experience and accelerate rehabilitation and User Independence.

Vifr

Vifr Tech is harnessing the power of VR for training and educating neurodiverse young adults in a fun way. Their product, Halara is a complete virtual reality special education platform to train and teach young adults with autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions.

ATF congratulates all the startups and a warm welcome to the ATF family! We are inspired and impressed by your passion and sincerity. As a next step, we will conduct a workshop to induct the winners into the ATF acceleration program and will start sessions by industry veterans, the best brains from the fields of disability, technology, start-up and business.

AssisTech Foundation (ATF) is working towards growth of the Assistive Technology ecosystem and helping millions of people with disabilities around the world to live their lives with dignity. Collectively, it has empowered its portfolio start-ups to do just that through access to customers, government and investors and other stakeholders. Cumulative efforts of ATF and its portfolio start-ups have impacted over 4.6 lakhs people with disabilities.

The ATF's objective is to create a conducive ecosystem in a structured and programmatic manner and help the start-ups develop a milestone based operating plan and investment strategy which will essentially shape the course of their business.

SBI Foundation, Social Alpha Select Top 4 Start-ups from Assistive Technology Challenge

Representative Image via  Eren Li from Pexels

Winning start-ups, Tinkertech, Cureous Labs, Urvogelbio, and Quarkbitz, to get grant and incubation support for 1 year

A comfortable wearable assistive technology device for the deaf, a device for pressure injuries and bedsores, a biofluid based diagnostics tool to effectively manage central nervous system diseases and other neurodegenerative conditions, and an AI-powered mobile app that empowers the blind, were the four winning solutions at the recently concluded Techtonic: Innovation in Assistive Technology. Jointly conducted by Social Alpha and the SBI Foundation, the challenge invited innovators and entrepreneurs working on products and services that address the difficulties faced by people with disabilities (PwDs) and enable them to lead an empowered life.

The challenge received an overwhelming participation from startups across India. The participants were evaluated based on technological innovation, social impact, and business roadmap among other parameters. The program focused on the following areas: Visual Impairment, Developmental Disorders and Chronic Neurological Conditions, Locomotor Disabilities, and Speech & Hearing Disabilities.

The four winners were chosen from 21 finalists. The winners, Tinkertech, Cureous Labs, Urvogelbio, and Quarkbitz, are eligible for a grant support of INR 15 lakhs, and a year-long Incubation support from Social Alpha. The top 10 finalists, including the winners, are eligible for a Certificate Program in Assistive Technology Solutions by National Institute for Speech and Hearing (NISH).

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Kshama Kothari, Director of Health and Wellness, Social Alpha, said, “We, at Social Alpha, recognise the need to promote and support R&D in Assistive Technology that can play a pivotal role in reducing social gaps and improve the quality of life of PwDs. I thank SBI Foundation for its enduring commitment to creating an inclusive development paradigm and its support to the Techtonic initiative. Social Alpha will strive to create an enabling ecosystem for AT products and services and catalyse their lab-to-market journey."

Smt. Manjula Kalyanasundaram, Managing Director - SBI Foundation, said, “SBI Foundation remains committed to using technology for development, making it accessible to everyone in our society. According to estimates, 1 in every 12 households in India has a family member with a disability. However, due to low literacy levels, social stigma, and lack of opportunities, PwDs remain the most excluded members of the society. Through our flagship program Centre of Excellence for Persons with Disabilities and partners, we aim to scout and nurture assistive technologies that foster inclusivity, remove barriers for PwDs in everyday life and promote holistic development and growth."

According to estimates, India accounts for 40 to 80 million PwDs - i.e., 1 in 12 households has a family member with a disability. However, due to low literacy levels, social stigma, and lack of opportunities, PwDs remain the most excluded members of society. A large number of children with disabilities stay out of school, disabled adults are unlikely to be employed, families with a disabled member tend to be economically weaker, and the ageing population puts a lot of financial stress at both the household and national level. Techtonic: Innovation in Assistive Technology is aimed at scouting and nurturing assistive technologies that foster inclusivity and remove barriers for PwDs in everyday life.

About the winners of the Techtonic: Innovation in Assistive Technology

Tinkertech has built “TranscribeGlass”, a comfortable wearable assistive technology device for the deaf, hard of hearing, the elderly, and other people who want to improve their comprehension of spoken communication using captions.

Cureous Labs has built a solution for pressure injuries and bedsores in spinal cord injury, quadriplegia, muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis patients, who are bedridden and lack mobility.

Urvogelbio is developing and commercializing biofluid-based diagnostics to effectively manage central nervous system diseases for prognosis/diagnosis of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative conditions.

Quarkbitz has built “AudibleVision", a multipurpose AI powered mobile app that empowers the blind and people with low vision to access visual information. During the pandemic, it helped users to maintain social distancing.

SBI Foundation, Social Alpha Launch a Challenge to Support Assistive Technology Start-ups

SBI Foundation and Social Alpha jointly announced the launch of the challenge, Techtonic: Innovations in Assistive Technology, inviting innovators and entrepreneurs working on products and services that address the difficulties faced by people with disabilities and enable them to lead an empowered life.

Shri. Challa Sreenivasulu Setty, Managing Director (Retail & Digital Banking), State Bank of India, said, "SBI Foundation is happy to collaborate with Social Alpha on this programme where the mission is to create an inclusive environment for persons with disabilities. Through this initiative, we will ensure that Assistive Tech solutions are sustained and scaled up across India. It will encourage next generation of innovators to engage in much needed R&D of assistive technology."

The challenge is structured to support early-stage assistive technology start-ups to accelerate their lab to market journey through comprehensive support that includes

• Access to INR 15 lakhs for ideating, prototyping, and growth

• Access to R&D labs for prototyping and infrastructure for scaled-up manufacturing

• Access to mentors, incubation facilities, industry players and end-users for product testing and business model validation

India lacks a vibrant market for disruptive AT solutions. However, an increasing number of entrepreneurs and passionate innovators are trying to develop solutions for people with disabilities. But, in their journey, they are forced to encounter multiple valleys of death. The first valley of death appears at the idea/ prototype stage itself due to limited access to an end-user population that is highly fragmented, poorly funded R& D infrastructure and a poor value chain. The program designed by SBI Foundation and Social Alpha will help start-ups overcome this valley of death.

The challenge focuses on the following areas: Visual Impairment, Developmental Disorders & Chronic Neurological Conditions, Locomotor Disabilities, and Speech & Hearing Disabilities. The program will extend support towards 10 start-ups in accelerating their Lab to Market journey. Out of these 10, the top 4 start-ups will receive INR 15 lakhs along with incubation support for 1 year.

Speaking about the partnership and the challenge, Shri Manoj Kumar, Co-founder & CEO, Social Alpha, said, "The gap between need and affordability of Assistive Technologies is huge, thus making it extremely difficult for persons with disabilities to access the latest innovations. SBI's longstanding commitment to inclusion, combined with Social Alpha's expertise in accelerating lab to market journeys of start-ups, will enable entrepreneurs to develop affordable and high-quality solutions to empower people with disabilities live a healthy, productive, and independent life."