advertisement
Facebook
X
LinkedIn
WhatsApp
Reddit

[Press Release] Deadline Extended: Wits Campus Personal Navigator Challenge – closing date now 24th March

WITS NAVIGATOR CHALLENGE 

Wits University’s Disability Rights Unit (DRU) assists over 1000 students and staff each year. Almost a third of these are physically or visually impaired. While Wits University’s campuses meet very high standards of accessibility for those with disabilities, it remains difficult for some disabled students to navigate around Wits.

The Wits Campus Personal Navigator Challenge aims to develop innovative systems that will increase the independence of students with visual and physical disabilities by providing them with a “personal navigator” around Wits’ vast campuses. The system should be able to safely guide a visually impaired or a physically impaired student from one location to another by using predefined safe accessible routes.

The system could be a simple standalone device that attaches to a walking cane or wheelchair or be a wearable device (e.g. wristband). This unique navigation system may work independently or in conjunction with relevant existing and/or future systems (software, apps, maps, etc.) to provide visual/audible directions and information to the student. To do this the proposed system might use multiple sensors installed at key points on campus which will provide location information and alerts to the base unit installed on a walking cane/ wheelchair/wearable device.

The aim of the Challenge is to assist successful entrants in turning a great idea into a viable tech startup. The top 10 ideas will have an opportunity to work in Wits University’s new startup incubator in the Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct in Braamfontein. The winner of the Challenge will spend 4 weeks working in a partner incubator in Canada, USA, Netherlands, UK or India.

The Challenge is open to all – not only Wits Students – and is being run by the Joburg Centre for Software Engineering (JCSE) with sponsorship from the Carl and Emily Fuchs Foundation.

CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES: 24th MARCH 2017

SUBMIT APPLICATION

Click here for more detailed information on the event.

advertisement

About Author

advertisement

Related News

advertisement