SMPLB-A YPAB Surabaya students try out the mobile features offered by the Neutrack AI Glove, created by the Abmas ITS team.

ITS Campus, ITS News — In an effort to advance inclusive education and empower blind people, the Department of Informatics Engineering, Sepuluh November Institute of Technology (ITS) initiated a Community Service (Abmas) program by introducing mobility aid technology based on artificial intelligence (AI). The activity carried out at the SMP Luar Biasa – A (SMPLB-A) Yayasan Pendidikan Anak Blind (YPAB) Surabaya invites students and teachers to understand and utilize technological innovations to improve the independence and quality of life of blind students.

The Abmas activity led by Dini Adni Navastara SKom MSc is the result of the development of pre-existing products. Dini explained that this activity departed from student innovation products that were originally developed as final projects in the Artificial Intelligence class. “We want to bring technology that is more inclusive and can be accessed directly by those in need, one of which is through this activity,” said the lecturer at the Department of Informatics Engineering ITS.

Students and teachers at SMPLB-A YPAB Surabaya were given an introduction and training on the use of an assistive device called Neutrack AI Glove, a smart glove designed to help the visually impaired navigate and recognize objects around them. The training included a demonstration of how the tool works, field trials, and discussions to get feedback from the users. Some teachers said that this tool is more modern and practical than previous aids, such as sticks or hats.

Dini Adni Navastara SKom MSc (standing) when opening Abmas ITS activities at SMPLB-A YPAB Surabaya.

According to the school, this is the first time they have seen this innovation in the form of gloves. “This product is simplerand suitable for our students. After the trial, we can see that students are more free to use this tool,” said Drs Eko Purwanto, Head of SMPLB-A YPAB. However, they also provided input for further development so that this tool can be optimized and produced more.

This Abmas activity also provided an opportunity for the students to experience first-hand AI technology that is often only known in the context of theory or through the media. With hands-on trials, students can not only recognize this technology, but also identify the benefits and obstacles that may arise in its daily use. “We are very happy to learn more about this technology and hope that our students can be more independent,” said Tutus Setiawan, a mentor teacher.

One of the ITS innovator team members, Firania Putri Harsanti, practicing how to use the Neutrack AI Glove on one of the SMPLB-A YPAB Surabaya students.

In addition to the introduction of technology, this activity also involved active discussions between the ITS team and the school. Dini welcomed the inputs and stated that her team would endeavor to make further improvements and development. “We hope this cooperation can be sustainable, so that this product can really benefit them,” Dini added.

In this activity, the ITS team also gained insight into the real conditions and needs of visually impaired students. This is considered important by the team to develop products that are more suitable and easily adopted byend users. “With activities like this, we can better understand what users need and how technology can be integrated into their lives,” explained the alumnus of S2 Pusan National University, South Korea.

ITS Informatics Engineering students, Firania Putri Harsanti and Pelangi Masita Wati, presenting the Neutrack AI Glove working system.

After this abmas activity, the ITS team plans to continue developing the partnership with SMPLB-A YPAB Surabaya. “We hope this is not just a one-off activity, but can be sustainable and bring real impact to students and teachers,” Dini said. The ITS team has also brought this product to international competitions, one of which is the Google Solution Challenge 2024, and in the near future will compete in the Gemastik 2024 event.

With the support provided by ITS through this Abmas activity, it is hoped that blind students at SMPLB-A YPAB Surabaya and elsewhere can have better access to technology that can facilitate their daily lives. “We want them to feel more independent and able to carry out activities without significant restrictions,” Dini concluded with high hopes for this Abmas program. (ITS PR)

Reporter: Lathifah Sahda