Team redbluegold from Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) has been named the grand winner of the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2024 competition. The team, comprising Aiden Lim and Karan Gopu Pillai, was recognised for their project SilentGuide, an innovative pair of smart glasses that transcribe spoken words into subtitles. Designed to assist individuals with hearing impairments, the glasses aim to enable more meaningful participation in social conversations.
The winning team was awarded S$7,000 in cash and Samsung products worth S$10,000, providing them with resources to further enhance their project and expand its impact.
Now in its eighth year, the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition encourages secondary school students to address societal challenges using technology and innovation. This year’s competition saw over 240 students from 75 teams submitting ideas based on five themes: Environmental Sustainability, Health, Sports and Wellness, Inclusive Society, Learning and Education, and Singapore’s Digital Future.
Smart glasses bridging communication gaps
Team redbluegold’s SilentGuide targets individuals with hearing impairments, particularly from low- to middle-income groups, aiming to provide an affordable, convenient solution. The smart glasses feature an I2S microphone to capture spoken words, which are processed by a Raspberry Pi 4 and transcribed into subtitles displayed on an OLED screen. Designed to function without an internet connection, the glasses cater to users with limited access to connectivity.
The innovation has the potential to support up to 500,000 individuals with hearing loss in Singapore and millions globally. According to the World Health Organization, 430 million people worldwide have disabling hearing loss, a figure expected to exceed 700 million by 2050.
Aiden Lim, one of the creators, explained, “Many individuals with hearing impairment don’t have access to affordable solutions that can help them bridge the communication gap. SilentGuide aims to address these challenges, enabling users to participate more meaningfully in social conversations. Its convenience and affordability can empower people with hearing loss to live more fulfilling lives.”
Dennis Jang, President of Samsung Electronics Singapore and a judge for the competition, praised the students, saying, “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.”
Celebrating creativity and innovation
This year’s competition highlighted various innovative projects. Team Calm Haven from Cedar Girls’ Secondary School secured second place with Calm Haven, a smartwatch app to support preteens with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The app includes communication aids, emotion-tracking alerts for guardians, and a dietary tracker, aiming to improve communication, emotional regulation, and daily functioning for individuals with ASD.
The third prize went to Smart Vision, created by a team from Hwa Chong Institution, Nanyang Girls’ High School, and the School of Science and Technology, Singapore. The smart glasses enhance the quality of life for elderly users through features like speech-to-text transcription, navigation assistance, and audio enhancement.
The People’s Choice Award was won by Team Health+ from Whitley Secondary School for their app Health+, which uses a large language model to simplify medical reports and provide personalised dietary advice. The app seeks to improve health outcomes by making health management more accessible and user-friendly.
Hyder Albar, Head of Social Innovation at Halogen Foundation and a competition judge, emphasised the importance of youth-led innovation, stating, “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.”
A platform for future changemakers
The Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition continues to encourage young minds to address pressing societal challenges. By combining technology with bold ideas, students are empowered to create a positive impact on their communities and beyond.
