Company: Scalefocus, Sofia, Bulgaria
Company Description: Scalefocus is a software development and digital services company with a mission to help customers grow by leveraging the latest technology and top talent. Combining technical expertise with industry know-how, we help businesses navigate the technology maze, utilizing a mix of custom-built software and data, cloud platforms, process automation, advanced engineering, and ML.
Nomination Category: Product & Service Categories - Business Technology Solutions
Nomination Sub Category: Healthcare Technology Solution
 Nomination Title: SoundVision – Innovation for Better Mobility of the Visually Impaired
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes in length about the the nominated new or new-version product or service, OR written answers to the questions for this category? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the nominated video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this first question: If this is a brand-new product, state the date on which it was released. If this is a new version of an existing product, state the date on which the update was released:
Brand-new product, Q4 2022.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this second question: Describe the features, functions, and benefits of the nominated product or service (up to 350 words):
Total 327 words used.
SoundVision is among the signature Scalefocus projects with positive social impact. Our team has developed an innovative electronic device that empowers visually impaired and blind people to have more independent and active lifestyles. Indeed, there are numerous applications that assist the visually impaired in everyday life, facilitate their mobility and labor-related tasks, or track their health status and fitness. However, users with visual impairments find simultaneous usage of multiple devices to be a real challenge.
That is definitely not the case with SoundVision. It is a compact single device connected to a mobile app that provides real-time information to facilitate the users’ mobility and orientation. Open source code also enables SoundVision to become a platform and ecosystem for creating various applications to further improve the solution with new functionalities in the future.
The device has plenty of benefits beyond being affordable, but most important of all, it is very easy to use – users can switch between 5 modes (Distance, Color, Light, Compass, Stand By) with a single button click. SoundVision’s simple ergonomic design facilitates travel and daily routine. The device features complement the traditional white cane and improve visually impaired people’s awareness of space, location, and objects in their vicinity.
SoundVision is voice-powered and warns users through a built-in speaker or headphones. Paired with the mobile app, the hardware solution uses an ultrasonic distance sensor which measures and tells the distance to the nearest object being pointed at within a 3-meter distance. Its location finder combines data for buildings, suites, rooms, obstacles, PoI, beacons, routes, and floor exits for the QGIS model navigation to specific PoI chosen by the user.
SoundVision reads texts, recognizes colors, objects, and currencies, and has compass and indoor navigation features that far exceed the environment perception that traditional white canes provide. As vulnerable as visually impaired people can be, the device boosts their confidence by providing the necessary protection that creates a sense of security and significantly improves their social lives.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this third question: Outline the market performance, critical reception, and customer satisfaction with the product or service to date. State monetary or unit sales figures to date, if possible, and how they compare to expectations or past performance. Provide links to laudatory product or service reviews. Include some customer testimonials, if applicable (up to 350 words):
Total 343 words used.
SoundVision is an assistive technology device that helps visually impaired and blind people to have more independent and active lifestyles. It has already attracted interest from potential partners at major healthcare exhibitions and seminars worldwide, including HIMSS – the most significant healthcare event in the USA. It is expected to be commercially available by the end of the year, and the industry professionals’ feedback indicates it is going to be a hit.
Target groups in Bulgaria have tested the device in real-life conditions in cooperation with Synergia Foundation (https://synergia-foundation.org), and all participants in the research have been more than impressed. They have praised SoundVision for being easy to use and expressed a willingness to purchase their own devices once it is commercially available, especially when they found out just how affordable they are going to be.
Another advantage that didn’t go unnoticed is that SoundVision is a single device. There are numerous applications that assist the visually impaired in everyday life, however, simultaneously handling multiple devices is rather challenging for users with visual impairments.
What the test participants have also singled out as particularly useful is the way SoundVision provides real-time information about the surrounding environment. It instantly informs users about the distance to objects, indicates obstacles, and assists indoor navigation. SoundVision reads texts, recognizes colors, objects, and currencies, and boasts compass and indoor navigation features that far exceed the environment perception that a manual white cane provides.
What the SoundVision potential users had to say:
“The device is very easy to use and significantly supports movement in urban environments as well as at home. I am definitely getting one if it costs as little as you told me.”
“I am quite impressed, actually. That device will help lots of blind people lead a normal life, you know, go to the shops, walk the dog, meet people. Good job!”
“I don’t remember ever feeling that safe, to be honest. It just warns you each time you are about to get in trouble.”
Participants from Synergia Foundation testing group.
- You have the option to answer this final question: Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 13 words used.
Full information about the product can be found at: https://www.scalefocus.com/soundvision
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