Bengaluru-based engineering student Tushar Shaw, 19, has developed an innovative device aimed at helping visually impaired individuals navigate their surroundings more independently. His creation, called Perceivia, earned him recognition as one of the national winners of the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2025 competition.
The Samsung Solve for Tomorrow programme encourages students across India to address real-world problems using technology. This year, four winning projects, covering themes such as AI for a Safer, Smarter, and Inclusive Bharat, Future of Health, Hygiene, and Well-being, Environmental Sustainability through Technology, and Social Change through Sport and Tech, were awarded ₹1 crore in incubation support at IIT Delhi.
Perceivia is designed as a pair of glasses that help visually impaired users perceive their environment through sound. The device uses audio sensors, object-recognition cameras, and AI-based spatial analysis to identify objects, estimate distances, and recognize human voices and faces. Information is relayed to the user through subtle vibrations or voice feedback, creating a sensory map of the surroundings.
Tushar says his motivation came from personal experience. “I grew up next door to a visually impaired neighbour. I saw how daily tasks like crossing a road or identifying people could be difficult. I wanted to create a tool that could help them gain some independence,” he explains.
Although he had limited experience in computer vision or hardware design, Tushar credits the Solve for Tomorrow programme for providing mentorship, resources, and guidance to develop the device. He built features for facial and object recognition using datasets contributed by visually impaired volunteers, whose feedback helped refine the prototype.
The project was evaluated by a jury comprising Samsung leadership and experts from academia, government, and industry. Perceivia won under the theme ‘AI for a Safer, Smarter, and Inclusive Bharat’, highlighting its focus on accessibility and practical applications of AI.
Looking ahead, Tushar plans to test the device with a wider group of users, gather feedback from mobility trainers, and incorporate features for indoor navigation. His aim is to make Perceivia widely available, ensuring it is practical and accessible for people across India.
The project represents a step towards using technology to address everyday challenges faced by visually impaired individuals, combining AI and human-centred design to improve mobility and independence.
Subscribe Deshwale on YouTube
