Have you ever tried to walk in a straight line with your eyes closed? You would quickly find out that it’s almost impossible! Humans possess a profound inability to stick to a straight line when walking blindfolded, vision being one of the main factors in correctly maintaining your trajectory. In a nutshell, the visually impaired are simply not able to walk in a straight line.
The Mitra Glasses offer aid in this frequently encountered problem. As soon as the user decides in which direction they would like to go, the glasses make sure that the wearer sticks to the chosen trajectory by giving real time warnings using sounds and vibrations. Just like that, one of the biggest issues faced by the visually impaired is now a matter of the past.
Humans are able to estimate distances using their eyes. We can judge the depth of an image because we see it from two perspectives: the left eye and the right eye. It is impossible to know the distance to an object with one eye, but imagine how it would be without the help of any of them! Knowing how far objects are from you is anessential part of keeping your safety in different kinds of environments.
With the help of high-tech sensors, the Mitra Glasses create a new connection between the user and the surroundings. The user can now hear and feel distances, precisely knowing where they are located in a room or in an outdoors environment. What we offer by this functionality is confidence when entering a new location and, most important, safety in movement.
Being surrounded by objects is not a problem. Trying to avoid them becomes one when they have different shapes or when their movement is uncertain. Avoiding dangers is one of mankind’s most important abilities: for example, when we see a car coming towards us, we simply get out of its way. Or, when we encounter a curb, we intuitively get over it. Relying on this ability is impossible when you cannot see, making you vulnerable to dangers.
By using efficient algorithms, the Mitra Glasses are able to detect obstacles, both static and dynamic. Moreover, the user is now able to sense incoming dangers even if they are not looking directly at them. By this, a whole new level of safety is given, enabling the user to be more confident when walking outside or in an indoor place.
Not being able to see forces you to find new ways of exploring the environment. One of the most common ways of doing so is by touching what surrounds you and, by this, creating an image in your mind of the place you are currently in. But even this may become dangerous in one way or another, for example, exploring a kitchen. People might touch hot surfaces without being aware of their temperature, generating unwanted burns or other damages.
By using state of the art temperature sensors with a large field of view, the Mitra Glasses areable to detect temperatures in the proximity of the user. When they detect a potential danger,the wearer is being notified and helped in finding a safe place.
JA Europe and AT&T are working to empower the next generation of IT‐driven innovators, by building key competences in entrepreneurship and business. Through this award, AT&T would like to recognize the efforts of the student company that demonstrates the best innovation-driven concept, with strong business potential and sustainability, as well as viability and scalability.
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AmCham EU Youth Entrepreneurship Award is an award given by AmCham EU in collaboration with JA-YE Europe. It aims to identify young people who are in the startup phase of their business and have a business concept with strong growth potential. The jury was impressed by how the startup combines technology with social purpose.
“This award will change the course of our project. More importantly, it will help us bring Mitra glasses faster to the market to reach those who need it the most. Mentoring is a fantastic opportunity for us,” Tudor Popa, CEO and developer.
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By challenging the students to solve a problem in their community through a business venture, the Company Programme unleashes their entrepreneurial spirit. Students experience running their own company (for one academic year), they discover first-hand how a company functions and gain an insight into how their talents could be used to set up a business. By bringing business volunteers in the classroom to share their experience and mentor, students get a better overview of career opportunities, what skills are needed to succeed and they start to consider entrepreneurship as a potential career opportunity.
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The Social Innovation Relay works to inspire secondary students to develop innovative business concepts that address social challenges. The international competition is a Junior Achievement initiative, supported by NN Group, and aims to contribute to the development of entrepreneurial skills and social consciousness amongst high school students. During the programme, students are paired with NN volunteers who provide a combination of virtual and face-to-face mentorship in their areas of expertise. Working together with the business community provides students with the opportunity to connect their classroom knowledge with the ‘real world.
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“Oamenii Timpului” – “People through time” is a campaign which has the purpose to identify, promote and support national and international people organisations who have contributed to the development of the Romanian society, by the motto “united through diversity”. This campaign nominates in 10 different categories, some of them being Literature, Arts, Journalism and Young Values. As The Oculus Project has been appreciated and supported along its development, not only has it been nominated at the “Young Values” category, but it has also won as a result of the decision of the jury and the numerous votes our project has received along the campaign.
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