1 hr ago
US-Based Pune Engineer Develops AI App for Visually Impaired Readers
Seema Kharad is a visually impaired student from Pune.
She wanted to continue her education and needed advanced reference books.
However, very few of these books were available in Braille.
This meant she often needed other people to read books, notes, and PDFs for her.
Yogen Prashant Ghodke, a computer engineer living in the United States, learned about her problem.
He had been testing ways to use artificial intelligence and large language models safely.
He then developed an AI app intended to help visually impaired readers.
The app is connected to his effort to use technology to help people in society.
Visually impaired Pune-based student Seema Kharad struggled to read higher-education reference books and study materials.
Few advanced reference books were available in Braille, leaving Kharad dependent on others for assistance.
She needed people to record book chapters or read handwritten notes and PDFs aloud.
US-based engineer Yogen Prashant Ghodke learned about Kharad’s difficulties through their family connection.
Ghodke had been experimenting with artificial intelligence and large language models for potential social benefits.
- Who
- Pune-based visually impaired student Seema Kharad and US-based computer engineer Yogen Prashant Ghodke.
- What
- Ghodke developed an artificial-intelligence app for visually impaired readers after learning about Kharad’s difficulties accessing study materials.
- Where
- The challenges involved Kharad’s studies in Pune, while Ghodke worked on his experiments in the United States.
- When
- The effort took place while Ghodke was in the United States; he graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2024.
- Why
- Few higher-education reference books were available in Braille, leaving Kharad dependent on others to access chapters, handwritten notes, and PDFs.
Key facts
- Student
- Seema Kharad, a visually impaired student from Pune
- Engineer
- Yogen Prashant Ghodke
- Technology
- Artificial intelligence and large language models
- Accessibility problem
- Few higher-education reference books were available in Braille
- Previous assistance
- Others recorded chapters or read handwritten notes and PDFs for Kharad
- Education
- Ghodke graduated in Computer Science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2024
Quotes
Yogen Prashant Ghodke
Computer Science Engineering graduate and family friend of Seema Kharad
“Around this time, I was in the US, running various personal experiments on how Artificial Intelligence and Large Language Models could be used safely and effectively to make a positive contribution to society. Seema is a family friend and I got to know of her struggles”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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