27-yr-old lights the way for blind with tech

VISAKHAPATNAM: In what can be called as a novel and an innovative idea, 27-year-old Visakhapatnam girl Seri Nirath Sanjana has developed a prototype to help blind people navigate independently in hard environments. This prototype won her the summer games challenge out of 52 other teams at Booz Allen Hamilton. The Washington D.C.-based management consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton offers a competitive, innovation-based internship programme called the Summer Games cup (a challenge organised for solving real-life problems).
Sanjana, an advanced business system analyst in Blue cross Blue shield of Florida, has set an example for others by proving that physical disability is not a deterrent to achieve one’s goal in life. Sanjana, who is hard of hearing by birth completed schooling from Bethany School and went on to pursue B Tech in IIT Madras in aerospace engineering. She then pursued master’s in engineering management at University of Texas at Arlington.
Sanjana has been fundamental in breaking-through an idea by developing a headset equipped with sensors and GPS for obstacle detection. This made her create a unique technology for the blind on navigation by utilizing image and text recognition, depth mapping and vibration sensors. This has resulted in a huge partnership with the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) to proceed with the technology further.
Talking to TOI, Sanjana said, “The project’s success encouraged me to consider how advances in technology like real-time screen captioning for Google glass or hearing aids with sharper sound quality could remove obstacles for people with hearing impairments in the future.”
Sanjana, who is also passionate about finding innovative solutions for tackling complex business problems and creating high performance data visualizations for clients, said, “After the prototype was developed, we had conducted a beta testing, which is more like smoke test-quality assurance for all the blind users. The feedback was remarkable, and the users felt confident with the help of the prototype, which enables them to navigate confidently.”
On being asked about her disability, Sanjana added, “My hearing disability was a challenge. Having a disability encouraged me to prove that I could do anything. There were times I had difficulties not being able to understand the lectures but ultimately I would figure out a way to learn, be it on my own or by asking the professor.”
“It is our abilities that matter, not our disabilities. Do not let your disability degrade you. No matter what the consequences, you can do anything you dream of. There is nothing impossible for people with disabilities. Be determined to prove that people with disabilities can change the world,” she said.
Sanjana, who HAS also got accepted into the delta alpha pi honor society in her university in Texas, dreams of building an orphanage and old-age home to live together and make a family in her native city.