Muscat – An Omani student’s innovation is harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) to improve the lives of people with visual impairments. Nahiya Nasser al Hammadani, a student at Sohar University’s College of Information Technology, has designed Sense Glasses — a smart assistive device that helps visually impaired users identify their […]
Muscat – An Omani student’s innovation is harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) to improve the lives of people with visual impairments.
Nahiya Nasser al Hammadani, a student at Sohar University’s College of Information Technology, has designed Sense Glasses — a smart assistive device that helps visually impaired users identify their surroundings, avoid obstacles, and move independently.
Developed under the supervision of Dr Marwan al Shar’e, Programme Coordinator for Cybersecurity and Networking at the university, the project was among the winners of the eighth edition of the Upgrade Programme 2025, an initiative that supports promising student projects with startup potential.
Speaking to Muscat Daily, Nahiya said the idea came from observing the daily challenges faced by people with visual disabilities. “We asked ourselves — why not use technology to help them engage confidently with the world around them?” she said.
Sense Glasses use cameras and sensors to scan the environment, detecting people, objects, and obstacles. The system provides audio alerts when the wearer approaches danger and can read printed text aloud, respond to voice commands, and send emergency notifications to a designated contact at the press of a button.
The device is supported by a mobile application that offers additional features such as identifying medicines and expiry dates, recognising currencies and text, describing surroundings, and issuing safety alerts. The app supports both Arabic and English, ensuring wider accessibility.
Currently in its testing and development phase, the project team has successfully demonstrated the device’s core functions and is working to improve accuracy and performance. The team is also exploring partnerships to commercialise the product.
Integrating AI algorithms with IoT-based hardware was one of the main challenges, but through persistence and teamwork, the students were able to overcome technical barriers.
Nahiya said the project reflects the goals of Oman Vision 2040, particularly its emphasis on digital innovation and inclusion. “Our goal is to empower people with visual impairments to live more independently and confidently,” she said.
She added that the team hopes to develop a commercial version of the device, expand its capabilities to assist people with other disabilities, and participate in regional and international innovation competitions.
Encouraging fellow students, Nahiya said, “Every great invention begins with a single idea. With patience and persistence, ideas can become real solutions that benefit society.”
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