Success of Hungarian innovator in Brussels

Forbes.hu reports of yet another Hungarian startup success, this time at the European Leadership Awards held in Brussels this year. The ‘European Innovator of the Year’ prize was awarded for the first time this year, and a Hungarian startupper won it.

Krisztián Imre, the Hungarian innovator, won the prize awarded during the Brussels European Business Summit as the innovator of the year. The new award recognises exceptional achievements in areas such as business, politics, enterprises and innovations.

Krisztián Imre was chosen as first from these categories, for his plan to improve the mobility of the visually impaired.

The prize was won by his promising idea, EVA (Extended Visual Assistant), which is a pair of smart glasses that uses machine vision, allowing blind and visually impaired people to move around more easily, both in inner and outer locations. At present, the idea is supported by Start it @K&H, with a future promise of helping masses of those restricted by vision problems to get around more independently.

“EVA is a pair of smart glasses that connects to a cell phone. The phone analyses the information provided by the immediate surroundings, with the help of artificial intelligence, and then passes on the information for the user through direct speech.”

– explained the founder.

EBU, the European Blind Union, reports of approximately 30 million people living in Europe who are restricted by their vision. For them, daily tasks, like getting around in the city or using public transport, already require immense work and thus cause a lot of stress.

“About 30% of visually impaired people do not even leave their apartment without any help and guidance from someone. However, the number of social workers is decreasing, and, unfortunately, the number of trained guide dogs does not satisfy the demands, either.

That is why we wanted to find a solution that is viable for all, for better inner and outer orientation. With the help of this gadget, we wanted to make even those everyday objects and situations recognisable that cannot be perceived by touching or listening,

such as an overhanging branch on a sidewalk, a step or a practically sound-proof electric car, the number of which is rising on the roads” – added Mr Imre.

The manager of the project revealed that, as of now, the software and hardware side of the gadget is being developed simultaneously. A big part of this is the contribution by the Zoltán Bay Research Institute and their VUK project that sets a frame for helping visually impaired people.

They are working on developing the inner navigation system along with the frame for spatial information that helps with mobility, all this to work in English, German and Hungarian as well.

Opportunities such as the Brussels Business Summit help widen the social network and acquire more financing opportunities to develop further and test the invention.

For more related news, check out this article about a fascinating collaboration between Sweden and Hungary.

Feature image: facebook.com/krisztian.imre