AI Goes to the Underprivileged... Dongseo University and Busan Digital University Joint Team Wins Grand Prize in Startup Idea Contest

Seo Ji-yoon (left), a Ph.D. student in the Department of Computer Engineering at Dongseo University Graduate School, and Lee Young-jin from the Department of Computer Engineering at Busan Digital University are taking a commemorative photo.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Trainee Reporter Hwang Du-yeol] A joint team from Dongseo University and Busan Digital University received the Minister of Education Award and a prize of 2 million KRW at the ‘2021 AI Utilization Idea Contest for the Underprivileged’ hosted by the Korea Association of Remote Universities.

The awardees are Seo Ji-yoon, a doctoral student in the Department of Computer Engineering at Dongseo University Graduate School, and Lee Young-jin from the Department of Computer Engineering at Busan Digital University.

The contest was held to promote AI utilization for the underprivileged, recognizing that although AI technology has made great advances, there are few cases targeting underprivileged groups.

The joint team from Dongseo University and Busan Digital University submitted “A CNN-based Braille Recognition System Using Multi-channel Pressure Sensors for the Visually Impaired.”

The system is an ‘AI-based Braille recognition system’ that allows visually impaired people who do not know Braille due to acquired visual impairment to recognize Braille by touch alone and receive voice guidance.

The award is the result of the ‘Tium-Kium-Pium’ project, which supports everything from idea discovery to prototype production and actual startup for the two universities. The winning work will receive follow-up support up to commercialization.

Seo Ji-yoon said, “I will ensure that the winning work does not remain a simple idea but becomes a commercialized product.”

Jung Do-woon, Director of Industry-Academic Cooperation at Dongseo University, said, “Dongseo University and Busan Digital University share the value of startup education where students’ imaginations become reality,” adding, “We operate startup support programs open not only to current students but also to alumni and community members.”