CUT I-Gym Hosts The 2024 AI Hackathon Challenge

CUT I-Gym Hosts The 2024 AI Hackathon Challenge. The Central University of Technology (CUT) recently collaborated with Queers Code, Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, and the U.S. Consulate Johannesburg to organize an AI for Accessibility Hackathon challenge.

The event aimed to foster creativity, collaboration, and learning in artificial intelligence and related technologies. Participants engaged in five challenges focusing on developing innovative AI-powered solutions to assist people with disabilities.

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CUT I-Gym Hosts Event

Seated from left: Dr Izabeth Conradie, Manager: Idea Generator, Dr Thabang Thinda, Head of Department: Community Services at Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, Ms Sarah Rashid, Consular Officer: U.S. Consulate General Johannesburg, and Ms Precious Lesupi, Queers Code.

Other colleagues from the National ICT Youth Council, American Corner Mangaung, and USAID-Wits RHI also participated.

CUT Challenges and Criteria

The competition’s judging criteria included impact and innovation, feasibility and execution, user-centered design, accessibility adherence, and ethical considerations.

CUT Winning Project: SAM-Cane

The SAM-Cane group from CUT emerged as the winners of the 2024 AI Hackathon challenge. The group presented the SAM-Cane project, an AI-powered Smart Mobility Cane designed to help blind or visually impaired people navigate their surroundings safely. The project will enhance users’ mobility, independence, and confidence when traveling.

Conclusion

The SAM-Cane group, comprising CUT senior students Hein Hattingh (IT), Gift Lebitsa (Marketing), and first-year Engineering student Sekgweleo Morati, were awarded the top prize of R8000, continued mentorship post-hackathon, and a chance to pitch at the Hult Prize Foundation’s international Summits in 2024.