Students from the Faculty of Information Technology at Middle East University achieved notable success by claiming third place in the ‘Beyond Limits’ Hackathon. The event was held as part of the IEEE Open Day activities at Amman Arab University under the theme ‘Puzzle of Possibilities’.
To elaborate on the event’s focus, the Hackathon was specifically dedicated to the development of technological solutions, encompassing both software and hardware, aimed at supporting and empowering individuals with disabilities. The objective was to enhance their social integration by leveraging technology to mitigate the daily challenges they encounter.
The event featured a high-calibre competition among 72 teams from various Jordanian universities, with eight teams representing the Faculty of Information Technology at MEU.
Subsequently, six teams progressed to the final round, including the ‘ReAbility’ team, represented by students Taqi Allah Al-Herini and Sajeda Al-Badawi. Crucially, their innovative project, which secured third-place honour, focuses on converting the electrical signals of the brain into audible speech for individuals who are unable to articulate words.
In functional terms, the project operates by integrating a brainwave sensor with a smartphone. The signals are subsequently analysed using artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms and transformed into speech. This innovation is expected to significantly facilitate communication and foster independence for people with disabilities.