EDUCATION
3 Worcester students win national award for app that helps the visually impaired
Tatum Goetting
Worcester Telegram & Gazette
WORCESTER ― Three seniors at the Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science, who created an app to assist people who are visually impaired, were recognized Thursday for winning the 2023 Congressional App Challenge.
The three students – Anne Tie, Amy Chen and Nihitha Reddy – spent months perfecting the code and concept for their app, LaunchGuide. When asked what inspired creation of the app, the students said they drew inspiration during their time as members of district 33A of the Lions Club, specifically the Walkfit program created by visually impaired Worcester attorney Liz Myska.
Walkfit’s aim is to increase awareness surrounding visually impaired pedestrians.
“The goal [of the app] is to promote more security for those who are visually impaired to feel more confident to walk around, especially in Worcester,” Tie said.
Through Walkfit, the students connected with Jack Peacock, owner of a company that makes assistive technology that helps people with hearing and vision loss or certain cognitive disorders that hinder effective communication. While Peacock is not visually impaired, the students were able to lean on his expertise working with those who [...]