SIT Community Challenge 2024 (SIT Photo:  Keng Photography)

For many seniors and individuals with disabilities in Singapore, the daily commute is daunting challenge. Questions like “How can we enable seniors and commuters with disabilities to navigate public transport confidently?” and “How can assistive technology enhance accessibility?” are more pressing than ever. As cities like Singapore continue to strive for inclusivity, these challenges inspire innovative solutions, transforming mobility for those who need it most.

This is why the future of accessible public transport took centre stage for the 2024 edition of the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) Community Challenge. Students from four Secondary Schools in Punggol — Edgefield Secondary, Greendale Secondary, Punggol Secondary, and Yusof Ishak Secondary were encouraged to tackle the pressing issues faced by seniors and commuters with disabilities. 

The SIT Community Challenge

The SIT Community Challenge (SITCC) offers students a unique opportunity to apply their Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) skills to real-world problems, empowering them to make a tangible impact on their local community. By addressing the needs of vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and those with disabilities, students can contribute to meaningful social change. STEM stands as one of the greatest drivers of innovation, offering solutions that bridge gaps, enhance accessibility, and improve lives, making it essential in fostering a more inclusive society for all.

Guided by a team of SIT faculty and student mentors, as well as industry mentors from the Land Transport Authority, James Dyson Foundation, and STMicroelectronics over several weeks, students participated in workshops and developed practical solutions to help commuters with mobility challenges navigate public transport independently, proving that change often begins in the classroom.

On 9 November 2024 at SIT’s new Punggol Campus, 128  finalists, grouped into 28 teams, unveiled their innovative projects before a distinguished panel of judges. With cash prizes and prototyping support on the table, the Challenge was more than a competition – it was a step toward turning thoughtful proposals into transformative realities.

Out of 28 teams, 9 finalist teams showcased their ideas. Of these, 5 emerged top, winning the opportunity to further develop their solutions and potentially bring their ideas to life, transforming their innovative concepts into tangible outcomes with the support of prototyping resources.

Team Tap for Seat (left) and Team Elder Ease (SIT Photos)

Team "Tap for Seat"

Yusof Ishak Secondary School (Oliver, Ethan, Freya, Isabelle, Ethyl)

While we’ve all been taught to offer our seats to the elderly, not everyone will readily give up theirs. Team Tap for Seat offers a simple yet ingenious solution: a retractable priority seat on trains that only lowers when a user taps their “May I Have a Seat Please” card on the scanner. With this solution, the elderly can easily claim a seat and enjoy a more comfortable ride. When they alight, they tap their card again to retract the seat. Since many MRT trains are already equipped with retractable seats, the concept can be very practical. The added benefit? These foldable seats create more space for able-bodied passengers, allowing trains to carry more commuters.

Team "Elder Ease"

Greendale Secondary School (Hayley, Isobel, Delisya, Norish)Two of the most practical items for the elderly with walking difficulties are a walking stick and a stool – and while there are already walking sticks with built-in foldable seats in the market, Team Elder Ease set out to step up the functionality of these products. Their innovative solution is to modify it to include a detachable card holder for EZ-Link cards, a small hook for light bags, and a help button for emergencies. Light sensors and small built-in lights allow users to navigate safely in low-light conditions, and a tracker can assist in locating individuals if they become lost, offering both independence and peace of mind.

Team Seesounds (left) and Team ABID (SIT Photos) 

Team Seesounds

Greendale Secondary School (Jahnavi, Ritu, Sophia, Yun Cueng)

Team Seesounds aimed to make bus commutes more accessible for those with visual impairments. Recognising that current bus stops only display arrival times visually, their solution introduces a system that audibly announces bus numbers as they arrive. To further enhance accessibility, a conversational AI allows users to simply ask, “Hey Seesound, what time does bus 123 arrive?” Additionally, Braille is incorporated into the display, ensuring that everyone can access the information they need for a smoother commute.

Team Audiovisual Bus Information Display

Edgefield Secondary School (Benjamin, Catrina, Evon, Guan Ming, Stefanie)

While taking the bus may seem straightforward for many, it can pose significant challenges for those with disabilities. So Team ABID’s solution is the Audiovisual Bus Information Display (ABID): a “help board” situated at bus stops that’s operated by buttons, which are more tactile. Users simply tap their card on the display to use it – visually impaired users can press a button to have bus numbers read out, while users with mobility issues or dementia can “book” a bus to ensure that the bus they require would stop even without being flagged, and will also stop at their destination with a distinct sound to alert them to alight.

Team Biodiversity Group (SIT Photo: Keng Photography) 

Team Biodiversity Group

Punggol Secondary School (Xavier, Arthur, Natalee, Jayden)

While all of us use our smartphones for navigation, many elderly passengers remain hesitant to use them. Recognising this issue, Team Biodiversity Group proposes a nostalgic yet practical solution: a modernised payphone designed to help seniors navigate public transport with ease. By simply tapping their EZLink card, they can activate the phone, which features a multilingual AI – or human operator – to assist with their inquiries. Their journey is displayed on a large screen, and a printer outputs step-by-step travel instructions – bridging the digital divide with a blend of familiarity and innovation.

Other finalists on stage presented a diverse array of innovative solutions, including automated wheelchair ramps for public buses and mobility-assisting robots designed to help the visually impaired and elderly navigate larger MRT stations with greater ease.

SIT: Social Responsibility Through STEM

SITCC 2024 aligns with SIT’s commitment to inspire young people to explore careers in STEM by empowering secondary school students in Punggol to become future innovators and changemakers. The Challenge not only showcased the ingenuity of young minds but also highlighted the role of innovation and STEM in addressing real-world issues, fostering a deep sense of social responsibility within the local community. It also provided students with a meaningful platform to tackle real-world needs.

Professor Yaacob Ibrahim, Advisor at SIT’s Centre for Community Leadership and Social Innovation, emphasised the crucial role the younger generation plays in shaping an inclusive society through technology and innovation. “We hope that through this training, the younger generation will understand the importance of STEM in creating a more inclusive Singapore,” he said. 

To learn more about how SIT can support your community’s impact journey through STEM, visit https://www.singaporetech.edu.sg.

This article first appeared on Campus Online.