Smart pendant that can alert visually impaired commuters when bus arrives under development
Many visually impaired passengers prefer a hands-free solution.
Visually impaired commuters in Singapore may soon benefit from a smart necklace pendant designed to alert them when their bus arrives. National Technological University (NTU) undergraduate Lee Kiah Hong, 22, and three friends – Ryan Yeo, 21, Sriram Jeyakumar, 21, and Chia Wee Leong, 22 – are developing the prototype, which builds upon an iPhone app called Oculis created by the group.
The app utilizes computer vision to identify the bus number and provides a voice alert to help the visually impaired navigate the bus system. The team, consisting of full-time national servicemen, initially developed the Oculis app in July 2025 as part of a Build for Good initiative under Open Government Products, backed by a $20,000 grant from the Government Technology Agency (GovTech).
After testing the app with visually impaired users and gathering feedback, the team is now focusing on creating the wearable pendant for hands-free use. The device will include specialized cameras and sensors to improve bus identification, with estimated costs ranging from $30 to $40 per unit. NTU Assistant Professor Victor Zhuang believes such technology has the potential to greatly assist visually impaired individuals, but emphasizes that accessibility should complement existing infrastructure and announcements, not replace them.
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