Kansas student’s mobility tech for visually impaired users wins Congressional App Challenge

An Overland Park eighth grader’s app idea — using object detection and text-to-speech technology to help visually impaired individuals navigate their surroundings — earned him a visit to the principal’s office, then an opportunity to showcase his innovation in Washington, D.C.

“I actually came across a video online, and it was about this blind woman who was showing me how she used her phone,” said Rafan Shah, a student at Aubry Bend Middle School. “She used this Braille feature on the back of her phone, and that kind of got me thinking about what blind people need to navigate their world.”

The app he ultimately developed, NOVA, caught the attention of Shah’s representative in the U.S. Congress, earning Shah a win as the 2024 Congressional App Challenge winner for Kansas’ Third District.

Breaking barriers in accessibility technology

NOVA’s mission is simple but impactful: to provide a free, accessible alternative to costly technologies that aid visually impaired people. Shah’s passion for coding came to life as he developed this app, overcoming his own barriers along the way.

“There were a lot of challenges. Firstly, I actually never developed an application before,” he shared. “It took weeks of troubleshooting and watching tutorials to integrate features like object detection. But after a lot of hard work, I made it happen.”

Third District U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kansas, praised Shah’s creativity and commitment.

“I’m incredibly proud of Rafan Shah for using his skills to create an app that makes the world more accessible and inclusive,” said Davids. “NOVA is a great example of how innovation can improve lives, and I’m excited to see it showcased in the U.S. Capitol. I can’t wait to see what Rafan accomplishes next.”

An inspiration to innovate

Shah’s journey to the Congressional App Challenge began through encouragement from a family friend, who happened to be last year’s winner.

“My parents heard about the challenge and told me I should try it out,” Shah said. “After more research and meeting last year’s winner, I was inspired to give it a shot.”

Despite his initial doubts, Shah was shocked to learn he had won. “I didn’t expect it at all,” he admitted with a laugh. “When my principal called me to his office, I thought I was in trouble. But then I heard I won the competition, and I was shocked and so happy.”

Expanding NOVA’s impact

Shah plans to improve NOVA before releasing it widely.

“I want to integrate more features, like ARCore, which would allow the app to detect how far objects are. It could give audio or vibration alerts when users get too close to something,” he explained.

He also has ideas for new projects.

“I want to develop an app similar to NOVA, but for people who are deaf. It could turn any earbuds into hearing aids by amplifying specific frequencies,” Shah shared.

As he prepares to showcase NOVA in Washington, D.C., Shah is excited about the possibilities ahead.

“This project has really sparked my interest in coding,” he said. “I want to create more applications that make life easier for people.”