Twenty-two-year-old Khaled Shady is
the Egyptian entrepreneur behind Mubser, an invention that assists the blind
and visually impaired to identify and navigate around everyday objects.
Shady’s inspiration behind creating Mubser came from wanting
to help a close friend who lost his eyesight in an accident at the age of 15.
“So I thought about how I can help him,” Shady told How we made it in Africa.
Together with three other computer engineering graduates
from Menoufia University, Shebin El-Kom, Egypt, a wearable device was created
that uses RGB imaging and infrared depth data captured by a 3D depth camera to
assist individuals to navigate around obstacles using a system of vibration
motors. The device is also able to recognise staircases, doors and chairs and
can name these objects to the wearer through a Bluetooth-connected headset.
Shady and the Mubser team are still refining their
prototype. “We have given two prototypes to people to use in real life and then
we will take their feedback and enhance it, and add it to the next prototype
that we are working on,” explained Shady.
He added that his vision is to add more features to the
device so that blind individuals can accurately imagine all their surroundings.
“It’s about the future for them; that’s how I keep thinking about the platform
itself. So in the next five years I see Mubser as being the sixth sense that
they depend on.”
Shady, who also studied entrepreneurship and innovation at
the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University in the US, said combining
technology with entrepreneurship holds solutions to many of society’s problems.
“I found that entrepreneurship and technology could be
combined to help [my friend] and other kids just like him,” he explained.
“Mubser was our team’s graduation project [at Menoufia
University] and we decided to take it to the next level to make it a startup to
support the millions of blind and visually impaired people.”
He added that it is important his device is affordable,
especially in Africa and other developing regions where there is a greater need
for affordable solutions that support the blind. “So it can reach the people
who really have a need for it,” he emphasised.
“One of the major challenges for us is manufacturing because
there is no manufacturing industry in Egypt,” said Shady.
Egypt’s current political instability has halted many of the
economy’s industries which not too long ago served as a hub between Africa and
the Middle East. Shady said he and his team have been looking at potential
manufacturing partners for Mubser in countries such as China and the US.
“There is some uncertainty about this next step. But now
Mubser is incubated at Venture Lab at the American University in Cairo, one of
the largest incubators in Egypt,” said Shady, adding that he has also been
talking to mentors from other countries who are able to advise him about
manufacturing.
“So hopefully in the coming months we can get over this
challenge and travel to find a good place to manufacture the prototype.”
Last year Shady was one of the finalists for the Anzisha
Prize, a competition which recognises and celebrates African entrepreneurs
under the age of 22 who are using entrepreneurship to solve problems in their
communities. He said the organisation has opened doors for Mubser and helped
connect the startup with mentors and investors in the African market.
His advice to other young entrepreneurs in Africa is to act
locally, but think globally.
“I always say that if you are doing what you are doing in
the local market well, with a global thinking, you will be impressive for
anyone in the world to start working with you. So act local, think global, this
is my strategy. In my local market I know every detail about everything I
should know to make Mubser happen.”
He added that the nature of the African market provides
local entrepreneur with opportunities to be successful.
“Africa is an emerging market so everyone is looking for the
next step for it,” continued Shady. “If you know your local market very well
people will come to you and say, ‘let’s do it together’. So this is my strategy
for success in the African market and the Arab region as well.”
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