Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB), in collaboration with Microsoft and the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), organised the Microsoft ASEAN AI for Accessibility Hackathon. This event was part of the Robotic and Coding Conquest 2024, coincided with the Brunei Mid-Year Conference and Exhibition (MYCE) 2024.
The hackathon began with opening remarks from Mr Larbi Ben Ali, Microsoft Consulting Services Lead FSI for ASEAN and Accessibility Champion lead for Microsoft Singapore. Speeches were also delivered by Dr Eunice Tan Meng Yin, Senior Lecturer and Head of Special Education Programme at SUSS and Dr. Muhammad Norfauzi bin POKDPDP Hj Dani, Head of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AiML) Lab. Also present in the event was Mr Akfash Latibu, Country Manager, Microsoft Brunei.
The event aimed to provide participants to demonstrate their innovative ideas for using AI to address real-world accessibility challenges in the areas of daily life, employment, communication, and accessible education.
Seven teams participated in the competition, with three representing the School of Computing and Informatics (SCI) at UTB from Brunei Darussalam and four from Singapore's SUSS. The participants showcased their ideas through concept boards, PowerPoint presentations, videos, demonstrations, and other tools.
The winning team secured a chance to compete with other ASEAN countries and received exclusive opportunities, such as personalised mentoring sessions with Microsoft leaders, "Meet the Experts" sessions on AI topics, access to Azure for students.
Before the final presentation, participants had access to on-demand recorded enablement sessions covering topics like Azure AI training, accessibility features in Windows 11 and Microsoft 365, and advice on creating resumes and utilising LinkedIn. The event concluded with the announcement of the winners.
