There are many things we take for granted in this life, but one of the things we likely forget to be thankful for the most is our vision.
From soaking up the beautiful majesty of the world around us to making sure we don’t stub our toes or bump into every single thing we come across, the gift of vision is one of our greatest assets in navigating life.
Sadly, that’s not something everyone can say. Billions of people suffer some form of vision impairment, with millions more being added to their ranks every year.
That’s where a 16-year-old girl from Orlando, Florida comes in.
I don’t know about you, but when I was 16, I was preoccupied with a fresh driver’s license, places to be, and people to flirt with.
Tragically, my mind was not fixated on what I could do to immediately improve the lives of those living in the world around me.
That mindset is exactly what sets Tiffani Gay apart.
Her genius is inspired by her heart of gold, and a recent device she’s invented (apparently one of many) proves just that.
Tiffani, who is a sophomore at the Orlando Science School, has developed a LiDAR navigational system designed to assist those who are visually impaired.
This innovative device is born from Tiffani’s personal connection to a family friend whose vision deteriorated over time.
“I wanted to develop a device that was able to help people with visual impairments adapt to their environment through a way that was really comfortable to me, which is through electronics,” Tiffani explains.
Her passion for electronics and product development has led to the creation of a device that is about to change the world for many.
Her device could potentially aid 2.2 billion visually impaired people worldwide.
The device, a type of electronic headband that has undergone many iterations to reach its current form, is worn above the brow of the head and equipped with LiDAR sensors that map the user’s environment.
Tiffani elaborates on its functionality, saying, “There are multiple different LiDAR sensors around the brim of the device, and what that’s going to do is topographically map the user’s environment.”
This mapping allows the device to understand its surroundings electronically.
Essentially, it’s replicating human vision for those who cannot see.
To communicate with the user, Tiffani chose haptic feedback.
This method utilizes vibrations to alert the wearer of obstacles in their path.
“Whenever you’re texting someone and you feel those types of tactical feedback on your finger, that’s a haptic vibration,” she describes.
This feedback is crucial for conveying information to someone who cannot rely on visual cues, making the device an innovative solution for navigating the world without sight.
Currently, Tiffani is working on patenting her invention, with hopes of making it commercially available in the future.
Despite an estimated cost of $200, which is quite reasonable for medical assist devices, Tiffani aims to make it even more accessible.
“Decreasing the price is a significant change I want to make,” she states, underscoring her commitment to helping as many people as possible.
Tiffani’s invention is a product of both her ingenuity and her empathy.
These are two characteristics she says have been heavily encouraged by her parents.
According to Tiffani, her mom pushed her (in a very “nice” way) to be comfortable with public speaking and sharing her ideas, and working to bring them into reality.
Her parents showed her how important education is, enrolling her in preparatory school before she was even 5 to foster her interest in learning.
Listening to Taffani’s journey from observing the challenges faced by a family friend to developing a device that could change the lives of millions is as inspiring as they come.
As we marvel at Tiffani’s accomplishments, it’s clear that her story deserves to be shared far and wide.
For those eager to learn more about this remarkable young inventor and her groundbreaking device, the journey is just a click away.
Dive deeper into Tiffani’s device and what its journey looks like moving forward in the video below!
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