42 Abu Dhabi students have developed cutting-edge technologies for people of determination as part of the InnovateX Hackathon in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Interior. The hackathon focused on enhancing the ministry’s application for people of determination, and students at the coding school shared their experiences in creating solutions to improve accessibility features. The projects included an AI-powered voice assistant and a tool to detect and prevent scams.
One of the students, Abdullah Alhammadi, expressed how the hackathon not only tested coding abilities but also deepened his understanding of the challenges faced by people of determination. Alhammadi, part of the Infosec Hero team, which won first place in the gamification and PoD section, developed an AI voice assistant that helps users navigate the site, change settings for visibility, fill out forms, and complete services using locally accented speech for a friendly and intuitive interaction.
Alhammadi mentioned that the experience of contributing to a meaningful cause strengthened his commitment to leveraging his skills to address real-world problems and drive positive social change. The Infosec Hero team also developed Scam Shield, a gamification feature that educates users on scam recognition and prevention and an interactive accessibility map displaying detailed accessibility ratings of physical service locations across Abu Dhabi, enhancing the overall user experience.
Ahmed Salem, Alhammadi’s teammate, expressed his excitement at using his coding skills to make a real difference by focusing on improving accessibility features and ensuring an inclusive user experience for the Ministry of Interior application for people of determination. The collaboration with 42 Abu Dhabi provided them with invaluable support, resources, and mentorship to innovate and develop advanced digital solutions, empowering them to create a platform that allows everyone in the community to interact seamlessly with MoI services.
GoveUnityVerse came second in the hackathon, followed by Kudos and the Alchemists who shared the third spot. Marcos Muller Habig, acting CEO of 42 Abu Dhabi, highlighted the school’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of digital innovation and empowering its coders to contribute to the UAE’s digital transformation. The theme of inclusivity and accessibility in the hackathon aligned with the real-world needs of the communities, aiming to achieve a more inclusive future where technology serves as a bridge to empower every individual in the UAE and beyond.
