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The story of Bolashak program graduate Nurbek Ensebayev, co-founder of the «Sezual» team, is an inspiring example of how innovation can transform the lives of people with special needs. After completing his studies through the Bolashak program at the Moscow Institute of Electronic Technology, Nurbek and his team focused on developing sound beacons and biolocators that help blind people navigate urban environments.
The sound beacons, which became part of the team's innovative project, enable blind and visually impaired people to locate building entrances, navigate halls, and even use escalators. These devices have already been installed in several banks and public service centers in Almaty. «The beacons are equipped with motion sensors and can be installed in any public place, near the entrance door of an institution, thereby marking the entrance to a building, a hall, an escalator, a staircase, and so on. These messages can contain any sound information», explains Nurbek.
Another invention by the team, the «Sezual» biolocator, allows blind people to orient themselves in space using sound echolocation, similar to the technique used by bats. This unique device is worn around the neck and helps the brain of a blind person recreate objects within a 15-meter radius. «The blind person learns to ‘see’ sound waves reflecting off objects. The processing occurs in the visual cortex of the brain, which transmits information about their shape, material, distance, and direction of movement», notes Nurbek.
In addition to devices for the blind, the «Sezual» team also developed exoskeleton technology that helps restore the spine after injuries and prevents the worsening of osteochondrosis and scoliosis. This development has attracted the attention of specialized organizations in Germany and the United States, as well as interest from the Olympic and Paralympic committees of these countries.
The «Sezual» team actively collaborates with international partners, such as Daniel Kish, an echolocation expert from the United States, and Viviana Mucci, a neurophysiologist researching brain changes after using the biolocator.
The Americans were very surprised when we presented them with the Braille Music Tutor, as music is taught much less frequently in their schools for the blind. We received offers from the Perkins School for the Blind in the USA and the Texas School. They are ready to create a joint American-Kazakh company to develop and implement innovations. It must be said that schools for the blind in the USA are very well funded. Around 1 million dollars are allocated per blind child, says the Bolashak program graduate.
Thanks to cooperation with experts and institutions such as Nazarbayev University and the Astana Hub technopark, the team continues to improve their developments and expand their functionality. In 2024, our «Sezual» team became a laureate and winner of the UN award for developing technologies as part of the «Inclusive City» solution. The award ceremony took place on April 17 in Chile across eight categories corresponding to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The event was attended by scientists and inventors from more than 182 UN member states.
The UN WSA (World Summit Award) honors outstanding achievements in the fields of science and high technology. The award is intended to recognize those who dedicate their lives to serving humanity and promoting the goals and principles of the United Nations. The marketing equivalent of the award is three million dollars. In addition, the winners gain access to a global community of experts, media coverage, the launch of an advertising campaign, and promotion through the UN in 182 member countries. Some of our developers have already relocated to the United States to work out all the details for implementing and adapting the technologies with specialized organizations in America. The technology transfer is planned for the fall of 2024.
«Just as Elon Musk launches reusable rockets to develop space tourism, our «Sezual» team aims to enable all visually impaired and blind people worldwide to work, travel, and live full lives, says Nurbek Ensebayev. Their efforts have already been recognized internationally: the inventions of Kazakhstani scientists were included in the top innovations of the European Council and were awarded three top nominations at the UN WSA.
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