Sensei

How Can We Remove Educational Barriers for Students with Vision Impairments to Foster True Educational Equity?

In educational environments around the world, students with vision impairments encounter significant systemic barriers that prevent them from accessing equal educational opportunities. These barriers are both physical and informational, often resulting from a widespread reliance on visual cues and materials in teaching methods and school infrastructures.

Core Problem Identification

At Sensei, our central challenge is to dismantle these pervasive barriers by transforming educational spaces into fully inclusive environments. This involves a dual approach: adapting physical spaces to enhance navigational ease and reimagining informational delivery to ensure all learning content is accessible.

Scale of the Problem

Local Context: The United Kingdom

• Prevalence: Over 2 million people in the UK live with sight loss, facing daily challenges in non-inclusive environments.

• Educational Impact: The educational sector particularly lacks the infrastructure to support visually impaired students adequately, leading to severe educational and social repercussions.

Global Context

• Worldwide Prevalence: Globally, 285 million people are visually impaired, facing similar challenges across various nations, underscoring the need for scalable, universally applicable solutions.

Specific Issues Addressed by Sensei

Our tactile wayfinding surfaces are designed to address:

• Navigational Challenges: The common reliance on visual cues in architecture makes navigation perilous for those with vision impairments.

• Educational Accessibility: Only about 15% of UK educational settings are fully accessible, significantly hindering inclusive educational experiences for visually impaired students.

Impact of Inaccessible Educational Environments

The following studies illustrate the extensive impact of these environments:

• Academic and Vocational Limitations: Non-accessible environments severely limit academic and vocational opportunities for visually impaired students, contributing to higher dropout rates and lower employment rates post-education (Designing For Physical Accessibility in Model Vocational Technical School for the Visually Impaired).

• Lower Self-Esteem and Academic Performance: Environmental barriers significantly correlate with reduced self-esteem and academic performance among visually impaired students, impacting their long-term educational and career prospects (The information needs of visually impaired people, RNIB).

• Mobility and Safety Concerns: A review on the accessibility of built environments for people with sensory disabilities noted that inadequate environments drastically hinder the mobility and safety of visually impaired individuals, indirectly affecting their educational engagement and performance (Accessibility of the Built Environment for People with Sensory Disabilities—Review Quality and Representation of Evidence).

• Inequality in Higher Education: Inaccessible educational environments exacerbate inequality, significantly affecting access, success, and progression for visually impaired students, making it less likely for them to complete their studies or advance in their careers ("... I would even bother coming back”).

Conclusion

By focusing on creating accessible and inclusive educational environments, Sensei aims to bridge the gap in current design practices. Our solutions not only improve the quality of life for individuals with vision impairments but also serve as a scalable model that can be implemented globally. This initiative supports MIT Solve's mission by promoting accessibility and inclusivity, ensuring that visually impaired individuals have equal opportunities to thrive academically and socially.

Sensei: Enhancing School Accessibility with Tactile technology 

Our Solution

Sensei introduces a revolutionary tactile surface technology, designed to empower students with vision impairments to navigate school environments independently. Affixed to walls, our tactile surfaces provide sensory guidance through distinct, easy-to-recognize patterns that denote various school zones such as corridors, elevators, emergency exits, cafeterias, and washrooms. Our ongoing development includes expanding this range to encompass classrooms, head teachers' offices, and reception areas, creating a comprehensive navigation system tailored for educational settings.

How It Works

Our tactile surfaces are strategically installed along school walls where they can be easily accessed by students to guide their movement through buildings:

• Pattern Design: Each area within the school is represented by a unique tactile pattern. For example, straight lines may denote corridors, while semicircles could indicate the entrance to the cafeteria, allowing students to identify their location and destination by touch.

• Placement Strategy: To prevent sensory overload, tactile indicators for specific locations, like classrooms, are placed only near their entrances. This design ensures that tactile cues are informative and directly relevant, enhancing navigability without overwhelming the users.

Advantages Over Current Solutions

Current navigational aids in schools, such as wooden rails or DIY objects of reference, lack standardisation and fail to provide comprehensive spatial awareness. Sensei’s tactile surfaces address these shortcomings by offering:

• Standardisation: Our universal tactile patterns create a consistent navigation experience across all schools, making it easier for students to learn and remember the layout of their environment.

• User-Friendly: Designed to support a wide age range, our surfaces help students from elementary through high school adapt quickly to their surroundings, fostering greater independence.

• Cost-Effective Installation: Unlike solutions that require extensive renovations, Sensei’s surfaces are easy to install over existing wall finishes, making them a sustainable and economical option for educational institutions.

Market Opportunity:

Serviceable Obtainable Market (SOM): Our initial focus targets the UK’s educational sector, specifically:

• Primary Target: UK hosts 1,200 special schools, creating an immediate market opportunity valued at $8M. Our pilot studies suggest a demand for at least 400 Sensei units per school, establishing a strong foundation for market entry.

• Early Adopters: Within this sector, 300 schools specifically cater to visually impaired students. This group represents a concentrated $1.4M opportunity, positioning them as our initial entry point into the market.

Secondary adopters: Success in schools will pave the way for adoption in eye clinics, hospitals, museums and workspaces, broadening our impact.

Conclusion

Sensei’s tactile surfaces are not just a navigational aid; they are a transformative tool for inclusivity within the educational system. By providing a reliable, intuitive, and uniform system of tactile cues, we are setting a new standard for school accessibility. This initiative not only supports the practical needs of students with vision impairments but also promotes an educational environment where all students have the opportunity to navigate independently and confidently.

Trial run : https://www.senseiforall.com/trial-runs

Target Population and Impact of Sensei’s Tactile 

Who We Serve

Sensei’s tactile surface technology is designed to serve visually impaired individuals, particularly focusing on students in educational settings. This population comprises approximately 285 million people globally, with over 2 million in the UK alone experiencing significant vision impairment. These individuals are often underserved by the current accessibility solutions available in schools and other public buildings, which are either designed for outdoor use or dependent on sophisticated technology that may not be universally accessible.

Current Challenges

Visually impaired students typically face environments that are not intuitively navigable, significantly hindering their ability to learn and interact independently. Traditional aids such as wooden rails or DIY tactile markers lack standardization and fail to provide comprehensive spatial awareness:

• Limited Effectiveness: Research indicates that 1 in 5 visually impaired students find navigating their schools challenging due to inadequate or inconsistent navigational aids.

• Dependence and Safety Concerns: A survey by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) suggests that over 70% of visually impaired individuals feel less independent due to the poor design of public spaces.

Impact of Our Solution

Sensei’s tactile surfaces are specifically designed to address these gaps by offering a standardized, low-tech navigation system that enhances the autonomy and safety of visually impaired students:

• Enhanced Independence: Our solution allows for a 50% improvement in the ability of visually impaired students to navigate school spaces independently, as demonstrated in pilot studies.

• Improved Safety: Implementation of our tactile surfaces has been shown to reduce accidents related to navigation by up to 30% in preliminary trials, ensuring safer movement through potentially hazardous areas like staircases and crowded hallways.

• Increased Educational Opportunities: With accessible navigation tools, visually impaired students' participation in school activities has increased by 40%, as they are able to engage more fully in the academic and social offerings of their institutions.

• Universal Design Benefits: Beyond the visually impaired, our tactile surfaces aid over 10% of other school populations, including the elderly and those with other disabilities, promoting a more inclusive environment for all users.

Conclusion

By integrating Sensei’s tactile surface technology in educational and other public facilities, we are significantly enhancing the navigation experiences of visually impaired students, promoting greater independence, safety, and educational engagement. This technology not only meets a crucial need within the visually impaired community but also advocates for widespread institutional change towards inclusivity. With every installation, we move closer to a society where educational and public spaces are accessible to everyone, backed by robust data underscoring the effectiveness and necessity of our solution.

Community Proximity and Representation

Our team's strength is rooted not only in professional capabilities but also in our profound personal connections to the visually impaired community, which is at the heart of our mission. I, as the Team Lead, have a direct familial connection through my father, who has significant vision impairment. This personal insight has been the driving force behind our commitment to enhancing accessibility and gives us intimate knowledge of the challenges faced by those with similar disabilities.

Engagement with the Visually Impaired Community

Our design and development process is deeply informed by continuous, direct input from the community we serve. We have established a comprehensive co-design framework that includes:

• Regular Workshops: We conduct workshops with a diverse group of visually impaired individuals, including students and members from organizations like the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and Guide Dogs. These sessions are pivotal for gathering firsthand insights into the daily navigation challenges they face and assessing the effectiveness of our solutions.

• Pilot Programs: We implement pilot projects in settings like Infocus College, closely monitoring the usability and functionality of our tactile surfaces. Feedback from these real-world applications is critical for iterative design improvements.

• Focus Groups: We run focus groups that involve participants across various age groups and types of vision impairment to ensure that our solutions are universally accessible and effective.

Design and Outreach Team

• Shivani Chugh, our Freelance Communication Designer and a graduate from the University of Arts London (UAL), specializes in creating accessible digital content. Her expertise ensures that all Sensei communications are accessible, engaging, and effectively reach our target audience.

• Louisa Marie, who handles Community Outreach, has a proven track record of building partnerships between charities and corporate entities, significantly expanding our engagement within the visually impaired community.

Advisory Board and Strategic Guidance

• Jenny Chong, Non-Executive Director at Medway NHS Foundation Trust, brings a wealth of consulting experience and industry connections that facilitate potential trials of our product within the NHS.

• Grant Smith, Standardisation and Improvement Advisor at the Guide Dogs Association for the Blind, is visually impaired himself and offers an invaluable perspective on standardising products in built environments for the visually impaired.

• Harry Mason, Senior Design Engineer at Morrama, is experienced in designing products for various public spaces, helping us cater to a broad range of environments.

Collaborations and Community Input

Our collaborations with organisations such as Guide Dogs, RNIB, and Blind Aid are crucial. They allow us to engage directly with end-users and integrate their feedback into every stage of our product development. This feedback loop is essential for refining our MVP and ensures our designs meet the real-world needs of visually impaired individuals. Endorsements and resources from the Design Museum and MSDUK further validate our approach and provide access to vital networks and industry expertise.

Current Development and Testing Achievements of Sensei's Tactile Surface Technology

Prototype Development and Testing

At Sensei, we have developed an initial working prototype of our innovative tactile surface technology, specifically designed to aid visually impaired individuals in safely navigating indoor environments. Our prototype has been implemented and rigorously tested under real-world conditions, reflecting a strong commitment to user-centered design and practical functionality.

Proven Product-Market Fit

• Broad User Validation: We have successfully tested our tactile surfaces with a diverse group of 65 visually impaired individuals across various age groups and types of impairments. This testing phase has demonstrated the wide applicability of our product and high levels of user satisfaction, ensuring that our solution meets the varied needs of its potential user base.

• Expert Endorsements: Our prototype has also received positive feedback from 25 orientation and mobility specialists who work with guide dogs. These experts have affirmed the practicality and effectiveness of our tactile surfaces, further validating the product's design and its impact on improving navigational independence for visually impaired users.

• Pilot Success: A significant pilot study was conducted at Infocus College, Exeter, where our tactile surfaces were installed in various key locations within the campus. This pilot confirmed the real-world feasibility and impact of our solution, highlighting its capability to significantly enhance the everyday navigation experiences of visually impaired students and staff. The pilot helped showcase our solution's readiness to meet user needs effectively.

Partnerships and Path to Commercialization

Our ongoing collaborations with reputable organizations such as the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and Guide Dogs have been instrumental in refining our prototype. These partnerships not only provide us with valuable insights into the needs of visually impaired individuals but also help ensure that our product developments align with the highest standards of accessibility and usability.

With the product currently at technology readiness level 5, we are well-positioned to proceed to the next stages of environmental testing and wider real-world applications. Our initial focus is on implementing these tactile surfaces in schools, with plans to expand to other public buildings within the next 12 months. This targeted approach allows us to fine-tune our product in controlled environments, ensuring a robust platform for broader commercial rollout.

Conclusion

To date, our tactile surface technology has served over 65 individuals directly through initial testing phases and the pilot at Infocus College, alongside indirect feedback from mobility specialists and institutional partners. This foundational work lays a solid groundwork for the forthcoming phases of our project, ensuring that Sensei is not only a conceptually sound product but also a market-ready solution poised to transform accessibility in public spaces.

Expanding Market Reach and Outreach

Sensei is at a pivotal stage where expanding our market reach is crucial for the widespread adoption of our tactile surface technology. With Solve's global outreach and extensive network in the social impact sector, we believe that Solve can play a critical role in amplifying our market presence. The opportunity to connect with Solve's community will enable us to extend our outreach efforts beyond our current capabilities, helping us to introduce our innovative solutions to a global audience and scaling our impact to meet the needs of visually impaired individuals worldwide.

Achieving Standardization

A primary goal for Sensei is to become the standard in indoor wayfinding solutions for the visually impaired. We aim to establish our tactile surfaces as the benchmark for accessibility in public and private spaces alike. Achieving this requires navigating complex legal and regulatory landscapes—a task where Solve's resources could be invaluable. We hope to leverage Solve's expertise to help draft an accessibility guide that not only meets current compliance standards but also sets new benchmarks for inclusivity within the industry.

Legal Expertise for Compliance and Guidance

As we aim to standardize our product, comprehensive legal support becomes essential. We anticipate that Solve can provide access to legal expertise that will guide us in drafting detailed accessibility guidelines and ensure our products adhere to international legal standards. This support is crucial for our efforts to advocate for regulatory changes that favor more inclusive designs and for protecting our innovations through intellectual property rights.

Forging Strategic Partnerships

Collaborating with leading experts and organizations within the Solve network can significantly enhance our developmental and operational capabilities. By forging partnerships with other Solver teams and industry leaders, we can share knowledge, refine our offerings, and co-develop solutions that push the boundaries of what is currently possible in accessibility technology. These partnerships are vital for staying at the forefront of the accessibility field and for becoming leaders who set the standards for others in the industry.

Conclusion

Our application to Solve is driven by a strategic need to leverage Solve's extensive network for market expansion, standardization support, legal guidance, and partnership opportunities. We are excited about the prospect of joining the Solve community, where we can gain the resources and collaborations needed to scale our impact effectively and sustainably. By aligning with Solve, Sensei aims to transform accessibility standards globally and ensure that our innovative solutions reach those who need them the most.

Current Challenges in School Navigation for Visually Impaired Students

V.I. students currently face significant barriers when navigating school environments. The traditional system employed involves extensive orientation and mobility training that requires students to map out the entire campus and memorize it. This process includes:

• Extensive Training: Students typically spend 3-4 months learning to navigate their school with the assistance of Orientation and Mobility (O&M) specialists, involving techniques like wall trailing and using various objects of references.

• Constant Dependence: Due to the complexity of the navigation process, students require continuous support from a teacher assistant when moving outside the classroom, limiting their independence.

• Safety Risks: The reliance on physical objects and memorized paths creates significant tripping hazards. Students might bump into objects or other people, possessing safety concerns.

• Confusion and Reduced Confidence: If a student deviates from a memorized route or encounters unexpected changes in the environment, it can cause confusion and loss of confidence, which is stressful for students.

• Lack of Standardization: The biggest drawback is the non-standardized nature of this system. If a student moves to a different school or even a different building within the same school, they must undergo the entire training process again, which is not only inefficient but also emotionally taxing for the student.

Sensei’s Innovative Tactile Surface Technology

In contrast, Sensei's tactile surface technology offers a new and profoundly improved way for visually impaired students to navigate schools:

• Intuitive Use: Our tactile surfaces provide immediate physical feedback through distinct textured patterns installed directly into the walls of school corridors and key areas. This allows students to navigate independently without memorization or extensive training.

• Reduced Training Time: The need for lengthy orientation sessions is significantly decreased, as students can rely on tactile cues that are instantly understandable and consistent throughout any equipped building.

• Increased Safety and Confidence: With clear tactile pathways, the risks of accidents are minimized, and students can move more confidently within their environments, knowing that they can rely on these consistent navigational aids.

• Standardized System: One of the key innovations of our solution is its standardization. Whether a student is in one school or transfers to another that uses Sensei’s technology, the tactile cues remain the same, drastically reducing the learning curve and emotional stress associated with changing environments.

Broader Impacts in the Accessibility Space

By replacing an outdated, labor-intensive, and error-prone system with a standardized, easy-to-use tactile solution, Sensei not only enhances individual student experiences but also sets a new standard in the market. This approach could catalyze a shift towards more inclusive design practices across educational institutions.

Conclusion

Sensei's tactile surfaces are more than just a navigational aid; they are a transformative tool for educational accessibility. By providing a reliable, intuitive, and universal navigation system, we are advocating for systemic change in how environments are designed for accessibility. This innovation has the potential to redefine the landscape of assistive technologies and create a more inclusive society.

Activities: Development and Implementation of Tactile Surfaces

Our primary activity involves the design, production, and installation of innovative tactile surface panels within educational and public buildings. These panels are embedded with distinct, easy-to-interpret patterns that provide physical feedback to visually impaired users, helping them navigate indoor spaces independently.

Outputs: Immediate Effects of Tactile Surfaces

The immediate outputs of installing these tactile surfaces include:

• Increased Accessibility: Installation of tactile surfaces across multiple key points within buildings, such as hallways, classrooms, and common areas.

• Enhanced Navigational Independence: Users of the installed tactile surfaces can independently interpret tactile cues to navigate complex indoor environments without assistance.

• Immediate User Feedback: Collection of real-time user feedback through direct interactions and pilot testing within facilities like Infocus College.

Short-Term Outcomes: Changes Achieved by Immediate Outputs

Following the outputs, we anticipate several short-term outcomes that begin to address the core challenges faced by the visually impaired community:

• Reduced Need for Personal Assistance: With tactile surfaces in place, visually impaired students and visitors can move through buildings with less reliance on human guides or assistive devices.

• Increased Safety and Confidence: Users experience fewer accidents and feel more confident navigating their environments, leading to greater participation in educational and social activities.

• User Adoption and Satisfaction: Initial adoption rates of the tactile surfaces will provide quantitative and qualitative data reflecting user satisfaction and practical utility.

Long-Term Outcomes: Systemic Impact of Short-Term Outcomes

The culmination of these short-term outcomes is expected to lead to broader, systemic changes:

• Standardisation of Navigation Aids: As tactile surfaces become more common, they set a new standard for building design, encouraging widespread adoption in new and existing structures.

• Behavioural Change in Building Use: Over time, regular users of buildings equipped with tactile surfaces adapt their movement behaviours, relying on these cues as part of their daily navigation.

• Policy and Regulatory Influence: Success and proven effectiveness could influence policy changes, mandating more universally accessible designs in public infrastructures.

Evidence Supporting Links

Our theory is supported by:

• Pilot Data: Results from our pilot at Infocus College show a 40% reduction in the need for personal navigational assistance and a 50% improvement in user-reported confidence while navigating.

• Expert Endorsements and Feedback: Positive feedback from orientation and mobility specialists and institutions like the RNIB validate the practical application and need for our solution.

• Third-Party Research: Studies on tactile navigation aids (e.g., Journal of Accessibility and Design for All) corroborate the effectiveness of tactile feedback in enhancing independent mobility for visually impaired individuals.

Conclusion

This logical framework from activities through to long-term outcomes not only outlines the expected pathway of impact but is also rooted in solid evidence from our implementations and external research. By aligning our solution with both immediate needs and long-term goals, Sensei is poised to transform how visually impaired individuals interact with their environments, making independence the norm rather than the exception.

Impact Goals

Sensei is committed to transforming the way visually impaired individuals interact with their environments, specifically focusing on enhancing their independence and safety in educational and public buildings. Our impact goals are:

1. Increase Independent Navigation: Enable visually impaired students to navigate educational environments independently, reducing their reliance on personal assistance by 50% within the next two years.

2. Improve Safety and Reduce Accidents: Reduce the incidence of navigation-related accidents among visually impaired users in installed environments by 40% within three years.

3. Standardize Accessible Design: Advocate for and contribute to the adoption of standardized tactile navigation solutions in public building codes across at least five major cities by 2025.

Measuring Progress Towards Impact Goals

To track our progress towards these goals, we use a combination of quantitative and qualitative indicators:

• Independent Navigation Metrics:

  • Percentage Reduction in Assistance Needed: We measure the decrease in the need for personal assistance among students using our tactile surfaces through pre- and post-installation surveys.
  • User Self-Reporting on Navigation Confidence: Through regular feedback forms, we collect data on users' confidence levels in navigating spaces equipped with our technology, aiming for a consistent improvement over time.

• Safety and Accident Reduction Metrics:

  • Incidence of Accidents Reports: We track the number of reported accidents or near-misses in environments where our tactile surfaces are installed, comparing data year-over-year to assess safety improvements.
  • Feedback from Facility Administrators: Engaging with school and facility administrators to receive structured reports on safety changes post-installation.

• Standardization and Policy Change Metrics:

  • Adoption in New Building Codes: We monitor the incorporation of tactile surface standards into building codes and count the number of cities that adopt these standards as a direct indicator of our impact.
  • Engagement with Policy Makers: Tracking the number of engagements, presentations, and consultations with policymakers as qualitative indicators of progress toward standardization.

Alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals

Our goals and indicators align with several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:

• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. We contribute by promoting accessibility in urban planning and public buildings.
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): Reduce inequality within and among countries. Our solution specifically addresses inequalities faced by the visually impaired community.

Conclusion

Our impact goals are ambitious yet achievable with the right strategies and partnerships in place. By continuously measuring our progress through these defined metrics and aligning our efforts with broader global objectives like the UN SDGs, Sensei is not only advancing its mission but also contributing to a more inclusive and equitable world. We use this data not only to gauge our current impact but also to refine our approaches and scale our solutions more effectively.

The core technology behind Sensei leverages the development and application of tactile surfaces designed to assist visually impaired individuals in navigating indoor environments independently. Our solution marries modern material science with traditional ergonomic design principles, creating a universally accessible navigation aid that integrates both innovative and ancestral technologies.

Innovative Material Use and Sustainability

One of the most distinctive aspects of our technology is the use of EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) foam, a material traditionally used in sports equipment and footwear for its softness and flexibility. At Sensei, we have pioneered the use of EVA foam in a new context by modifying its chemical properties to enhance its durability and tactile responsiveness. This adaptation involves a custom formulation that increases the material's density and resilience without compromising its inherent softness, making it ideal for tactile surface applications.

This innovative use of modified EVA foam is unprecedented in the field of navigational aids for the visually impaired. It allows for the creation of surfaces that are comfortable to touch yet robust enough to withstand the wear and tear of high-traffic public environments. Moreover, EVA foam is environmentally friendly as it is both recyclable and sustainable, supporting our commitment to reducing environmental impact while enhancing indoor navigation.

Design Innovation

Our tactile patterns are meticulously crafted based on extensive research into sensory perception and usability within the visually impaired community. Each pattern is strategically designed to denote different areas such as corridors, washrooms, and exits, enabling users to recognize and differentiate spaces through touch. The unique properties of our modified EVA foam enhance these designs, providing clear and distinguishable tactile feedback that is critical for effective navigation.

Integration and Installation

The tactile surfaces utilize a simple, low-tech application method with an adhesive backing, which allows for straightforward installation over existing flooring and wall surfaces. This installation technique ensures that our tactile surfaces can be deployed rapidly and economically, making them a practical solution for enhancing accessibility in a variety of settings.

Community-Centered Development and Broader Impacts

We have developed our tactile surface technology in close collaboration with the visually impaired community, incorporating their feedback at every stage through partnerships with organizations like RNIB and Guide Dogs. This community-centered approach ensures that our products are not only innovative but also directly responsive to the needs of those they are designed to support.

Conclusion

Sensei’s use of modified EVA foam represents a significant technological innovation in accessibility solutions for the visually impaired. This advancement, along with our holistic design and development strategy, positions us to set new standards in the market, encouraging broader adoption of inclusive practices. Our approach aligns seamlessly with MIT Solve's mission to propel technologies that offer substantial benefits to humanity and the environment.

Full time (01) - Kavya Jain lead designer and director

Part time (02) - Shivani Chugh, communication designer

Part time - Louisa Marie, Community outreach manager

Working since June 2022 - 2 years in

At Sensei, our fundamental goal is to make built environments accessible for all. We strive to create spaces that everyone, regardless of their physical capabilities, can navigate independently. This mission drives our dedication to innovation and inclusivity at every level of our organization.

Innovating Through Co-Design:

From the outset, we have employed a co-design process to develop Sensei, ensuring our product is led by the very customers it serves. This approach involves direct collaboration with our end users—primarily visually impaired individuals ( belonging to different diversity, age groups, gender, disability and vision impairments)—who actively participate from the research phase through to development. This method not only enhances our product's effectiveness but also embeds a deep sense of empathy and understanding within our team.

Team Diversity:

Our team is a reflection of the diverse community we aim to serve. Comprising 100% women from varied ethnic backgrounds, our staff brings a wide range of perspectives that enrich our innovation process. This diversity is crucial not only for fostering a creative and inclusive workplace but also for understanding and addressing the unique challenges faced by those who rely on our solutions.

Advisory Board Composition:

Our advisory board maintains a balanced gender ratio of 50:50, men to women, with members who are leaders in their respective fields and are committed to upholding DEI principles. Their diverse expertise supports our mission by providing strategic insights that ensure our product and workplace reflect the values of equity and inclusion.

Developing DEI Frameworks and Policies:

To reinforce our commitment to diversity and inclusivity, Sensei is dedicated to developing robust frameworks and policies that support and enhance DEI across all areas of our operations. These will include actionable strategies for recruitment, retention, and promotion, ensuring equitable opportunities for all employees. Additionally, we will implement regular DEI audits and training programs to maintain and improve our standards and practices, fostering an environment where every team member feels valued and supported.

Creating a Welcoming and Inclusive Environment:

Our actions to foster an inclusive environment include:

• Regular DEI Training: All employees participate in regular DEI training that covers topics such as cultural competency, anti-discrimination practices, and how to support a diverse workplace.
• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs): We support ERGs that provide a space for employees from marginalized groups to connect, share experiences, and offer mutual support.
• Feedback and Continuous Improvement: We maintain an open-door policy for feedback on our DEI practices and conduct annual surveys to measure our environment's inclusivity. This feedback is crucial for ongoing improvements.

Future Recruitment Strategies:

Looking forward, we are committed to further diversifying our team. We plan to engage with organizations that connect us to minority networks, thereby broadening our talent pool. These organizations include the Design Museum, Asian Women in Tech, Minority Supplier Development UK (MSDUK), Women in Tech, and the RSA. Partnering with these entities will help us reach a wider array of candidates and reinforce our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment.

Sensei is committed to transforming educational environments by providing tactile surface technology that enables students with vision impairments to navigate independently. Our business model is designed to deliver significant social impact while maintaining a sustainable revenue stream.

Value Proposition:

Our tactile surfaces offer a unique solution to the pervasive issue of navigational challenges faced by visually impaired students in educational settings. These surfaces, which use distinct, easy-to-recognize patterns, allow students to identify their location and navigate efficiently without assistance.

Breaking New Ground: Sensei introduces a groundbreaking, low-tech solution: universally designed tactile surfaces that enable visually impaired (V.I.) individuals to navigate indoor spaces independently. Unlike existing solutions primarily designed for outdoor use, our approach is versatile, inclusive, and standardised poised to transform accessibility standards in the creative sector and beyond.

Magnitude of the Challenge : The accessibility gap is widespread, impacting not just V.I.  individuals but also educational, healthcare, and cultural institutions. These entities face significant hurdles in complying with the Equality Act 2010's accessibility standards. The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) reveals that 1 in 5 visually impaired students struggle with school navigation, exemplifying the urgent need for innovative solutions.

Revenue Streams:

Sensei generates revenue through direct sales of tactile panels to educational institutions. Additionally, we offer installation services and ongoing maintenance contracts, ensuring that our solutions continue to meet the needs of our customers over time.

Distribution Channels:

Our tactile surfaces are distributed directly to educational institutions through B2B sales efforts. Partnerships with organizations like the RNIB and Guide Dogs expand our reach and strengthen our market presence, leveraging their networks to promote our innovative solutions.

Economic Impact and Expansion Potential : The global assistive technology market, valued at $21.95 billion, highlights the vast economic potential for Sensei. Focusing on the UK's school sector, with a serviceable market estimated at $128 million, we unveil a robust strategy for growth and new revenue streams.

Impact and Sustainability:

Sensei's business model is underpinned by a commitment to social impact, particularly improving the quality of life for visually impaired individuals by removing barriers to education and independence. Our approach not only meets a crucial need but also supports sustainable development by promoting inclusive education as outlined in the UN's SDGs.

Conclusion:

By focusing on creating accessible and inclusive educational environments, Sensei aims to set a new standard in the use of tactile navigation aids. Our business model aligns with MIT Solve mission to address global challenges through innovative and sustainable solutions, promising significant social and economic returns on investment. This initiative is supported by robust empirical evidence and aims for a scalable implementation that can be adapted globally.

Sensei's journey towards development and market launch relies heavily on funding to achieve its goals. Recognizing the importance of financial support, we have actively pursued various funding opportunities to propel Sensei forward. Our diligent utilisation of these funds has been instrumental in the development of Sensei, ensuring its success.

Unltd startup award - 15000

Erler this year we were selected for the UNltd start up award to support our social impact.This funding is ideally used to secure our design rights and conduct pilot test study.

University Pitch for Santander's Awards - £2,500:

Through the University Pitch for Santander's Awards, Sensei secured £2,500. This funding facilitated the conduct of essential focus groups and the creation of initial prototypes. Armed with valuable data and insights from our target audience, we successfully developed our Minimum Viable Product (MVP), receiving positive feedback along the way.

The Design Museum - £1600:

Funds provided by the Design Museum enabled us to register our designs and trademark our logo. This critical step in protecting our intellectual property and establishing our unique brand identity ensures the long-term success and recognition of Sensei.

Additional Funds from the University - £5,000:

Sensei received an additional £5,000 from the university's Scale Pitching Competition. This financial injection allowed us to explore sustainable materials for Sensei and test our MVP in real-world environments, such as public spaces. By validating our product in diverse settings and gathering valuable user feedback, we refined and improved our offering.

Design Funds in Equity and Grants:

To further advance our operations, scale up production, and reach a wider ageing population globally, Sensei is actively pursuing design funds through equity and grants. We are actively seeking opportunities in open pitching competitions to secure support from government bodies that can assist us in conducting trials with local councils.

Inbound Interest from Angel Investors and Philanthropic Funding:

Sensei has attracted significant interest from angel investors and philanthropic funders who share our vision and are keen to support our mission. This keen interest serves as a testament to the potential impact of our product. We are proactively exploring these opportunities to secure additional funding that will accelerate the successful launch of Sensei.