JAKARTA — In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly reshapes how the world interacts with technology, four brilliant undergraduate students from the Universitas Komputer Indonesia (Unikom) have harnessed machine learning to champion inclusivity. Their groundbreaking creation, NovaSight, is an AI-powered educational application specifically engineered to help visually impaired students learn mathematics independently. This remarkable innovation not only bridges a critical educational gap for students with disabilities but has also propelled its creators to national acclaim. Competing against top-tier tech projects from across the nation, the Unikom student team secured first place in the prestigious Samsung Solve for Tomorrow (SFT) 2026 competition under the D3/D4/S1 (Undergraduate/Diploma) category. Main Facts: The Birth of NovaSight and Its Triumph NovaSight was developed by Team I-SEUNG, a group of four dedicated Unikom students: Ratuayu Nurfajar, Regia Qolbu Rivita Atmowidjaja, Mohamad Zaki Zakiran, and Damar Fikri Haikal. The team worked under the careful guidance and academic mentorship of lecturer Dian Dharmayanti. Their victory was officially announced at a grand awarding ceremony in Jakarta. At its core, NovaSight is designed to solve a fundamental barrier in special education: the accessibility of complex mathematical concepts. Traditionally, subjects involving geometric figures, charts, graphs, and multi-step calculations present monumental challenges for blind or low-vision students who rely heavily on screen readers and tactile learning. NovaSight effectively translates these visual-heavy concepts into accessible digital formats using cutting-edge AI architecture, including Flutter, Azure OpenAI, and TalkBack integration. The project’s ingenuity lies in its comprehensive suite of five specialized features tailored to both students and educators: Annoter: Converts complex mathematical materials, including graphical data and diagrams, into descriptive text that can be seamlessly read aloud by screen readers. Scriber: Empowers students to document and execute step-by-step problem-solving sequences using a specially designed, accessibility-optimized keyboard. Clarifier: Functions as an interactive AI assistant, directly answering students’ curriculum-related questions in real time. Quizzer: Assists teachers in effortlessly generating customized quizzes complete with answer keys. Evaluaizer: Analyzes students’ inputted answers and operational steps to pinpoint exact calculation errors, offering constructive feedback. Chronology: From Classroom Research to a National Stage The journey of NovaSight began not in a high-tech corporate laboratory, but through rigorous grassroots research and empathy-driven investigation. 1. Identifying the Problem on the Ground Before writing a single line of code, Team I-SEUNG conducted extensive literature reviews and field interviews. They visited the SLB Negeri A Citeureup special needs public school in Cimahi, West Java, to observe classroom dynamics firsthand. Through direct engagement with teachers and students, they identified a glaring gap: while general literacy and verbal subjects are relatively adaptable for the blind, mathematics—with its heavy reliance on visual aids like graphs and spatial geometry—leaves visually impaired students struggling to learn autonomously. "We conducted prior research, reviewing both literature and internet sources to formulate our hypotheses. Then, to validate those hypotheses, we went straight to the field," shared Ratuayu Nurfajar during an interview following the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2026 announcement. 2. Overcoming Design and Development Hurdles Developing inclusive technology requires continuous iteration and user feedback. During the initial prototyping phase, Team I-SEUNG designed a custom keyboard layout that they believed would be ergonomic for blind users. However, field testing revealed a sobering reality: the students were completely unaccustomed to the custom layout. Rather than pushing forward with their original design, the team listened to the end-users. They went back to the drawing board and restructured their digital keyboard architecture strictly around the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), ensuring intuitive navigation for visually impaired learners. 3. A Close Call with Registration Ironically, Team I-SEUNG’s path to national victory almost never happened. The four students learned about the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2026 competition through Instagram, but procrastinated on submitting their application. Fortunately, the organizing committee extended the registration deadline, allowing the team to squeak through at the eleventh hour. "We were actually the team that almost missed out because we delayed registering. Luckily, the deadline was extended. And SFT has brought us to this exact point. We honestly never expected it—alhamdulillah, we won first place," recounted Regia Qolbu Rivita Atmowidjaja with visible relief and joy. Supporting Data and Pilot Testing Results To substantiate the app’s real-world efficacy, Team I-SEUNG subjected NovaSight to a preliminary pilot testing phase after approximately four months of intensive development. According to data presented by the team—citing figures from the Indonesian Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen)—there are 4,229 visually impaired students currently enrolled in various Special Schools (SLB) across Indonesia. This massive demographic represents an underserved market yearning for modernized educational tools. During the pilot testing sessions utilizing the Annoter, Quizzer, and Scriber features, the results were remarkably promising: A visually impaired student successfully solved 4 out of 5 complex math problems within a strict 15-minute timeframe, entirely without teacher intervention or assistance. The test demonstrated that with the right AI assistance, blind students can transition from passive learners dependent on constant supervision to independent problem-solvers. Official Responses and Testimonials The potential impact of NovaSight has garnered high praise from both the students who use it and the educators tasked with teaching them. Irman, an 11th-grade visually impaired student at SLB Negeri A Citeureup, Cimahi, shared an enthusiastic testimonial about his experience using the application: "Alhamdulillah, with NovaSight, I am genuinely helped in understanding mathematical material, especially when encountering graphs and diagrams. I can also tackle problems and record step-by-step solutions independently without constantly needing a teacher by my side." Teachers have similarly expressed amazement at the application’s intuitive design. Bayu, a mathematics teacher who tested the software, noted its unique utility in a specialized classroom environment: "The features are clear and easy to understand, making it simple for both teachers and students to use. Applications like this are still very rare, especially those specifically designed to support mathematics learning for visually impaired students." Despite these glowing reviews, the development team maintains a grounded scientific perspective. They acknowledge that a pilot test involving a small cohort of students—even with a successful 4-out-of-5 problem resolution rate—cannot yet serve as a definitive benchmark for universal effectiveness across all visually impaired students nationwide. Rigorous, large-scale testing remains an essential milestone for the future. Implications and Future Outlook Winning first place at the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2026 competition is a monumental career milestone for Ratuayu, Regia, Mohamad Zaki, and Damar. However, the members of Team I-SEUNG emphasize that this victory is merely a stepping stone rather than a final destination. Expanding Reach and Commercialization Currently, NovaSight remains in its beta testing phase and is not yet publicly available for general download across mainstream app stores. Moving forward, the team plans to scale up the application’s infrastructure, starting with broader implementations across schools in West Java before expanding nationally. To achieve this, Team I-SEUNG is actively seeking strategic partnerships and investor funding to cover ongoing operational costs, server upkeep for Azure OpenAI integrations, and further refinements to the AI models. Redefining Inclusivity Through Technology Beyond software development, the success of NovaSight carries profound socio-educational implications. It serves as a powerful testament to the democratization of technology. By directing advanced machine learning capabilities toward marginalized demographics, young developers are proving that artificial intelligence should not merely serve corporate commercial interests, but must actively solve tangible human challenges. For the thousands of visually impaired students across Indonesia, NovaSight represents more than just a math tutor—it symbolizes a doorway to educational equity, self-reliance, and a future where disability is never a barrier to infinite mathematical discovery. 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