UAE smart glove for visually impaired wins award and silver medal in Kuwait

The United Arab Emirates has secured the Secretariat General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Patent Office Award and a silver medal at the 16th International Invention Fair in the Middle East, held in Kuwait, for a smart assistive device designed to support people with visual impairments.

The award-winning innovation, developed by Emirati inventor Aisha Al Zarooni and presented through the Emirates Inventors Association, is titled “Electronic Text Reading Device by Touch”. It consists of a smart glove equipped with a Braille cell that enables users to read digital content through tactile feedback without relying on audio output.

According to Emirates News Agency (WAM), a partner of TV BRICS, the device operates via a mobile application that converts written text into Braille signals transmitted directly to the glove, where letters are formed automatically. The system allows visually impaired users to access electronic content accurately and discreetly, offering an alternative to voice-based assistive tools.

Officials from the Ministry of Economy and Tourism highlighted the role of national innovation bodies in enabling Emirati inventors to participate in international platforms and strengthen the UAE’s global innovation footprint. This year’s fair featured 213 inventors presenting approximately 166 inventions, reinforcing the event’s status as a leading platform for innovators across the region, as reported by the source.