Microsoft’s Saqib Shaikh, lead on Seeing AI, is returning to Sight Tech Global, Dec. 1-2

**Image Credits:** Microsoft’s Saqib Shaikh smiling and standing outside a Microsoft office building leaning against a rock with a backdrop of pretty Japanese maple trees shedding their golden leaves. / Saqib Shaikh

At last year’s inaugural Sight Tech Global event, a virtual event dedicated to applications of AI and related tech to accessibility for people who are blind, one of the most popular sessions belonged to Saqib Shaikh. The Microsoft engineer co-founded and leads the Seeing AI mobile app, which embeds a remarkable number of services beneficial to people who are blind, from reading documents and signs, to recognizing friends, grocery items, currency notes and even exploring photos by touch.

We’re delighted that Shaikh will make a return appearance at this year’s Sight Tech Global. Register now for the free, virtual event on December 1-2.

Shaikh describes his work as “a conversation between the blind community and the engineers/scientists at Microsoft — understanding the daily challenges our customers face and what emerging technologies could be leveraged to create novel solutions.”

In the past year, Shaikh’s team has been adding features at a fast pace. Most recently they have created an audio augmented reality experience to assist with exploring an unfamiliar environment. It recognizes things in the world and places them in 3D space. When wearing headphones, items will be announced from their position in the room, such as the word “chair” coming from the chair itself. Users can place virtual audio beacons on objects to track the location of the door, for example, and use the haptic proximity sensor to feel the outline of the room.

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