I have been extremely fortunate enough to have been invited to come to Tsukuba, Japan, for the second year in a row! Last time, I was invited to participate in the Inclusive Smart Society Summer festival, where I learned about accessibility and focused on how understanding different cultures contributed to creating a more equitable society for all. This year, I was invited to help create that equitable society in the form of an internship with Professor Modar Hasan.
In my internship, I initiated a project to create an accessible, real-time simplified projection of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for those with visual impairments by using OpenCV while combining heuristic computer vision with machine learning. This project was extremely fun for me not only because of my passion for gaming and inclusivity, but also the great support I received from my mentor, Professor Modar, and the other members of my lab. I was able to make a difference and learn more about Japanese culture by visiting shrines, eating traditional Japanese food, and interacting with friends new and old!
I am wholeheartedly grateful to everyone in the Inclusive Smart Society program at both the University of Tsukuba and Ohio State University to have been given the opportunity to come to Tsukuba again!
