{"id":10320,"date":"2023-10-16T12:09:46","date_gmt":"2023-10-16T04:09:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/daily.sg\/?p=10320"},"modified":"2023-10-25T19:22:09","modified_gmt":"2023-10-25T11:22:09","slug":"inclusive-app-foodfriend-dining-made-easy-for-intellectually-disabled","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/daily.sg\/2023\/10\/inclusive-app-foodfriend-dining-made-easy-for-intellectually-disabled\/","title":{"rendered":"Inclusive App FoodFriend: Dining Made Easy for Intellectually Disabled"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ol>\n<li> <b style=\"font-size: revert; color: initial;\">A team of Year 3 students, named Team Pathmakers earn first place at InnovateFest 2023.<\/b> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li> <b style=\"font-size: revert; color: initial;\">They created an app called FoodFriend, transforming dining for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities, or PWIDs, in Singapore.<\/b> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li> <b style=\"font-size: revert; color: initial;\">Their work heralds a new era of inclusivity in the food and beverage sector.<\/b> <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"ast-oembed-container \" style=\"height: 100%;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Inclusive App FoodFriend Dining Made Easy for Intellectually Disabled (16 October 2023)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Pl9XFis7M40?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Hawker centres, the beating heart of Singapore&#8217;s food culture, bustle and thrum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Noodling around these food havens, a revolution is stirring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Enter FoodFriend, an app making dining seamless for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities, or PWIDs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Birth of InnovateFest<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Not so long ago, a squad of bright sparks from Singapore Institute of Technology snagged the crown at InnovateFest 2023, a challenge by Dell Technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Named Team Pathmakers, these Year 3 students turned an idea into an app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>FoodFriend, they called it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FoodFriend Flies High<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This app, it&#8217;s more than code. It&#8217;s a bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Empowerment at the fingertips of PWIDs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How so?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Well, FoodFriend provides clear, step-by-step visual directions at hawker centres. It breaks down barriers, opens doors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No jargon, only straightforward assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Scan a QR code for an easy-to-read menu. No fuss, no confusion. A step-by-step guide simplifies the ordering process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The app even tots up <a href=\"https:\/\/daily.sg\/2010\/01\/prudential-singapore-change-payment-by-giro-to-credit-card\/\">payments and change<\/a> with a handy built-in calculator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The punchline? It speaks four languages; English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A true polyglot of an app, ready to champion inclusivity in multiracial Singapore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pathmakers Stand Proud<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Guiding this innovation is Team Pathmakers&#8217; captain, Dylan Tok.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Working for two months, they aced InnovateFest 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Was it easy? Far from it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Worth the $10,000 prize? You bet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;When we first started this project, we never imagined the impact it would have,&#8221; Dylan said, surprised but proud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;The beauty of technology is that it can break down barriers.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nudge by Nom Nom Buddy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, another SIT squad, Year 3 Computing Science students, made a splash at the competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nom Nom Buddy was their creation, a consolation prize winner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A version of FoodFriend, Nom Nom Buddy integrates audio-based learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The idea: To cut down PWIDs&#8217; reliance on caregivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pick a dish, customise the order and use text-to-speech to order. It&#8217;s as simple as that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Inclusivity for All<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Fathima, a member of Nom Nom Buddy, speaks enthusiastically about the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;By involving local hawkers and stall owners in this initiative, we&#8217;re promoting a more inclusive and understanding society.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Indeed, technological innovation is breaking down barriers within the food and beverage sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The apps these young innovators develop stand as testament to the power of inclusivity\u2014making sure nobody gets left behind at our food havens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, folks. Are you ready to <a href=\"https:\/\/daily.sg\/2023\/03\/embracing-the-digital-trade-revolution-in-singapore\/\">embrace the next revolution<\/a> in Singapore&#8217;s hawker centre dining?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Folks, it&#8217;s simple. By marrying technology and empathy, these young innovators are championing a more inclusive society. It&#8217;s a step forward. A step towards inclusivity. A step towards a future where everyone is part of the conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And that&#8217;s something worth raising our plates for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What are your thoughts on using technology to create a more inclusive dining experience? Let&#8217;s hear your thoughts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Explore FoodFriend App, a revolutionary tool promoting inclusivity for people with intellectual disabilities in dining. Discover a new era in food culture!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":10321,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[30,10,437,445],"tags":[1420,1422,1421],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/daily.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10320"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/daily.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/daily.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daily.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daily.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10320"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/daily.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10320\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10592,"href":"https:\/\/daily.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10320\/revisions\/10592"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daily.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10321"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/daily.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10320"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daily.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10320"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daily.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10320"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}