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Edinburgh Live
2 days ago
- General
- Edinburgh Live
Blind Edinburgh man recognised for 'bringing so much joy and reassurance' to others
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An Edinburgh man has been recognised for his incredible efforts and 'energy, kindness, and commitment'. Daryl Stewart, 23, a volunteer with sight loss charity The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), was commended for 'bringing so much joy and reassurance' to many. Daryl, who is registered blind, began volunteering with the organisation after feeling 'isolated' at his mainstream school. He first became involved at 14-years-old, and has now received the Special Recognition Award for Young Volunteer of the Year. Over his time, he's helped over 50 blind and partially sighted people access support. Jane Coates, Community Social Action Manager at RNIB Scotland, said: "Mention Daryl's name to anyone who comes through our doors, and they instantly smile. 'His energy, kindness, and commitment bring so much joy and reassurance to the people we support.' Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox Since joining the RNIB, Daryl was able to make friends and found his community. The youth group offered a 'transformative space' for him. He's grown from a participant to a 'key figure' in the volunteer network. In the last year, Daryl had stepped into a leadership role. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages. He now independently plans and runs sessions, offering guidance, encouragement, and a warm welcome to participants of all ages. A spokesperson for RNBI added: "When RNIB Scotland's main Edinburgh office temporarily closed for refurbishment, Daryl didn't hesitate to go above and beyond. "He worked with staff to ensure that community members could still attend groups and sessions - sometimes accompanying them on public transport, and in other cases meeting them at home to coordinate transport with drivers. He's also taken part in multiple Kiltwalk fundraising events, helping raise money to support RNIB Scotland's various services."
Edinburgh Reporter
03-06-2025
- General
- Edinburgh Reporter
Daryl becomes young volunteer of the year
Daryl Stewart (23), a long-standing volunteer with sight loss charity RNIB Scotland, has been awarded the Special Recognition Award for Young Volunteer of the Year at the 2025 Inspiring Volunteer Awards, run by Volunteer Edinburgh. The award ceremony, which took place on Monday at the City Chambers, marked the beginning of Volunteers' Week – a national celebration of the vital role that volunteers play across the UK. Daryl received his award from The Rt Hon. Lord Provost, Robert Aldridge, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to supporting blind and partially sighted people in Scotland. Daryl, who has a cerebral visual impairment, first became involved with RNIB Scotland at the age of 14 when he joined the charity's youth forum. At the time, he felt isolated at his mainstream school. RNIB's youth group offered a transformative space where Daryl made friends and found his community. Since then, he has grown from a participant into a key figure in RNIB Scotland's volunteer network. He began volunteering at 16 and has since supported a wide range of groups and activities, from youth sessions to craft groups, walking clubs, and tandem cycling. This year, however, has seen Daryl step confidently into a leadership role, making his contribution more impactful than ever. Over the past 12 months, Daryl has taken on new responsibilities, moving beyond support to organising and leading multiple RNIB groups and activities across Edinburgh. He now independently plans and runs sessions, offering guidance, encouragement, and a warm welcome to participants of all ages. In addition, Daryl delivers Visual Awareness training to RNIB Scotland's partner organisations, equipping staff and volunteers with the knowledge and confidence to better support blind and partially sighted people in their own services. He has also played a key role in the reopening of RNIB Scotland's community café this year at their Edinburgh office, where he regularly volunteers by greeting visitors, giving tours of the newly refurbished space, and serving refreshments with professionalism and kindness. Daryl's commitment has had a measurable and lasting impact. as follows: Over 50 blind and partially sighted people have accessed group support because of Daryl's work. He's introduced 10 people to tandem cycling and 12 new players to the inclusive sport of Showdown. He's currently collaborating with Scottish Disability Sport to expand Showdown across Scotland, with ambitions to launch a national league hosted at RNIB Scotland's offices. He supports dozens of community members each week through his work at RNIB Scotland's café and local groups. When RNIB Scotland's main Edinburgh office temporarily closed for refurbishment, Daryl did not hesitate to go above and beyond. He worked with staff to ensure that community members could still attend groups and sessions – sometimes accompanying them on public transport, and in other cases meeting them at home to coordinate transport with drivers. He's also taken part in multiple Kiltwalk fundraising events, helping raise money to support RNIB Scotland's various services. 'Mention Daryl's name to anyone who comes through our doors, and they instantly smile,' said Jane Coates, Community Social Action Manager at RNIB Scotland. 'His energy, kindness, and commitment bring so much joy and reassurance to the people we support.' On receiving his award, a delighted Daryl said, 'I have loved my time at RNIB, I never want to leave!' Like this: Like Related
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Yahoo
Robot dog developed to support blind and visually impaired
A robot dog designed to assist the blind and visually impaired and provide guided tours of museums has been hailed as a 'game-changer' by its developers. Robbie the RoboGuide has been developed by researchers at the University of Glasgow who hope to provide life-changing experiences in indoor environments such as museums and supermarkets. Using a pre-made base which costs around £8,000 and has been used by the US military, and a large language model similar to Chat GPT, Robbie has been given 'unique' powers of communication and can conduct an online search before 'speaking' through speakers. The autonomous robot uses simultaneous localisation and mapping, and has been fitted with a camera and integrated microphones, and in a public space the user would wear an earpiece to communicate with it. Robbie has previously been trialled in the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow, and was able to educate those it guided about the artefacts. Robot guide dog vs Doggo guide dog. Who will win in a race? Well…#IDS2025 #GuideDog @UofGEngineering #AccessibleTechnology @WasimJawa — RNIB Connect Radio (@RNIBRadio) March 17, 2025 It has been tipped as an interim solution for people waiting for a guide dog, which can be a prolonged and costly process, and investors are being sought. Hopes are high that Robbie could be used to guide users, including visually impaired people who do not qualify for a guide dog, around airports, supermarkets and galleries in three to five years. Work began in August 2023 in collaboration with RNIB Scotland and the Forth Valley Sensory Centre. Robbie was exhibited at RNIB Scotland's Inclusive Design for Sustainability Conference in Glasgow this week, with attendees able to try it. PhD student Abdul Ghani Zahid said: 'Users can talk to the robot, it could see an artefact in a museum and give a description of what that artefact was. It has audio communication and can debate. 'If it's a new environment where someone needs assistance, like an airport, you can ask the robot to take you to a certain coffee shop, then take you to the terminal, then it goes back to the charging stage.' Wasim Ahmad, a senior lecturer at the James Watt School of Engineering at the University of Glasgow, said feedback from people who tried using Robbie in a museum environment focused on how 'safe and confident' they felt while walking with it. Describing Robbie as a 'game-changer', he said it is not intended as a replacement for guide dogs, but instead to provide support in other ways. Dr Ahmad said: 'It's not for us to replace the guide dog – it's a very different relationship between the guide dog and the blind person. This is providing a complementary support for a lot of people. I think Robbie is the perfect match. 'It can provide support to them and companionship as well. It can also take them safely from point A to point B and give them freedom and independence.' He said Robbie could even be used to provide multilingual guided tours, and support people with other physical disabilities. Dr Ahmad added: 'We are looking at the business case and we are hoping that we will find our investors and in the next few years, when trials and development is completed, Robbie will be out at least in around three to five years' time.' Other technology exhibited at the conference included an electronic Braille display which can 'read in real time', and a walking cane guided through haptic feedback. Dr Sonali Rai, from the media and culture team at RNIB, said: 'It's great that the work is being done. What's important is to ensure that users are part of the conversation.'
The Independent
17-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Blind and partially sighted risk exclusion from AI revolution, diplomat warns
Blind and partially sighted people are at risk of being shut out of the AI revolution, a leading diplomat has warned. Walton Aubrey Webson, the first visually impaired UN ambassador, is set to tell a major technology conference that AI models should have accessibility built into them from the start. He believes that without proper safeguards, the models could 'inadvertently perpetuate biases' which exclude blind and partially sighted people. The Inclusive Design for Sustainability conference, which is organised by RNIB Scotland and takes place in Glasgow on Monday and Tuesday, will explore how cutting-edge technology is transforming the lives of people with sight loss worldwide. Dr Webson, who represents Antigua and Barbuda at the UN, will call for tech firms to prioritise accessibility from the start. He will warn AI systems trained on biased or incomplete data risk deepening inequalities rather than removing barriers. More than a billion people worldwide are believed to have some form of sight disorder, including around 183,000 people in Scotland and more than two million across the UK who have significant sight loss. Dr Webson is expected to tell the conference: 'AI algorithms can inadvertently perpetuate biases if they are trained on datasets that do not adequately represent the diversity of persons with disabilities. 'This can lead to the development of technologies that do not effectively serve all users. 'Ensuring diverse representation in training data is essential to creating fair and equitable AI solutions. 'Implementing robust data protection measures and obtaining informed consent is crucial to ensuring that users feel safe and secure while using assistive technologies. 'Major technology companies must seriously incorporate inclusive design into their innovation and product development processes. 'We must view inclusive design not as an afterthought, but as a fundamental aspect of technological development. 'Together, we can create a world where technology is genuinely a wheel of opportunity for all.' James Adams, director of RNIB Scotland, said: 'It's a privilege to welcome Dr Webson, who has been a strong advocate for the rights of visually impaired people and those with other disabilities, alongside other experts at our conference. 'Their perspectives are invaluable in guiding us towards a future where technology is truly inclusive. 'The rapid advancements in technology offer us a unique opportunity to address exclusion and improve accessibility for those with sight loss. 'With the number of people affected by sight loss expected to rise significantly, it's more important than ever that we prioritise inclusivity in the development of new tech. 'We must work together to ensure that no one is left behind in the AI revolution. Only then can we create a world where technology opens doors for all.'
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Blind and partially sighted risk exclusion from AI revolution, diplomat warns
Blind and partially sighted people are at risk of being shut out of the AI revolution, a leading diplomat has warned. Walton Aubrey Webson, the first visually impaired UN ambassador, is set to tell a major technology conference that AI models should have accessibility built into them from the start. He believes that without proper safeguards, the models could 'inadvertently perpetuate biases' which exclude blind and partially sighted people. The Inclusive Design for Sustainability conference, which is organised by RNIB Scotland and takes place in Glasgow on Monday and Tuesday, will explore how cutting-edge technology is transforming the lives of people with sight loss worldwide. Dr Webson, who represents Antigua and Barbuda at the UN, will call for tech firms to prioritise accessibility from the start. He will warn AI systems trained on biased or incomplete data risk deepening inequalities rather than removing barriers. More than a billion people worldwide are believed to have some form of sight disorder, including around 183,000 people in Scotland and more than two million across the UK who have significant sight loss. Dr Webson is expected to tell the conference: 'AI algorithms can inadvertently perpetuate biases if they are trained on datasets that do not adequately represent the diversity of persons with disabilities. 'This can lead to the development of technologies that do not effectively serve all users. 'Ensuring diverse representation in training data is essential to creating fair and equitable AI solutions. 'Implementing robust data protection measures and obtaining informed consent is crucial to ensuring that users feel safe and secure while using assistive technologies. 'Major technology companies must seriously incorporate inclusive design into their innovation and product development processes. 'We must view inclusive design not as an afterthought, but as a fundamental aspect of technological development. 'Together, we can create a world where technology is genuinely a wheel of opportunity for all.' James Adams, director of RNIB Scotland, said: 'It's a privilege to welcome Dr Webson, who has been a strong advocate for the rights of visually impaired people and those with other disabilities, alongside other experts at our conference. 'Their perspectives are invaluable in guiding us towards a future where technology is truly inclusive. 'The rapid advancements in technology offer us a unique opportunity to address exclusion and improve accessibility for those with sight loss. 'With the number of people affected by sight loss expected to rise significantly, it's more important than ever that we prioritise inclusivity in the development of new tech. 'We must work together to ensure that no one is left behind in the AI revolution. Only then can we create a world where technology opens doors for all.' Sign in to access your portfolio
