Finding an available table at a crowded hawker centre can be a challenge, particularly for individuals with visual impairments. To address this, a new app called LetsGo is being developed to assist visually impaired diners by providing audio guidance through a paired Bluetooth earpiece or smart glasses. The app prototype identifies whether a table is occupied or empty by analyzing the user’s surroundings via their phone camera.

LetsGo was among several prototypes presented on October 21 at the inaugural Inclusive Design Challenge (IDC) held at Guoco Midtown Network Hub in Singapore. The event was organized by GovTech Singapore in partnership with Microsoft and software company Figmate, as part of GovTech’s annual Inclusive Design Week (IDW). The challenge emphasizes user-centered design with a focus on digital inclusion.

At the launch, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo highlighted Singapore’s ongoing efforts to improve digital accessibility. “Having achieved the basics of broadband and device access, we have focused on building skills, including for seniors and disadvantaged communities. But we must not stop there. We must instead do better to identify groups who still have difficulty getting the most out of digital,” she said.

GovTech also introduced a pilot programme called Mastery Shopper in September to better understand how people, including persons with disabilities and seniors, engage with digital services in daily life. This initiative aims to uncover accessibility barriers beyond standard checks to help government agencies refine their offerings.

The development of LetsGo was informed by feedback from eight visually impaired individuals, according to Genevieve Yip, a product designer from the Skills and Workforce Development Agency (SWDA) and part of the app’s four-member development team. Yip noted that challenges extend beyond finding a table to activities such as ordering food, making payments, joining queues, reading menus, carrying trays, and exiting the hawker centre. These hurdles often discourage visually impaired persons from dining out independently.

Another team member, product designer Tay Yu Qing, said user testing with visually impaired participants revealed the need to supplement audio cues with haptic feedback, such as phone vibrations, to overcome the loud ambient noise typical of hawker centres.

LetsGo was one of five concepts showcased during the event. Over a two-month period starting in August, 17 teams composed of public officers and tertiary students collaborated with GovTech mentors, industry experts, and users to design, research, and test prototypes aimed at improving everyday accessibility.

A group from Temasek Polytechnic developed solutions targeting difficulties faced by visually impaired people when making digital payments, suggesting standardized design elements across banking apps. Their proposals include prioritizing the reading of key information, announcing payment status, and providing clear next steps.

Joy Ng, head of the Chief Digital Experience Office at GovTech Singapore, said the agency intends to continue partnering with government bodies to further develop these projects beyond the challenge.

In addition to inclusive design efforts, Singapore is expanding the use of artificial intelligence to bridge digital language gaps. Teo noted that GovTech and Open Government Products (OGP) have created tools like EasyTranslate and Polyglot, which translate government webpages into Chinese, Malay, and Tamil while maintaining the original layout. These tools are being deployed on platforms such as REACH (Reaching Everyone for Active Citizenry @ Home) and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority portal.