GEORGE TOWN: People with hearing and speech disabilities can now communicate with those who do not know sign language through a technology invented by three students from Chung Ling Private High School.
Their firmware system, clipped to a cap’s brim, uses a camera to detect hand signs and instantly reads the message aloud through a speaker.
The invention earned Ian Lee, Ooi Cherng Yi and Khor Xiong Yean, all aged 15, first runner-up in the Senior Category at the Codeavour International Showdown 2026 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Called Team CapAble, the trio began developing the project in February to help bridge communication gaps between sign language users and the public.
Xiong Yean said the team faced unexpected challenges after arriving in Jakarta when some planned materials failed to work.
“We had to borrow equipment from other teams from our school and worked until early morning to complete the project.
“We were very surprised and happy to win first runner-up in the Senior Category,” Xiong Yean told reporters at the Codeavour Winners Recognition Ceremony hosted by Tech Dome Penang on Monday.
The international coding, artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics competition saw participants from more than 22 countries.
It was held at Binus University in Jakarta on May 16 and 17.
Another Penang team that won an award was SCC Team F from SJK(C) Shih Chung Cawangan, comprising Wong Hou Yin, Dimitri Chong Tze Xuan and Ch’ng Eu Siang, all aged nine.
The team won a consolation prize in the Elementary Category after developing a “Green Warrior Challenge” game using PictoBlox software to teach children proper waste sorting.
“The game was designed to attract the younger generation’s interest in gaming while educating them on recycling habits,” the pupils said, adding that the game could be easily introduced in schools as it was developed using the free PictoBlox platform.
Team Al Avengers from SJK(T) Sungai Ara won a consolation prize in the Junior Category with the EcoBOT Sorter, a project aimed at improving waste management.
“Using sensors and image recognition technology, the system installed at dumpsters can direct waste into the correct compartment, such as plastic, metal, paper or glass,” the team said.
The team members are Jaishaan Dev Prakash, Daalini Elias and Dalvin Ravi.
Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Jagdeep Singh Deo said the state government continued to prioritise science, technology and AI education as Penang moves towards deep-tech industry development.
“Children are our future and education is the key to changing the future,” he said.
Tech Dome Penang chief executive officer Khoo Boo Wooi said the students’ achievements reflected the younger generation’s growing capabilities in AI, coding and robotics.
A total of 103 online innovation project submissions were received from across Malaysia for the Codeavour competition.
Of the total, 40 teams were shortlisted for the national finals while 16 teams qualified to represent Malaysia internationally.
