A notable development in inclusive artificial intelligence (AI) research has placed Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) among recognised contributors in the field, as PhD candidate Tan Jing Jie earned the Best Presenter Award at the 5th International Conference on Computer Technologies (ICCTech 2026), held from 3 to 5 February 2026 in Langkawi, Malaysia. The recognition highlights UTAR’s continued efforts in research that integrates technical excellence with societal relevance.

Co-organised by leading academic institutions including Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah and FH JOANNEUM University of Applied Sciences, the conference convened international researchers, engineers and industry practitioners to present cutting-edge developments in computer technologies. The Best Presenter Award, announced during the conference, recognises clarity, innovation, and impact in research presentation, with Tan recognised among the presenters at the conference.

Tan, a third-year Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) candidate from UTAR’s Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKC FES), received the award for his presentation of the project titled SEAVIP: Social Enhancement Application for Visually Impaired People with User-Centered UI/UX and Mobile-Optimized Face Recognition. The project exemplifies UTAR’s emphasis on research that is both technologically rigorous and socially transformative.

The SEAVIP system addresses a critical gap in assistive technology for visually impaired individuals by enabling real-time face recognition and contextual social cues such as emotion, age, and gender through a mobile-based platform. Unlike conventional solutions that are often cost-prohibitive or computationally intensive, SEAVIP introduces a novel boosted face recognition framework that significantly enhances accuracy while reducing processing requirements. This allows the application to function efficiently on standard smartphones, expanding accessibility for users in diverse socio-economic contexts.

Tan explained that the motivation behind the research was to bridge the gap between advanced AI capabilities and real-world usability. “The goal was to create a solution that not only demonstrates strong algorithmic performance but also delivers meaningful improvements to daily social interaction for visually impaired users,” he shared. The application’s real-world validation, including achieving near-perfect usability scores among visually impaired testers, further underscores its practical relevance.

Reflecting on the award, Tan described the recognition as a significant milestone in his research journey. “Receiving the Best Presenter award is both an honor and an encouragement for our approach to combining deep technical research with human-centred design. It reinforces the importance of developing innovations that are not only scientifically sound but also capable of creating real impact,” he said. He further noted that the achievement provides momentum for future advancements, including the integration of large language models to enhance conversational capabilities and scene understanding.

Tan also acknowledged the critical role of UTAR’s academic ecosystem in enabling his success. The project was initially inspired by his undergraduate supervisor, Dr Tan Joi San from the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology, and further advanced under the guidance of his PhD supervisors, Assoc Prof Dr Kwan Ban Hoe, Ir Dr Danny Ng Wee Kiat, and Assoc Prof Ir Ts Dr Hum Yan Chai from the Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKC FES). Their mentorship, combined with UTAR’s strong research culture, interdisciplinary collaboration, and access to advanced facilities, provided a robust foundation for the project’s development. Support from the Centre for Healthcare Science and Technology (CHST), particularly through the Excellence Award Fund, further enabled international exposure and participation at the conference.

This achievement reflects UTAR’s strategic focus on advancing research excellence in artificial intelligence, particularly in areas that intersect with healthcare, accessibility, and digital inclusion. By fostering a research environment that prioritises both innovation and societal relevance, UTAR continues to produce graduates and researchers capable of addressing complex global challenges.

Prof Dr Vitaliy Mezhuyev (left), Conference Chair of ICCTech 2026, presenting the certificate to Tan Jing Jie