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Indian Express
01-07-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
To help colourblind people see colours, Surat tech student develops technique
An MTech student of Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology (SVNIT), Surat, has won an award for developing an image recolouring technique to help people with colour blindness. Saakshi Padmawar's research paper was selected for the best paper award at the OPJU International Technology Conference, held at O P Jindal University, Chhattisgarh, recently. Padmawar's research focuses on improving the visual experience for individuals with Colour Vision Deficiency (CVD), popularly known as colour blindness, a condition that affects around eight per cent of the global male population and 0.4 per cent of women and girls. People with CVD often find it difficult to distinguish between certain colour combinations, especially red and green, or blue and yellow, which can make it challenging to interpret traffic lights, educational charts, websites and more. Padmawar, a student of Computer Science, developed an algorithm which can help people to see a wider range of colours. 'This can be used on the screens of gadgets. In the future, such techniques can be used in smart eyeglasses, allowing people to enjoy seeing different colours. I thought about helping people in the medical field. I chose the topic as it came under our subject project. I worked for five to six hours a day for five months on this topic,' she told The Indian Express. According to Padmawar, 'By applying recolouration techniques, we aim to separate red and green hues effectively, enhancing distinguishing while maintaining visual naturalness. The ability to perceive colours arises from the complex interaction of light with the human visual system, particularly the retina cone cells. Any disruption in this process can lead to colour vision deficiencies that impact a person's daily activities and overall quality of life.' The paper — titled 'Colourblind-Friendly Image Recolouring Using Generative Adversarial Networks' — was prepared under the guidance of associate professor Dr Chandra Prakash. Sources said that out of 440 submissions from across the country to the OPJU International Technology Conference, her paper was chosen among the top 35 before it went on to receive the Best Paper Award. The paper notes how colour blindness often goes unnoticed for years because people with the condition may adapt to their environment without realising that they perceive colours differently. This is especially true for mild to moderate forms of CVD, where individuals may only have trouble distinguishing specific colours, such as red and green or blue and yellow. Human colour vision relies on three types of cone cells in the retina L-cones (sensitive to long wavelengths, associated with red), M-cones (sensitive to medium wavelengths, linked to green), and S-cones (sensitive to medium wavelengths, related to blue). Dr Chandra Prakash said, 'In dichromatism, the absence of one type of cone limits colour perception…. Protanopia results from the absence of L-cones, while deuteranopia arises from the absence of M-cones. This leads to a significant overlap in perceived red and green hues, which diminishes contrast. For individuals with Protanopia or Deuteranopia, the red-green opponent channel is severely impaired.' 'Our study addresses these deficiencies, particularly for Protanopia and Deuteranopia. These conditions affect red-green differentiation, creating challenges in distinguishing colours in natural and artificial scenes,' Dr Prakash said. Padmawar further said, '… Our methodology consists of three parts: simulating dichromatic vision, recolouring using linear transformation techniques, and generalising recolouration for unseen images using a GAN-based approach. Every phase is intended to address a different facet of improving dichromatic people's visual perception.'
Time of India
04-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
VMC revives proposal for new bridge at Kamatibaug Zoo
Vadodara: The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) will go ahead with the construction of a new bridge for visitors at the Kamatibaug Zoo. The existing bridge, built during the reign of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, was shut to the public in 2023 due to safety concerns. The bridge, which links the aviary with the main zoo premises, was first closed to heavy and four-wheel vehicles in 2022, after signs of structural ageing were noted. Following the Morbi bridge collapse later that year, authorities decided to completely bar public access to the old bridge. For a while, it was used only by zoo and garden officials, but even that was stopped after the VMC's bridge department raised fresh red flags over its safety. Plans to build a parallel bridge have been under consideration since last year. However, the civic body's standing committee initially rejected the proposal when the lowest bid for the construction turned out to be 35% higher than the estimated cost. Even after negotiations, the revised bid stood 32.3% above the Rs 11.64 crore estimate. The contractor had quoted Rs 14.62 crore, which the committee found too steep. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo The proposal was then returned with a suggestion to explore the possibility of strengthening or restoring the heritage bridge. A report by Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology (SVNIT), Surat, later confirmed that the existing bridge could not be strengthened or rehabilitated. Zoo officials, meanwhile, have been pushing for a new bridge, pointing out that the lack of direct access has disrupted daily operations. Staff now have to take longer routes to transport food and other supplies. Visitors — especially schoolchildren and senior citizens — are also facing inconvenience as they have to walk extra distances to access different sections of the zoo due to the closure of the old bridge. In light of the SVNIT findings and the challenges faced by zoo personnel and the public, a new proposal has been drafted. Sources said the same contractor who submitted the original bid last year has now agreed to maintain the quoted price and extend the validity of the tender. The revised proposal has once again been submitted to the standing committee and is expected to come up for discussion later this week.
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Crores go down the drain as homes for the poor crumble across cities
Ahmedabad/Surat/Vadodara: A criminal waste of public money is being witnessed in key cities of Gujarat, where despite hundreds of crores being spent on their construction, homes in 'new' for the economically weaker sections (EWS), remain unallocated or uninhabitable, exposing their shoddy quality. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Six months ago, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) demolished 1,664 unused houses in Vatva, built at a cost of Rs 55.20 crore. These units were part of the 18,928 houses constructed under the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Scheme before 2014 for Rs 500 crore. "The 1,664 houses, which had been vacant for over a decade, had deteriorated significantly. An influential politician from the area had pressured to stop the allotment process," admits a senior AMC official. The official further said, "A structural audit deemed them unsafe, prompting their demolition. Now, AMC has begun inspection of the remaining houses." Nearly 4,000 units the 18,928 were never allocated for a long time — largely due to beneficiaries failing to pay the required Rs 65,000, leading to prolonged vacancy and decay. "The upcoming structural audit will guide AMC's next steps under the Public Housing Redevelopment Policy 2016," said the official. AMC's standing committee recently approved Rs 81 lakh for SVNIT, Surat, to assess the structural stability of over 8,000 houses across 270 blocks in Vatva and Behrampura. No action has been initiated against the contractors. "Most of these houses were allocated to families displaced by the riverfront project," adds the AMC official. The rot also extends to Vadodara where a Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) housing scheme in Sayajipura, comprising 1,196 units has been complete since 2019 but remains unoccupied. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now These homes for the urban poor, lack basic amenities like reliable water supply, and have been abandoned. "Even these beneficiaries have not paid their contribution for the houses yet. We got the blocks painted again and some minor work that remains can be done anytime," said a Vadodara Municipal Corporation official. An elected representative pointed out that while the housing blocks may seem ready, but "without basic amenities like water, the houses cannot be handed over". In Surat, where a Rs 19 crore housing project for the economically weaker section in Bhestan, developed in 2014-15, went into a state of dilapidation even before its tenth anniversary. This project of 270 apartments was constructed without crucial water and drainage connections. With inputs from Yagnesh Mehta
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Time of India
SVNIT student attacked by another, hospitalised
Surat: A second-year engineering student of Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology (SVNIT) was hospitalised after being attacked with scissors by another student on the campus. The attack took place over a conversation with a female student on Monday night. Umra police booked the accused student for voluntarily causing hurt with a sharp weapon that can cause a person's death. They have also urged the SVNIT authorities to enforce stricter entry-exit measures for students at night to avoid such incidents in the future. The incident took place despite the presence of a large number of private security personnel on the campus. According to details, the two students involved in the incident were not registered for the current semester as they had not cleared their last semester. While the student who was assaulted was identified as Jay Gorfad of BTech Electronics Engineering, the accused student was identified as Garvit Jain. Both are friends. Gorfad stayed at Samras hostel on VNSGU campus. On Monday night, Gorfad went to SVNIT mess to have dinner. After dinner, he left for Bhabha Bhavan hostel on the campus to meet his friend Ved on the 7th floor. When he reached the 4th floor, he remembered that he needed to talk to his female friend. He saw Jain who was talking on the phone. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo As Gorfad's phone had been switched off due to battery issues, he requested Jain to connect him to his female friend over the phone. At that time, Jain was talking to the same girl that Gorfad wanted to talk to. Jain cut the phone and told Gorfad that the female friend would not be able to talk to him as she was at the airport. However, Gorfad insisted on talking and requested Jain to connect to her for two minutes as it was urgent. Jain got irritated over this and started beating Gorfad with kicks and punches. Soon, Jain pulled out scissors from his pocket and attacked Gorfad on his face, lips, chest, and back. After the attack, Jain left the place, and a bleeding Gorfad was shifted to a private hospital where a doctor took multiple stitches on his lips and other parts of his body. SVNIT sources said that both students were not registered for the semester as they had not cleared their previos semester. "As both students were day scholars, they don't have the right to stay on the SVNIT campus at night. We have called the parents of the both students and informed them about the incident. We will also inform them about their academic records," said an official of SVNIT. Surat: A second-year engineering student of Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology (SVNIT) was hospitalised after being attacked with scissors by another student on the campus. The attack took place over a conversation with a female student on Monday night. Umra police booked the accused student for voluntarily causing hurt with a sharp weapon that can cause a person's death. They have also urged the SVNIT authorities to enforce stricter entry-exit measures for students at night to avoid such incidents in the future. The incident took place despite the presence of a large number of private security personnel on the campus. According to details, the two students involved in the incident were not registered for the current semester as they had not cleared their last semester. While the student who was assaulted was identified as Jay Gorfad of BTech Electronics Engineering, the accused student was identified as Garvit Jain. Both are friends. Gorfad stayed at Samras hostel on VNSGU campus. On Monday night, Gorfad went to SVNIT mess to have dinner. After dinner, he left for Bhabha Bhavan hostel on the campus to meet his friend Ved on the 7th floor. When he reached the 4th floor, he remembered that he needed to talk to his female friend. He saw Jain who was talking on the phone. As Gorfad's phone had been switched off due to battery issues, he requested Jain to connect him to his female friend over the phone. At that time, Jain was talking to the same girl that Gorfad wanted to talk to. Jain cut the phone and told Gorfad that the female friend would not be able to talk to him as she was at the airport. However, Gorfad insisted on talking and requested Jain to connect to her for two minutes as it was urgent. Jain got irritated over this and started beating Gorfad with kicks and punches. Soon, Jain pulled out scissors from his pocket and attacked Gorfad on his face, lips, chest, and back. After the attack, Jain left the place, and a bleeding Gorfad was shifted to a private hospital where a doctor took multiple stitches on his lips and other parts of his body. SVNIT sources said that both students were not registered for the semester as they had not cleared their previos semester. "As both students were day scholars, they don't have the right to stay on the SVNIT campus at night. We have called the parents of the both students and informed them about the incident. We will also inform them about their academic records," said an official of SVNIT.
