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In this issue...
Note from the Chair
This new year has had an excellent start for SIGHT with the announcement of our new Steering Committee. I'm grateful and honored that you elected me to serve one final year as Chair. And I'm pleased to introduce the new SIGHT Steering Committee for 2016, each of whom will be leading a subcommittee:

Assessment: Rajnish Gupta, Awards and Recognition: Ajay Poddar, Communications: Suyash Chopra, Communities of Practice: Tim Lee, Education: Pritpal Singh, Events: Jineet Doshi and Anand B, Operations: Deepak Mathur, Marketing & Branding: Nirupama Prakesh Kumar, Partnerships: Raj Madhavan, Projects: Sampath Veeraraghavan, Volunteer Management & Engagement: Mario Aleman.

Read on for highlights from your fellow SIGHT groups around the world. And, as always, thank you for everything that you do!

Kartik Kulkarni, Chair, IEEE SIGHT Steering Committee
New SIGHT Project Funding Deadlines
The Steering Committee is now accepting proposals for SIGHT project funding. The committee plans to review proposals during three periods in 2016, and we will award grants of US$500 to nearly $20,000. The activities that we fund must be completed by the end of 2016 to be considered.
 
Deadlines:
  • February 15
  • May 15
  • August 15

Good luck! 

Technology to the rescue of fishermen
Geethu Sree of the Artisanal Deep Sea Fishers SIGHT tells the story of a fisherman who was injured at sea and was able to communicate with his colleagues through Whatsapp.

"This story highlights the occupational hazards involved in fishing. The project "Technology Adoption for Reduction of Vulnerability in Fishing" was started recently and our team is working on it," Sree says.

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Humans of IEEE's SIGHT Stories: Vincent Jain, Artisanal Deep Sea Fishers
Two men work in a workshop
Humans of IEEE along with IEEE SIGHT presents "SIGHT Stories." Each month we will share an excerpt of an interview with a SIGHT volunteer. For our inaugural edition, we interviewed Vincent Jain, a founding member of the Artisanal Deep Sea Fishers SIGHT in South India.

"Fishing at sea is the most dangerous occupation," Jain says. "So, safeguarding fishers' lives at sea is of prime importance. Because of the poor communication facilities, many fishermen lost their lives and their belongings too."

They have developed new projects to help: 
  • Safe "smart" boats
  • Solar-powered tricycles for fish vendors
  • Solar ice makers
  • Fishing Vessel Monitoring and Control System
  • Infrastructure assessment in harbors
For the full interview, please see SIGHT Stories at Humans of IEEE.
Making Computers More Accessible: IMaRC's Design Contest Winner

A device that makes computers more accessible to people with disabilities won the 2015 International Microwave and RF Conference (IMaRC) Design Contest, held in Hyderabad.

Dr. Preeta Sharan and Sandip Kumar Roy list the features of their innovation:

The device provides an easier way for a person without limbs or with a speech impediment to interact with the computer.

With the device installed, clapping hands can make the computer respond and take orders by voice. Those with speech problems can instead use a mouse, controlling it with head movements, eye winks and vocal commands, if possible. The team has plans to develop a better mouse, too.

"Our aim is to create a cost-effective, less power hungry, portable and small device substitute for the mouse that can help the disabled. Once the device is developed it can be accessed through suitable NGOs to provide vocational rehabilitation to disabled people," Dr. Sharan says.
group photo
(Left) Dr. Preeta Sharan and (Right) Sandip Roy at the Oxford College of Engineering, Bangalore. (Center) Dr. Shiban Koul (IIT Delhi).
Deadlines for SIGHT Newsletter Submissions
Share news about your events, innovations and successes with the worldwide SIGHT community. Submit announcements or story ideas by the first of each month for a chance to see it in the next month's edition.
 
Submission guidelines:
  • 150 words or less
  • Include photos! (with captions)
  • Include Web links! (Interested people will want more information)
Please send correspondence to Rob Goodier at r.goodier@ieee.org. Thank you!