Ryan Merrill@RyanJMerrill

OBSERVA is a privacy-first AI mobility assistant designed for blind and low-vision users who need safe, reliable navigation support in everyday environments. Unlike many tools that depend on cloud processing, OBSERVA is built to run core safety features fully on-device, including in airplane mode, so users can rely on it in low-connectivity settings and for sensitive private contexts. Our current Android prototype uses a continuous CameraX loop with low-latency audio and haptic alerts, a hazard engine with cooldown and scene memory to avoid repetitive alert spam, and an accessibility-focused interface optimized for non-visual interaction. The product direction includes robust object recognition, hazard detection, contextual navigation assistance, and multilingual interaction/translation pathways while maintaining strict local processing guarantees. We position OBSERVA in a gap between pure OCR/vision apps and infrastructure-dependent systems (e.g., code-tag ecosystems), focusing on independent mobility, comfort, and trust. Our core value proposition is simple: private, offline, safety-oriented assistive intelligence that is usable in the real world, not just in ideal network conditions.

🌉 On-site Only Hackathon | 📅 June 27–28, 2026 | 📍 San Francisco, CA This is an in-person hackathon in San Francisco for selected participants. Capacity is limited to 150 people, teams must include 3–5 members, and there is no online or hybrid participation. Build real-time AI apps that run directly on Snapdragon-powered mobile devices using ExecuTorch. Selected teams will get Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra devices on-site for building, testing, and live demos. 📍 On-site Venue (June 27–28): The Web Data Loft by Bright Data 625 2nd St, San Francisco, CA 📱 Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra devices provided on-site for selected teams 🧠 Learn from Qualcomm and Meta experts through workshops, mentorship, and hands-on support 🏆 Prizes include Meta Quest 3 headsets, Ray-Ban Meta AI Glasses, and post-event project support 🧑‍💻 Apply now to build the future of on-device AI with ExecuTorch and Snapdragon. Once pre-approved, you will receive further instructions on how to complete the acceptance process. Application deadline: June 17, 2026, at 11:59 PM PDT.