SEED Student Story｜A-EYE by Ken Mochizuki Wins Gold at Asia Pacific ICT Awards for Tech with Heart

At SEED, we believe the true meaning of technology education lies not only in mastering skills but also in inspiring young people to respond to social challenges with innovative thinking. Through a curriculum that blends theory and practice, we are committed to nurturing a new generation of innovators with future vision and social responsibility.

This student’s journey embodies that mission. Ken Mochizuki (Ken) began with a curiosity about games. Through SEED’s courses, guidance from his school teachers, and dedicated self-learning, he gradually built a solid technical foundation and transformed his knowledge into an innovation with social value. A-EYE is not just a technological achievement—it is proof of how a young person can use technology to meet real-world needs.

From Curiosity to Care: A-EYE as Innovation in Action

For Ken, video games were more than entertainment—they opened the door to a new world. “I realized games have backends, servers, and data stored remotely,” he recalled. That spark of curiosity led him into programming and cloud technology, immersing him in the vast ocean of cloud computing.

But technology without purpose is just empty code.

“One time, a visually impaired person visited our school’s exhibition booth. That encounter left a deep impression on me,” Ken shared. He realized that most assistive technologies for the visually impaired were outdated, often designed more than a decade ago, such as audio signals at traffic lights. A powerful wish took root in him: “Why not create something that truly gives back to society, helping the visually impaired solve problems they cannot solve themselves?” That desire to ease others’ difficulties gave his invention a warm soul.

The Journey Begins: Learning and Building Dreams

Passion alone is not enough—turning ideas into reality requires a strong foundation and clear direction. SEED’s cloud computing course became a turning point. “SEED’s course may not accompany you for life, but it can definitely change your life,” Ken reflected. “When I first started coding, SEED helped me build a deeper digital foundation and gave me direction, confirming my choice to pursue innovation.”

Over the next six months, Ken immersed himself in hardware assembly and programming. Circuit boards ordered online gradually transformed in his hands into the prototype of A-EYE—a product carrying hope.

What Does A-EYE Do?

Imagine a visually impaired person walking into a store and picking up an item. A-EYE, the “smart shopping assistant,” springs into action. It identifies the product through its camera, announces the price, and even highlights current discounts.

Ken explained: “Once the system locates the user’s store, it connects to the store’s database to find the product’s price and promotions, displaying them instantly.”

To deliver such a seamless experience, deep collaboration with merchants is essential—from collecting data during development to providing real-time product updates after launch.

On Stage: Winning International Recognition

Combining technology, empathy, and countless hours of effort, Ken’s invention A-EYE won the Gold Award in the Secondary School category at the 2024 Asia Pacific ICT Awards (APICTA). Using image recognition, A-EYE empowers visually impaired users to identify products quickly, enhancing their freedom and convenience in shopping.

Reflecting on his APICTA journey, Ken said with a smile:
“At first, I really wanted this invention to win many competitions, but I lost quite a few. By the time I reached APICTA, I wasn’t focused on winning anymore—I wanted more people to see my product and this issue.”

For him, true achievement came from receiving feedback from visually impaired users and witnessing the impact firsthand. That real-world resonance carried more weight than any trophy.

Looking Ahead: From Invention to Sustainable Growth

Winning the award gave A-EYE visibility, but Ken knows growth requires more. He sees funding as the fertile soil to strengthen product safety and train AI systems, and merchant collaboration as the sunlight to provide real-world testing environments.

Most importantly, he knows he cannot do it alone: “I really need a team.” What began as a seed of compassion is now seeking to grow into a forest—an invention story about how technology, collaboration, and perseverance can nurture a better future.

Conclusion

As an education platform dedicated to cultivating future innovators, SEED believes every student has the potential to change the world. Ken’s story is the perfect example of our philosophy: when young people are equipped with the right knowledge, resources, and support, they can not only master technology but also apply it creatively to meet social needs and bring positive change.

We will continue to provide opportunities for inspiration and practice, helping ideas take root in reality and grow into forests that sustain the future. The inventors, engineers and change-makers of tomorrow are starting here.