Galimzhan Gabdreshov

Galimzhan Gabdreshov (October 30th, 1972) is a Kazakh inventor and businessman who received WSA (supported by UN) prize award. He developed many devices in different fields such as software development, military development, and the development of devices for blind and impaired. These inventions, which include the bio-locator, the "Braille self-traner" device, karaoke for blind, and early versions of the "Electric Signature for Blind", have received many awards and were listed in articles read worldwide. [1] [2] [3] He was one of the first inventors to apply the principles of neurology science to the process of invention, working on bio-locator. He is the first inventor from Kazakhstan to ever receive WSA prize award. [4] [5]

Early life

Galimzhan as a child

Galimzhan Gabdreshov  was born in 1972 in Kazakhstan, Arkalyk. His father is unknown as he never mentioned him. His mother Seidalina Kulshara was a guidance counselor at the Educational Institute of Arkalyk. Later she became an entrepreneur.

Galimzhan was taught reading, writing, and arithmetic at the local school. However, he was a very curious child and learned most things by reading on his own. As a child, he became fascinated with technology and spent hours working on experiments at home.

After graduating, he attained Kazakh National University where he obtained bachelor`s degree. [6] He graduated in 1996.

Early career

Galimzhan Gabdreshov  began his career in the year of 2000, being a senior faculty applied math at Kazakh Academy of Transportation while he was acquiring Master`s degree in the major of mathematics, informatics and pedagogy. At that time Galimzhan actively learned programming on his own.

After graduating in 2001, he decided to remain working there as to finish his learning of programming.

In 2002, at the age of 30, Galimzhan became the Executive Director of Kazakh Transport Research Institute where he gained knowledge and experience in the field of technology and science he needed. His curiosity only had been rising since the childhood and the more he learned the more he became interested in the world around him. As of that age he had a mindset of a genius inventor the proof of which became the innovational for that time Satellite software which were implemented while he was working for the government.

In 2005 Galimzhan decided to become a cofounder and CTO of an IT company "Galan Technoengineering" [7], working with government. Working there he enhanced his software and suggested to use it as a newest way of telecommunication. After a long struggle to prove its effectiveness his software was finally implemented.

In 2007 he established and became the CTO of "Galan Telecom", which had 24 million $ acquisition by Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Transportation, and Ministry of Healthcare of the Government of Kazakhstan. He worked with the military, developed logistic systems, and oncology treatment management platform, which increased the rate of successful operations. [8]

Establishing SEZUAL

In 2017 Galimzhan alongside with a group of blind people established “SEZUAL” association of blind and visually impaired people. The start-up’s name comes from the Kazakh words sezu, meaning “to feel” and al, meaning “to take.” [9] [10]

Galimzhan's major innovation was the development of biolocator in 2017. It became Sezual’s main product that enables the blind and the visually impaired to navigate without sight. In popular culture, echolocation conjures images of dolphins and bats — but humans can be taught the skill too. [11]

Both sighted and blind individuals can learn how to navigate their environment using “clicks”. Stated generally, SEZUAL is an invention that pertains to methods and apparatuses that aid an unsighted person in maneuvering within his or her environment by generating sound waves that echo off nearby surrounding objects, thereby assisting the unsighted or partially sighted person in determining the location or size of the surrounding objects.

World Bank Blogs describes the device the best: "Sezual’s device, with special training, helps blind people “see” objects in three dimensions within a radius of 15 meters. Worn around the neck, it emits a high-pulse click that reflects off surrounding objects, providing information on their distance and shape that can be processed in 3D in the visual cortex of the user’s brain. It can even identify what material the object is made from. The device allows the visually impaired to navigate space freely, to work, travel, and live a full life."

SEZUAL is currently in the process of becoming a worldwide company working with Singapore. [12]

Other inventions and projects

Braille tutoring device

Initially, SEZUAL invented the self-voiced Braille tutoring device at the request of low vision specialists from Kazakhstan schools for the blind. SEZUAL discovered that there were no tactile electronic self-tutorials of all Braille symbols. It was essential for children to have the opportunity to independently train their fingertips for the recognition of letters, especially during the COVID-19 period.[13]

According to low vision specialists, the Braille tutoring device is effective for several reasons. Firstly, it allows children to train their fingertips to recognize letters, numbers and arithmetic signs on their own.

Secondly, the device saves the teacher’s time and due to this technology, kids have the opportunity to repeat the lesson materials on their own. The device contributes to improving the ability of children to feel the finger relief-point font and independent learning of the Braille number system.

Schools for children with vision disabilities and state libraries in all cities acquired and distributed the Braille tutoring devices.

The SEZUAL team applied to several organizations in Kazakhstan and abroad for sponsorship. Tengizchevroil (Chevron Tengiz Expansion) decided to support the project. It felt that the project aligned with its values on education and health care, and because of the scalability potential of this technology for all children with vision disabilities in the world. [14]

Other inventions

Galimzhan also developed karaoke for blind, signing device for blind, etc. which were mentioned in some of the articles, albeit, it wasn`t discussed publicly in detailes yet.

Awards

• SEZUAL device was shortlisted in the prestigious contest World Summit Awards supported by the United Nations. [15]
• The World Intellectual Property Organization has recognized SEZUAL as a discovery, invention, industrially applicable, and categorized it as a full substitute for vision. [16]
• SEZUAL company received grants funding from the World Bank Fostering Productive Innovation Project. The World Bank's official blog published an article about our device as one of the success stories in Kazakhstan. [17]
• SEZUAL was included in the list of the best technological innovations published by the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (Oficina Española de Patentes y Marcas). [18]
• Within fundraising initiative of the team Chevron Tengiz Expansion - Tengizchevroil has supported the project with funding to provide Braille self tutorial devices for blind children in Atyrau, Kazakhstan.

References

1. An article, June 9, 2021, by Nikola Đorđević: Kazakh start-up Sezual, Central Asia’s inclusive innovator: https://emerging-europe.com/business/kazakh-start-up-sezual-central-asias-inclusive-innovator/
2. An article, February 11, 2021, by Yeraly Beksultan and Karen Grigorian: A Kazakh start-up helps the blind – through echolocation: https://blogs.worldbank.org/europeandcentralasia/kazakh-startup-helps-blind-through-echolocation
3. An article, October 21, 2020, by Nikola Đorđević: Meet Sezual, the Kazakh start-up bringing echolocation to the blind and visually impaired: https://emerging-europe.com/business/meet-sezual-the-kazakh-start-up-bringing-echolocation-to-the-blind-and-visually-impaired/
4. WSA 2020 Nominees: https://wsa-global.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/WSA-Nominees-2020-smart-settlements-and-urbanisation.pdf
5. 22.06.2021, "Ambassador of India to Kazakhstan Shubdarshini Tripathi got acquainted with the work of the Kazakh-Indian Training Center for Information and Communication Technologies at ENU": https://enu.kz/en/cooperation/news/63598/
6. September 20, 2021. GALAN TECHNOENGINEERING: https://www.emis.com/php/company-profile/KZ/Galan_Technoengineering_TOO__Galan_Technoengineering_%D0%A2%D0%9E%D0%9E__ru_8615988.html
7. An article, December 18, 2020, by John Pennington: Tech breakthroughs highlight Kazakhstan’s growing links with Southeast Asia: https://www.aseantoday.com/2020/12/tech-breakthroughs-highlight-kazakhstans-growing-links-with-southeast-asia/
8. An article, September 22, 2020: Kazakh Engineers Raise Funds to Help 40 Blind Children with Sezual Braille Tutoring Device: https://astanatimes.com/2020/09/kazakh-engineers-raise-funds-to-help-40-blind-children-with-sezual-braille-tutoring-device/
9. An article, May 27, 2021: Production of Braille tutoring device receives welcome boost: https://disabilityinsider.com/2021/05/27/technology/production-of-braille-tutoring-device-receives-welcome-boost/
10. Linked in of Galimzhan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sezual/

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