Qatari Money Reader: A smart mobile app to support persons with visual impairment – Supported by Mada Innovation Program

In 2018, Innovation Factory Limited developed a unique smartphone application called “Qatari Money Reader” fully funded through the direct grant stream under the Mada Innovation Program (MIP, 2021). The app can scan and identify Qatari currency by just using the camera of the smartphone. The solution was effective for people with visual impairment & the elderly while retaining their privacy by identifying the value of the notes when they are in public places or when they need to count their money. In Addition to that, the app includes other features like reading the Qatari Riyal currency in real-time and works entirely offline without the need to have internet connectivity. Once the currency is detected, the app will inform the user about the value of money in Arabic and English. With the update in the Qatari Bills, the Mada Innovation program supported the development of Money Reader App V2 with added features like new bill detection, Counting notes, Exchange notes and Experiment on fake note detection. Mada hosted focus groups and user testing sessions to evaluate the application before the official dissemination.