Elihle Stali: The Young South African Inventor Who Wants to Help Blind People
When he was a child, Elihle Stali helped his grandmother, who was blind, get around. He made a promise: one day, he would find a way to help her become more independent. Today, this young South African is developing smart glasses powered by artificial intelligence. His story shows how an idea can help others!
Imagine not being able to see what is in front of you. How would you know if a chair was blocking your way or if there was an object on a table?
These were some of the challenges faced by Elihle Stali’s grandmother in South Africa. As a child, Elihle often helped her move around. He realised that everyday activities could be difficult for someone who is blind.
So he asked himself a question: what if technology could help her move around more easily?
Smart Glasses That Talk!
Elihle founded Spectacles4TheBlind SA, a company developing smart glasses with a team of partners.
How do they work? Using a camera and artificial intelligence tools, the glasses can identify objects and describe what is around the person wearing them. The information is then communicated out loud.
The glasses are designed to work in several languages, including English, Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu and Sesotho.
The goal is simple: to help blind and visually impaired people better understand their surroundings and become more independent.
A Young Inventor Who Does Not Give Up
The journey has not always been easy. Elihle faced difficulties raising money to develop his project and present it abroad. He launched an online fundraising campaign, which received support from many South Africans.
In 2019, while he was still in high school, he had already presented an early version of his idea at a science competition. Since then, he has continued working on his project and received several awards.
In 2026, his team was also selected among the innovative startups invited to showcase their ideas at an international technology event in Hong Kong.
The glasses still need to go through further development and manufacturing steps before they can be made widely available. But Elihle continues to pursue his goal: using technology to help people who need it.
What Would You Invent?
Elihle’s story reminds us that an invention can begin with a simple question, a problem we notice or the desire to help someone we love.
Did you know? Artificial intelligence can help a computer recognise objects in an image and describe certain things it sees.
Your turn! If you could invent something to make life easier for other people, what would it be? Tell us your idea!
