From left, Javier Pimentel, Noah Anderson, Doris Chaney, Stefan Eng and Leonard Tatum. Missing, Kristoffer Larson.

Five California State University, Northridge  students took first place at the 2014 SS12 Code for a Cause national competition.

The computer science majors — freshman Noah J. Anderson, senior Leonard Tatum, junior Stefan King, junior Kristoffer Larson and junior Javier Pimental — created CamAcc, the first Android camera application for the blind and visually impaired, which made it’s debut at CSUN’s 29^th Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference held in San Diego in March.

The specific purpose of the application is designed to make taking pictures a breeze through voice recognition while giving user feedback through accessible features similar to Google talkback. Users can take a picture, apply a filter and share it on Facebook, all by voice commands. CamAcc takes care of the technical stuff like auto-focusing, face detection, centering portraits and light detection including auto flash.

The students tested their design with many of the visually impaired conference attendees.

“Before nationals began, the app was being talked about by many national conference participants who filled the room with interest to learn more about it,” said Doris Chaney, coordinator for the CSUN 2014 SS12 competition.

“Developing for the SS12 Code for a Cause was a blast,” Anderson said “I felt an intense feeling of joy when a blind person used our app at the competition and said, ‘this is awesome; how can I get it?’

“Some of us came into the competition with a wealth of knowledge and on the job experience,” Anderson continued.  “And many, like myself, have very little —if any— industry experience.”

Students were given business cards at the end of their presentation by technology professionals who thought they already had their college degrees.  One of the judges was so impressed by the students he offered them jobs. Having a few years to graduate, the students were able to accept internships.

CSUN students have won the event three times in the past four years since they began participating. Chaney and her students also presented their project at the seventh Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges Southwestern Regional Conference hosted by CSUN’s computer science department in Los Angeles.

“I learned skills in Android, but most importantly worked with an awesome team who I maintain contact with today as we continue our work. ” Anderson said. “Of course winning was also a big plus.”

For more information, email csun.camacc@gmail.com. To see the code that won the competition ,visit https://github.com/ProjPossibility/2014-CSUN-Cam4Blind.

College of Engineering and Computer Science