Project Info

Winner

Best Beginner Hack (Keychron K8 Pro QMK/VIA Wireless Mechanical Keyboard per team member)

BlinkAI

Inspiration

For millions of people living with Parkinson’s, ALS, and other mobility challenges, something as simple as sending a message can feel overwhelming. Most digital assistants rely on voice or typing, but what if those barriers didn’t exist at all? That’s why we created Blink AI—not just another assistant, but an intelligent system powered by a groundbreaking translation algorithm that converts blinks into text, opening a world of possibilities for those who need it most. Because communication should never be limited by physical ability. Everyone deserves a way to express their thoughts, ask questions, and stay connected—and now, they can do it with just a blink.

What it does

Blink AI detects intentional blinks, measures their duration and sequence, translates them into Morse code, converts that Morse code into text, and then sends the final text to an AI assistant to generate a response. How It Works: Blink Detection: The Blink AI algorithm tracks intentional blinks, filtering out natural blinking to avoid false inputs. Blink Detection: The Blink AI algorithm tracks intentional blinks, filtering out natural blinking to avoid false inputs. Blink Interpretation: It analyzes the duration and frequency of each blink, translating them into dots and dashes in Morse code. Blink Interpretation: It analyzes the duration and frequency of each blink, translating them into dots and dashes in Morse code. Morse Code Conversion: The Morse code sequence is instantly decoded into readable text, forming a structured message. Morse Code Conversion: The Morse code sequence is instantly decoded into readable text, forming a structured message. AI Processing: The translated text is sent to an external AI assistant, which processes it like a standard input and generates a response. AI Processing: The translated text is sent to an external AI assistant, which processes it like a standard input and generates a response. Response Delivery: The AI assistant’s response is sent back to the user, enabling a smooth, natural exchange of information. Response Delivery: The AI assistant’s response is sent back to the user, enabling a smooth, natural exchange of information. What It Unlocks: Ask Questions & Get Answers – Interact with AI assistants and receive real-time responses. Send Messages with a Blink – Communicate effortlessly without touch or voice. Control Smart Devices – Operate technology hands-free with precise blink commands. Express Thoughts Clearly – A powerful tool for individuals with limited mobility, turning intention into action. Blink AI doesn’t just detect blinks—it translates them into a language AI can understand, creating a seamless bridge between human expression and technology. No voice. No keyboard. Just a blink.

Challenges we ran into

Implementing the Morse Code Algorithm Accurately – Converting blinks into Morse code required precision. The algorithm had to reliably distinguish between short and long blinks, recognize intentional sequences, and filter out involuntary blinks. Fine-tuning timing and detection thresholds was crucial to prevent errors and misinterpretations. Implementing the Morse Code Algorithm Accurately – Converting blinks into Morse code required precision. The algorithm had to reliably distinguish between short and long blinks, recognize intentional sequences, and filter out involuntary blinks. Fine-tuning timing and detection thresholds was crucial to prevent errors and misinterpretations. Integrating the AI Assistant – Once Morse code was translated into text, we needed to ensure the AI assistant could process the input accurately and return relevant responses. This required optimizing how text was formatted, transmitted, and made compatible with various AI models to provide fast, meaningful, and user-friendly interactions. Integrating the AI Assistant – Once Morse code was translated into text, we needed to ensure the AI assistant could process the input accurately and return relevant responses. This required optimizing how text was formatted, transmitted, and made compatible with various AI models to provide fast, meaningful, and user-friendly interactions. Balancing Speed and Accuracy– The system needed to be both fast and precise. If it processed blinks too quickly, it risked misreading input; too slowly, and it would feel unresponsive. Achieving the right balance required extensive testing, adjustments, and optimizations. Balancing Speed and Accuracy– The system needed to be both fast and precise. If it processed blinks too quickly, it risked misreading input; too slowly, and it would feel unresponsive. Achieving the right balance required extensive testing, adjustments, and optimizations.

Accomplishments we're proud of

We developed a fully functional prototype that accurately translates blinks into real-time AI-powered communication. We developed a fully functional prototype that accurately translates blinks into real-time AI-powered communication. We created one of the first Morse-code-based blink detection systems, turning blinks into a seamless way to interact with AI. We created one of the first Morse-code-based blink detection systems, turning blinks into a seamless way to interact with AI. We empowered individuals with a new way to communicate, proving that technology can be for everyone. We empowered individuals with a new way to communicate, proving that technology can be for everyone.

What we learned

Technology should work for people—not the other way around. If it’s not intuitive, it won’t be used. Technology should work for people—not the other way around. If it’s not intuitive, it won’t be used. Small improvements make a big difference. Even a 0.1-second boost in response time completely changed the user experience. Small improvements make a big difference. Even a 0.1-second boost in response time completely changed the user experience. Good technology isn’t about making things complicated—it’s about making life easier. The best solutions take away barriers, not add them.

What's next

Good technology isn’t about making things complicated—it’s about making life easier. The best solutions take away barriers, not add them. What's next for BlinkAI Making Blink Detection Even Smarter – Improving accuracy so it recognizes blinks more naturally, refines Morse code translation, and responds even faster. Making Blink Detection Even Smarter – Improving accuracy so it recognizes blinks more naturally, refines Morse code translation, and responds even faster. Helping Blink AI Learn From Users – Fine-tuning the system so it adapts to each person’s unique blinking style, making interactions feel effortless. Helping Blink AI Learn From Users – Fine-tuning the system so it adapts to each person’s unique blinking style, making interactions feel effortless. Expanding AI Compatibility – Ensuring Blink AI works smoothly with different AI assistants and platforms, giving users more choices. Expanding AI Compatibility – Ensuring Blink AI works smoothly with different AI assistants and platforms, giving users more choices. Bringing Blink AI to More People – Optimizing it for more devices so anyone who needs it can use it, no matter their setup. Bringing Blink AI to More People – Optimizing it for more devices so anyone who needs it can use it, no matter their setup. Real-World Testing & Feedback – Working directly with users, accessibility experts, and healthcare providers to keep improving Blink AI where it matters most. Real-World Testing & Feedback – Working directly with users, accessibility experts, and healthcare providers to keep improving Blink AI where it matters most.

Analysis

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11

Figures cover GitHub contributors during the hackathon window. A co-authored commit counts in full for each author, so per-member totals add up to more than the whole-team figures.

Technology

Found in codeClaimed only

CSSIn code
FlaskIn code
HTMLIn code
PythonIn code
ReactClaimed

4 of 5 appear in the indexed code. 1 claimed on Devpost could not be matched to code, which may simply mean the tool leaves no trace in the repository.

AI coding agents

No AI coding agent signals were found in this repository.

Detected from committed agent config files and commit authorship. Absence of a signal is not proof an agent was unused.

Codebase size

Source size

37 KB

Source files

Counts recognized source files only; vendored directories, binaries and lockfiles are excluded, so this is smaller than the repository on disk.