Posted by Eric ShangKuan, Developer Relations Program Supervisor, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and South Asia Frontier.
Preventing Counterfeit Foreign money in Northern Pakistan with Know-how
Counterfeit foreign money stays a big challenge in smaller and distant cities of Pakistan, such because the Gilgit Baltistan area of Northern Pakistan. Ahsan Aman, a Google Developer Scholar Golf equipment (GDSC) Lead at COMSATS Wah College in Islamabad, grew up in a small city within the area and watched residents and shopkeepers change into victims of counterfeiting.
Counterfeiting is outlined because the act of imitating one thing genuine, with the intent to steal, destroy, or substitute the unique, to be used in unlawful transactions, or in any other case with the intent to deceive people into believing that the faux is of equal or larger worth than the true factor.
When Ahsan’s mom obtained a faux 5,000 Rupee be aware from a shopkeeper, Ahsan determined there have to be a technical method to deal with the issue. Ahsan believed a cell software might supply a method for extraordinary individuals who can’t afford the subtle authentication know-how banks use.
“It was clear that widespread folks didn’t have the means to confirm or differentiate between actual and faux notes,” says Ahsan. “This made me marvel if at the moment’s know-how could possibly be employed to deal with this downside.”
With the assist from his GDSC mentors primarily based in Islamabad and his native GDSC chapter, Ahsan launched into a mission to construct an android software that aimed to establish counterfeit foreign money. Ahsan’s Android cell software, 5Hazar, supplies a proof of idea for a counterfeit detection cell software that will allow customers to scan foreign money notes and establish counterfeit cash.
GDSC and Technical Talent Constructing
The applying makes use of digital picture processing made doable by Google Teachable Machine. Ahsan additionally repurposed a lens as an inexpensive {hardware} element–customers can connect the lens to a cellphone digicam, open the appliance, and take an image of a financial institution be aware. Inside ten seconds, the machine studying algorithm can detect whether or not the be aware is actual or a faux.
A technical method results in new alternatives
“I really feel actually proud as a result of not solely do folks see worth within the instrument I constructed, however I additionally obtained to pitch my thought at a number of hackathons as a Google Developer Scholar Membership lead,” says Ahsan.
“By these alternatives, I obtained invited to work with a number one startup incubation middle, and now I’ve a devoted staff working to enhance and scale this concept. I’ve examined the appliance with over 200 prospects and shopkeepers, and I’m very excited to see that the suggestions is constructive and inspiring.”
Ahsan says he’s having fun with his journey of studying new know-how, constructing a instrument to deal with an issue in his neighborhood, and now scaling it extensively.
The Highway Forward
“I strongly consider that at the same time as pupil programmers, we have now the chance and privilege to enhance the lives of individuals round us with the know-how we construct,” Ahsan says. “I encourage each pupil to seek out and participate in such alternatives the place you may study, join, and develop.”
Google Developer Scholar Golf equipment (GDSC) are neighborhood teams for school and college college students like Ahsan who’re focused on Google developer applied sciences.
With over 1500+ chapters in 113 international locations, GDSC goals to empower builders like Ahsan to assist their communities by constructing technical options. In case you’re a pupil and want to be part of a Google Developer Scholar Membership neighborhood, search for a chapter close to you right here, or go to this system web page to study extra about beginning one in your space.
