UHI Business Competition

Project:

Crow Nest Distillery specialises in producing vodka and other spirits from whey - a by-product of the cheese-making process.  

Orkney Cheese Company is the largest cheese manufacturer in Orkney producing Orkney Cheddar from 100% Orkney milk. In addition, 11 million litres of whey is produced as a by-product. The whey is currently disposed of to sea because there are limited options for its use in Orkney. 

Whey contains valuable lactose sugar which can be fermented using a special yeast to produce alcohol. This alcohol can then be separated from the fermented whey using conventional distilling equipment. The resulting product is a pure alcohol which can be sold as vodka or further processed into other products such as gin and liqueurs. 

Making vodka in this way would be unique in Orkney and be one of only a few companies in the world producing potable spirits from whey.  Orkney has a thriving food and drink sector and is known for its distilleries. 

A whey vodka would be a unique addition to the Orkney drinks market being made from Orkney milk from Orcadian cows raised in the fertile landscape of Orkney. 

Project:

Teia uses machine learning models to create a visual aid for those with visual impairment to address a lack of access to guide dogs in the UK and beyond. 

Currently the average waiting time for a guide dog has increased from 12 months to 18 months with some waiting as long as four years. Tela would implement an equitable AI system that delivers two modes to the user. 

One mode is a specialised and context-specific model that delivers relevant information about the surroundings uniquely pertinent to the user, delivering information about hazards, obstacles, path direction, steps, crossings and many other potentially desired outputs. The second mode is a real time image captioning model that can provide rich descriptive language about the world around our users allowing for a vibrant and engaging description about the scene before users. 

Project:

This new service incorporates a revolutionary software application that translates sign language into text and speech in real time using AI and a camera. The software empowers sign language users by providing an easy-to-use tool for instant communication whether at home, at work, or in public spaces. 

The application will be free for individuals ensuring accessibility for all whilst businesses and public services can subscribe to premium features to integrate it into their systems. 

Unlike existing solutions which focus on converting spoken language into sign language, this software does the opposite.  It enables sign language users to be heard and understood in everyday interactions. Supporting multiple sign languages such as British Sign Language (BSL) and American Sign Language (ASL), this software will be globally adaptable. It will also offer user-personalised voice options to give individuals control over how they are represented in spoken communication. 

The system will be cloud-based for businesses and available as a downloadable app for individuals ensuring ease of use across different environments. By making communication more inclusive, this software has the potential to break down barriers; increase independence for sign language users; and help businesses and public services become more accessible to everyone.