Trending Echoes Podcast
Trending Echoes Podcast
Podcast Description
Trending Echoes is a podcast series by Trends Research and Advisory that explores contemporary issues, emerging trends, and innovations shaping the world today. The podcast features expert guests from various fields—ranging from academia, policy, technology, and media—who provide in-depth insights on topics like global cooperation, artificial intelligence, and the future of content creation. Episodes often focus on how these trends affect societies, industries, and international relations, making it a platform for knowledge exchange and thoughtful discussions.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast tackles a wide range of pressing topics including global cooperation, artificial intelligence, counter-terrorism, and interfaith dialogue. Episodes like 'The Muslim Brotherhood and Violence' and 'AI vs. Authenticity’ highlight critical discussions on extremism and technology's role in society, while others focus on cultural topics such as the Druze community's heritage and sustainability practices in the UAE. Each episode provides listeners with actionable insights and academic perspectives on how these trends impact society at large.
Trending Echoes is a podcast series by Trends Research and Advisory that explores contemporary issues, emerging trends, and innovations shaping the world today. The podcast features expert guests from various fields—ranging from academia, policy, technology, and media—who provide in-depth insights on topics like global cooperation, artificial intelligence, and the future of content creation. Episodes often focus on how these trends affect societies, industries, and international relations, making it a platform for knowledge exchange and thoughtful discussions.
In this episode of Trending Echoes, Elyazia Al Hosani speaks with Dr. Jean-Marc Feghali, Director of Innovation at WeWalk, about inclusive technology, visual impairment, and how lived experience can shape meaningful innovation.
Dr Feghali shares his personal journey growing up in Abu Dhabi with congenital visual impairment and how it led him to pursue engineering, mobility research, and eventually co-founding WeWalk—a smart mobility solution designed to empower people with visual impairments. The conversation explores how traditional tools like the white cane can be enhanced through thoughtful technology, without replacing their core purpose.
The episode also delves into systems engineering, user-led design, academic–industry collaboration, and the responsible use of AI and computer vision in assistive technologies. From real user stories to global recognition, research scalability, personal challenges, and the importance of inclusive societies, this discussion highlights how innovation grounded in empathy can improve lives far beyond its original audience.
Chapters
00:00 — Welcome to Trending Echoes
00:02 — Guest Introduction: Dr Jean-Marc Feghali & WeWalk
00:29 — What Is WeWalk and Its Mission
02:05 — Understanding Visual Impairment
03:03 — Growing Up Visually Impaired in Abu Dhabi
04:44 — From Civil Engineering to Mobility Research
06:56 — Joining WeWalk and User-Led Innovation
08:22 — PhD Research and Systems Engineering Approach
10:09 — Balancing Technology with the Traditional White Cane
11:38 — Real User Stories and Global Impact
13:23 — UK Government Engagement & King’s Innovation Award
14:45 — Imperial College and Academic Collaboration
15:44 — Scaling Research, Industry Transition & Investment
18:18 — Personal Challenges, Vision Loss & Resilience
21:06 — AI, Computer Vision & Cautious Innovation
23:05 — Why Inclusive Design Benefits Everyone
24:52 — The Next Five Years for WeWalk
26:01 — Inclusivity, Society & the UAE Experience
28:05 — Advice to Young Innovators
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