Canon Central Presents The World Unseen

In a world where sight is often taken for granted, Canon Central and North Africa presented a unique exhibition, ‘World Unseen’, which offered attendees a groundbreaking and novel experience at GITEX Africa in Morocco from 29-31st May, the largest technology and startup event on the continent.
The exhibition created a space for individuals with sight loss to better engage with the visual world, while challenging sighted people to see imagery through their lens, allowing them to experience the power of photography unlike ever before. By providing an opportunity to engage with photography through various sensory inputs, Canon challenged societal perceptions and broke new ground in the field of inclusive technology. The ‘World Unseen’ exhibition was a resounding success, attracting attendees from the region. The blend of art and technology resonated with the audience, garnering an overwhelmingly positive response.
“At Canon, we believe in the transformative power of technology to break down barriers and unlock opportunities for all. The ‘World Unseen’ exhibition demonstrates how we can render the visual world accessible to everyone, especially those with visual impairments,” said Somesh Adukia, Managing Director, Canon Central and North Africa.
“We believe that technology and art can come together to create extraordinary experiences and inspire people to see the world from a different perspective. This initiative is a significant step towards creating a more inclusive world where everyone, regardless of their physical abilities, can experience the power of imagery. We are grateful for the overwhelming response and look forward to continuing our mission of unveiling the unseen.”
Globally, it is estimated that 2.2 billion people have a vision impairment or blindness. Of these, 43 million people are blind. Access to immersive experiences that cater to their needs is crucial for these individuals. Canon’s ‘World Unseen’ exhibition aimed to bridge this gap by providing an inclusive platform where technology and humanity intersect. This initiative represented a significant milestone towards ensuring that visually impaired people are not excluded from art and photography’s enriching experiences.
The event also saw the participation of Morocco’s Minister of Solidarity, Social Inclusion and Family, H.E. Aawatif Hayar. The Minister expressed her gratitude to Canon for its dedication to creating an accessible experience through art and technology. She also highlighted the profound impact that art and entertainment can have on people, particularly those who are vulnerable, emphasizing that it is not just a source of entertainment but also a powerful tool for personal development and social inclusion.
The Minister stated, “It is crucial to emphasize that people with disabilities are not handicapped by their conditions. Rather, it is the environment around them that can be disabling. Our mission is to create a society where the environment supports and enhances the abilities of every individual, allowing them to thrive. This exhibition exemplifies how we can remove barriers and empower everyone to participate fully in life by adapting our surroundings and approaches.”
The ‘World Unseen’ exhibition invited visitors to engage with imagery by world-renowned photographers and Canon ambassadors, Muhammed Muheisen and Yagazie Emezi from the MENA region, in an experiential and immersive manner.
The inclusion of elevated prints and braille descriptions allowed attendees to feel the different elements of the scene through shapes, highlighted areas, and textures. This tactile approach enabled participants, particularly those with sight loss, to imagine the images through touch, offering an unprecedented way to engage with art. The exhibition also provided a unique perspective for sighted visitors by simulating a range of visual impairments. This feature allowed them to understand how others experience the world, fostering empathy and promoting accessibility.
One of the key highlights of the event was the participation of Mr. Hamid Nabil, the first Moroccan blind PhD holder. He offered an insightful perspective on the event and its impact stating, “The ‘World Unseen’ exhibition was an unprecedented experience for me. Its mission was to reproduce the world of the image, which used to be a mystery to people with visual impairments. This initiative can serve as a strong platform for the development of other programmes that aim at making people with visual impairments more inclusive and productive in their personal, social, academic, and professional lives.”
Another key visitor to the exhibition was Mr. Nabil El Maaroufi, a volunteer technical advisor associated with Visions Technologies, a nonprofit organization in Morocco. Blind for twenty years, he had an overwhelmingly emotional experience as he engaged with the visual world at the exhibition. He stated, ‘During my visit to the Canon World Unseen Exhibition, I discovered some wonderful tactile pictures and descriptions. It was a wonderfully clear experience for me.”
The success of the event highlights the growing interest in and appreciation for novel and immersive experiences. It has set a new benchmark for future exhibitions on the African continent.
Read Also: Redington To Distribute Canon Products In Kenya
About Soko Directory Team
Soko Directory is a Financial and Markets digital portal that tracks brands, listed firms on the NSE, SMEs and trend setters in the markets eco-system.Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/SokoDirectory and on Twitter: twitter.com/SokoDirectory
- January 2025 (118)
- February 2025 (90)
- January 2024 (238)
- February 2024 (227)
- March 2024 (190)
- April 2024 (133)
- May 2024 (157)
- June 2024 (145)
- July 2024 (136)
- August 2024 (154)
- September 2024 (212)
- October 2024 (255)
- November 2024 (196)
- December 2024 (143)
- January 2023 (182)
- February 2023 (203)
- March 2023 (322)
- April 2023 (298)
- May 2023 (268)
- June 2023 (214)
- July 2023 (212)
- August 2023 (257)
- September 2023 (237)
- October 2023 (264)
- November 2023 (286)
- December 2023 (177)
- January 2022 (293)
- February 2022 (329)
- March 2022 (358)
- April 2022 (292)
- May 2022 (271)
- June 2022 (232)
- July 2022 (278)
- August 2022 (253)
- September 2022 (246)
- October 2022 (196)
- November 2022 (232)
- December 2022 (167)
- January 2021 (182)
- February 2021 (227)
- March 2021 (325)
- April 2021 (259)
- May 2021 (285)
- June 2021 (272)
- July 2021 (277)
- August 2021 (232)
- September 2021 (271)
- October 2021 (304)
- November 2021 (364)
- December 2021 (249)
- January 2020 (272)
- February 2020 (310)
- March 2020 (390)
- April 2020 (321)
- May 2020 (335)
- June 2020 (327)
- July 2020 (333)
- August 2020 (276)
- September 2020 (214)
- October 2020 (233)
- November 2020 (242)
- December 2020 (187)
- January 2019 (251)
- February 2019 (215)
- March 2019 (283)
- April 2019 (254)
- May 2019 (269)
- June 2019 (249)
- July 2019 (335)
- August 2019 (293)
- September 2019 (306)
- October 2019 (313)
- November 2019 (362)
- December 2019 (318)
- January 2018 (291)
- February 2018 (213)
- March 2018 (275)
- April 2018 (223)
- May 2018 (235)
- June 2018 (176)
- July 2018 (256)
- August 2018 (247)
- September 2018 (255)
- October 2018 (282)
- November 2018 (282)
- December 2018 (184)
- January 2017 (183)
- February 2017 (194)
- March 2017 (207)
- April 2017 (104)
- May 2017 (169)
- June 2017 (205)
- July 2017 (189)
- August 2017 (195)
- September 2017 (186)
- October 2017 (235)
- November 2017 (253)
- December 2017 (266)
- January 2016 (164)
- February 2016 (165)
- March 2016 (189)
- April 2016 (143)
- May 2016 (245)
- June 2016 (182)
- July 2016 (271)
- August 2016 (247)
- September 2016 (233)
- October 2016 (191)
- November 2016 (243)
- December 2016 (153)
- January 2015 (1)
- February 2015 (4)
- March 2015 (164)
- April 2015 (107)
- May 2015 (116)
- June 2015 (119)
- July 2015 (145)
- August 2015 (157)
- September 2015 (186)
- October 2015 (169)
- November 2015 (173)
- December 2015 (205)
- March 2014 (2)
- March 2013 (10)
- June 2013 (1)
- March 2012 (7)
- April 2012 (15)
- May 2012 (1)
- July 2012 (1)
- August 2012 (4)
- October 2012 (2)
- November 2012 (2)
- December 2012 (1)