Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Envision unveils AI-powered smart glasses for blind and visually impaired

Netherlands-based assistive technology company Envision has unveiled its latest AI-powered smart glasses for blind and visually impaired users. Smart glasses can help people with low or no vision to read documents, scan faces, and assist navigation with the power of artificial intelligence (AI).

Envision Glasses were showcased at a recent conference held at California State University, Northridge. It uses AI to extract different kinds of information from images and then speak the images out loud, enabling blind and low-vision users to read documents at work, recognize their friends, find personal belongings at home, use public transportation, and generally enjoy greater freedom, independence, and understanding of the world around them.

Envision Glasses currently works with Google Glass Enterprise Edition 2. In addition to a sleek design, it comes packed with great tech specs. With its 8MP camera with a wide field of view, the Envision smart glasses can read and translate any type of text (digital and handwritten) from any surface, such as books, letters, or labels, into over 60 different languages and turn it into speech.

In addition, it can recognize faces, objects, and colors and even describe scenes and immediately connect users to trusted contacts through its Ally function – a completely private and secure video call solution built directly into the glasses.

“By analyzing real-time user data and direct feedback from across our communities, we are able to constantly enrich the Envision experience and innovate our products, most recently with the addition of our new capture and context features,” said Karthik Kannan, co-founder of Envision. “Everyone is entitled to live in a world without boundaries and are thrilled to make Envision Glasses to as many people as possible.”

Also, it has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities, which keep the user connected, a built-in speaker, and a battery that can last up to five to six hours. The glasses weigh less than 50 grams, are IP53 water-resistant, and can be operated with a smartphone or independently.

Envision’s visual recognition software is also available as an iOS and Android App and a sophisticated Google Glass integration. The smart glasses are priced at $3,500.