Dutch startup Envision integrates AI to Google Glass to give eyesight to the blind

Based out of the Hague, Envision builds AI-based tools that enable visually impaired people to access visual information around them independently. 

The company has announced plans today to integrate its AI-powered software technology into Google Glass at CSUN, one of the biggest assistive technology conferences in the US. 

Independence to access and ‘see’ the world around them!

The Dutch company developed its software on Google Glass, with the recently upgraded hardware of its Google Glass Enterprise Edition 2. 

This combination of top-notch hardware and software provides blind and visually impaired users with a significantly less obtrusive and hands-free way of accessing the world around them — empowering users with greater freedom and independence to access and ‘see’ the world around them.

How does it work?

The company’s platform uses artificial intelligence (AI) to extract different kinds of information from images and then speaks the images out loud. Hence, the user has a greater understanding of the environment around him or her. 

It also provides the fastest and most accurate OCR (Optical Character Recognition) available. It can read any text from any surface, recognise faces, describe scenes, detect colors, find objects, and more. 

The software is capable of recognising text and scripts in more than 60 languages. Thus Envision enables blind and low-vision users to do their work independently on their own. 

Karthik Kannan, co-founder of Envision: 

Working with Google Glass’ technical specifications and build quality has been ideal for our development needs. The level of support we’ve received from the Google Glass team has enabled us to replicate the fantastic user experience of the Envision app and deliver it in a seamless way that empowers blind and visually impaired people worldwide with a hands-free, easy way to ‘see’ the world around them through the spoken word.

Apart from smartphone apps on both iOS and Android, the Dutch company will now be embedded in smart glasses, providing blind and visually impaired users with a significantly more unobtrusive and hands-free way to access the world around them.

One of Envision’s Smart Glasses beta testers, Joy, said, 

This kind of freedom is very invaluable, especially when you’re outside and have a cane or a guide dog in hand already. This is a game-changer for me and my independence.

The availability of Envision’s assistive technology embedded into smart glasses serves a critical, timely need. Available for pre-order starting March 9, 2020, Envision’s AI-powered smart glasses are available at a reduced price $1,499 (approx €1,310) super early bird and $1,699 (approx €1500) early bird, and will retail at $1,899 (approx €1,660) once shipping begins to early buyers in August 2020. 

Main image picture credits: Envision

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