Nearly 80% of what we humans learn from the world around us is mediated through vision. A complex set of functions that derives meaning from optical input, vision helps us interpret and respond appropriately to our environment. Today’s technology plays a vital role in expanding the limits of human sight for people with varying degrees and types of visual deficits.
This year’s Consumer Electronics Show exhibited some recent innovations that empower people in remarkable ways:
- Norm glasses – Lightweight prescription sunglasses with a built-in microcomputer that allows wearers to interact with the digital world hands-free. These Augmented Reality (AR) glasses operate on an Android platform and can also be equipped with captioning and voice assists for the hearing and visually impaired.
- EyeQue Try-On Glasses – Users of EyeQue’s smartphone vision tests can now get low cost eyeglasses to confirm the results of the self-administered test before ordering higher priced eyewear.
- Lexilens – Revolutionary electronic eyeglasses that filter out symptoms of dyslexia, enabling those with the disorder to read and write seamlessly.
- Orcam MyEye 2 – Assistive technology that grants independence to those with severe visual loss via a smart camera that attaches to virtually any eyeglass frame. Powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), the device reads printed and digital text aloud from any surface and can be taught to recognize faces, identify products and more.
Several of these inventions are life-changing for those with acute visual shortages. And while the adoption curve of others, like AR eyewear or smartphone eye tests, is in its infancy, advancements in optical-related technologies clearly have practical applications that will allow us to experience the world as never before.
IT Radix strives to be at the cutting edge of technology. Contact us today to learn more ways to make technology work for you!
First published in our June 2020 IT Radix Resource newsletter
