In December of last year, a new and truly life-changing innovative Wearable Assistive Technology device was launched for visually impaired people by a company called Envision who are based in the Netherlands. The company began by developing a fully accessible app for smart phones which is designed to assist with managing everyday tasks such as:
- Reading printed and hand-written text (mail, newspapers etc
- Describing what’s around you when you take a picture;
- Colour recognition;
- Barcode recognition;
- Facial recognition;
- Locating different objects such as chairs, tables, phone, etc.
The app is now used by many visually impaired people all over the world and is hugely popular. After a lot of positive feedback, Envision decided to integrate the app into a pair of smart glasses. This has now been achieved and I am delighted to say that the Envision Glasses are now available for purchase in the UK. The glasses have all of the app features as well as an explore mode which will tell you what’s around you in real-time and they also have a video-calling feature. This feature really does give these glasses an advantage over other wearable solutions as it allows you to connect with a sighted family member, friend or carer, who can then describe what they see through the camera of the glasses from the screen of their own smart phone. A constant and reliable internet connection is therefore required, but this can easily be achieved either by connecting the glasses through Wi-Fi or via the personal hotspot setting which is found on most up-to-date smart phones. You can also connect headphones or certain hearing-aids to work alongside the glasses either by using Bluetooth or through the USB-C charging port. So I think it’s fair to say at this point, that these glasses really do have everything covered! It’s also worth mentioning that all the information conveyed through the glasses is spoken or audio feedback, but if you are used to listening to a screen-reader on your computer or smart phone, then you shouldn’t have any issues with this. The glasses are operated using a touchpad which is found near the front of the right arm, so again, if you are used to using the VoiceOver or TalkBack Screen-readers on your smart phone or tablet, you will have no issues whatsoever in terms of learning how to use them.
My User Experience
I actually pre-ordered the Envision Glasses and have been using them since November. I can honestly say that they are one of the best purchases I have ever made and are worth every penny. I mainly use them for reading my own mail which is a great experience, as it means I don’t need to keep taking letters and post to my Mum and asking her what they are. I also used the glasses at Christmas to read a hand-written card sent by my neighbour. This is the first time I have been able to do this independently and I was really impressed in terms of how accurately the hand-writing was captured and read. I also use the glasses when out-and-about with my Guide Dog to describe my surroundings. On a recent walk, I went to my local park and took a picture of what was in front of me. I was told that there was a tree next to a bench. I was absolutely amazed by this, as I have walked around that park time-and-time again for the last fifteen years and had no idea that they were there. The video calling is my favourite feature though. I mainly use it when I’m stuck with a particular task such as organising tins in my cupboard or if my computer is not working and I need someone sighted to tell me what is on the screen. I now have all of my family members contact details stored, so if I’m ever struggling, I can just call one of them directly from the glasses and they can help me out. Think of the possibilities! I have always had difficulty knowing when to step-out to get on buses as I had no idea what number of bus was approaching. Not anymore! I’ll just call my Mum and she will be able to see the bus approaching through the camera of my glasses and keep me right. I also have serious problems finding an empty seat when I eventually manage to find the correct bus. Not anymore! Again, I can just call a family member and they can direct me to an empty seat. The possibilities are endless and to be honest, the only thing that will hold you back when using these glasses is your own imagination.
The really cool thing? This is only the beginning! Work is currently being done so that you will be able to control the glasses using your voice and there may even be the possibility of a navigation feature before too long, exciting stuff!
Price
The Envision Glasses currently retail at £2695. Sight And Sound Technology are the UK distributor. However, we do work closely with Sight And Sound, so if you would like a demonstration or for more information, please contact Stuart Beveridge.
Tel: 01592644979
Email: stuart.beveridge@seescape.org.uk
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- This article was written by the seescape Karten Centre
- Featured in the Karten Summer 2021 Newsletter
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