Bengaluru, March 27: In a significant development aimed at enhancing accessibility and empowerment for visually impaired (VI) individuals, nearly 30 students with zero vision are set to receive Smart Vision glasses, a revolutionary device developed by a Bengaluru-based startup.
The Smart Vision glasses, equipped with cutting-edge technology, are designed to assist VI persons in various tasks such as reading, object recognition, face recognition, and acting as a walking assistant, leveraging the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning.
These innovative glasses, which come with a Bluetooth neckband and require only a mobile phone to function, are poised to revolutionize the learning experience for visually impaired students.
Jitendra Maurya, a visually impaired student at the Shakuntala Mishra Rehabilitation University (SMRU), highlighted the challenges faced by VI students due to the unavailability of learning materials. With the introduction of Smart Vision glasses, students will no longer struggle to access books in Braille or rely on scribes for assistance.
The initiative, spearheaded by SMRU in collaboration with the Chennai-based nonprofit Help and Blind Foundation, aims to empower visually impaired individuals by enabling them to read printed material in over 50 scripts without external assistance, thereby enhancing their academic performance.
V S Mishra, Head of the Department of VI at SMRU, emphasized the transformative potential of these glasses, enabling blind students to navigate their environment independently. The Smart Vision glasses utilize advanced sensors to collect information from the surroundings and convey it to the user in verbal format, facilitating enhanced situational awareness.
Moreover, the Smart Vision glasses feature a built-in flashlight, enabling VI students to read books and identify objects even in low-light conditions.
To address security concerns, the glasses are equipped with face detection facilities, allowing students to store photos of familiar individuals. This feature enables the glasses to recognize and verbally identify individuals, enhancing security and personalization for users.
Mishra expressed optimism about the potential of this technology to redefine success for VI students, underscoring its role in fostering inclusivity and empowerment in education.
