AI-powered smart eye glasses for blind unveiled in Hyderabad

Dubbed as Driisti AI Smart Vision Glasses, the smart glasses, with a potential to redefine vision for the visually impaired, utilize AI for object and face recognition. The visually impaired will be alerted through audible and tactile alerts.

Hyderabad: Smart eye glasses, powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), which will identify individuals, objects and even provide the visually impaired, who traditionally depend on canes for guidance, with reading assistance and indoor navigation, were unveiled in Hyderabad on Thursday.

Dubbed as Driisti AI Smart Vision Glasses, the smart glasses, with a potential to redefine vision for the visually impaired, utilize AI for object and face recognition. The visually impaired will be alerted through audible and tactile alerts.

---

Loaded with cutting-edge features, the glasses, developed by KIMS Foundation and Research Centre (KFRC) and Hyderabad-based Achala Health, a tech-based company involved in developing AI-based health care systems, holds a lot of promise to extensively enhance mobility, independence, social interaction, and safe navigation for the blind.

The developers said that the AI-powered glasses are integrated with dedicated mobile application, which empower blind users to understand and navigate their surroundings. The mobile app connects to a pair of smart glasses equipped with a camera that captures the environment.

The mobile app then processes these images to interpret and describe the surroundings to the user. Additionally, the glasses support navigation through location services, Bluetooth, and built-in IMU sensors, offering a seamless, informed experience for the user.

Supported by OpenAI and proprietary AI technology developed by Achala Health, the unique smart glasses have been designed to address everyday challenges that the visually impaired have to face on a daily basis.

The glasses help users navigate indoor spaces, recognize familiar faces, and connect with their surroundings. With a press of a button, users can capture and store live images, making daily interactions easier, safer, and more meaningful, the developers said.

On Thursday, a batch of the eye glasses were distributed to visually impaired persons, mostly drawn from Devnaar Foundation for the Blind, by Governor of Telangana, Jishnu Dev Varma in the presence of senior management of KFRC and Achala Health.

Chairman of KFRC and ISRO Chair Professor, National Institute of Advanced Technologies (NIAS), Bengaluru, Dr V Bhujanga Rao, said “Through this device, we are aiming to enrich the lives of the visually impaired by enhancing independence and quality of life,” he said.

At present, the KFRC along with the developers are looking to work with other voluntary organisations and institutions to distribute the tech-enable smart glasses for free of cost in Hyderabad.