Biomedical Engineering Medical Technology Gadgets

Gizmos & Gadgets: Neuroscience Researcher Invents Smart Specs to Help Blind See

June 16, 2015

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June 16, 2015 – A University of Oxford neuroscience and visual prosthetics research fellow has developed augmented-reality glasses to help those who are legally blind see better. His name is Stephen Hicks and he is cofounder of a new company, VA-ST.

His invention cannot make those with no vision see, but anyone with some remaining vision who has been declared legally blind can use these glasses to see nearby objects. For those with tunnel vision from macular degeneration or retinopathy, for those with cataracts blocking the field of vision, for night blindness, smart specs may help.

How do they work?

They combine a 3D camera and built-in software to enhance vision. The software enhances and highlights objects in the foreground while hiding the background (see the four panel image sample below as illustration). The wearer can even pause the visual feed and zoom in for greater detail. The depth camera works in the dark allowing for night vision.

The smart specs can be outfitted with sunglass lenses and with prescription inserts. The battery-powered control box is worn over the shoulder giving the wearer access to the zoom, pause and enhance vision features which include daytime colour, high contrast amplification and low light navigation.

This month VA-ST loaned 300 pairs of its glasses to people with macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa and glaucoma. The four week study will record how each of the wearers benefited from using the technology to cope with everyday living.

Plans are to go into production later this year and have VA-ST available commercially early in 2016 for less than $1,000 U.S. per pair.

Future versions of the glasses will focus on design to make them look sexier, shrink the format and reduce the weight. But for now VA-ST could be just what ophthalmologists need to help patients declared legally blind see again.