Smart glasses help vision-impaired despite privacy concerns

ABC NEWS (Australia)

So-called smart glasses with tiny cameras have raised privacy concerns for many. But one group has been embracing the high tech eyewear. People who are blind or vision impaired say the glasses can change their lives for the better.

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00:02Sam Taylor was born with total blindness.

00:05That means that I can't tell you if a light's on or off or how warm the light is or

00:10any of those sorts of things.

00:11All his life he's had to rely on others to navigate and interact with the world around him, but not

00:17anymore.

00:17For someone like me, the glasses were, and I know it's a cliche, but they were a game changer.

00:23These new AI glasses have a camera, microphones, speakers, and an internet connection.

00:29Hey Meta, describe what's on my computer screen.

00:33Your laptop screen shows a vibrant tropical scene with palm trees, a beach, and colorful skies.

00:38It's likely a wallpaper or image displayed on the device.

00:41Having images described has, in many ways, it's changed the life of people who are blind or who have low

00:50vision.

00:51We're finding that we're relying on people who support us a little less to do those day-to-day things.

00:58In addition to the AI, the glasses allow volunteers to view Sam's live feed when he requests it.

01:05I've traveled independently over the other side of the country or, in some instances, the world.

01:12And a volunteer has helped me through the airport or to find a hotel.

01:16And it's not just Sam.

01:18Others in the blind and vision-impaired community seem to be flocking to this new technology as it becomes more

01:24affordable.

01:25Every single ticket that we get at work lately seems to be, oh, they want to have a look at

01:28the Meta glasses,

01:29or they want to have a look at how they can get their hands on the Meta glasses or try

01:32it out.

01:33A couple of years ago, like, something like the Meta glasses right now cost up to about $6,800.

01:38And now that's like a tenth of the price of $680.

01:43It's so affordable.

01:45A different kind of site for those who need it most.

01:48You're based.

01:50A different kind of site for $9,800.

01:52A different kind of site for $9,800,000 but also most important or relevant websites.

01:52And it's so affordable.

01:52A different kind of site for those who need it most.

01:52And the other way they can be documented.

01:52I would like to see for those who need it most.

01:52For those who need it.

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