As technology advances and provides solutions to various societal issues, visually impaired individuals in the country have new reason for optimism thanks to a groundbreaking invention: AI-powered smart glasses created by a team of university students.
These innovative glasses aim to improve the lives of visually impaired individuals, particularly those who cannot afford expensive medical treatments to regain their vision. Equipped with advanced optical character recognition and contextual awareness, the glasses are designed to enhance users' quality of life.
Samson Muturi, a fourth-year student at KCA University, explained that the glasses incorporate Google Maps for navigation, computer vision technology, and generative AI, allowing users to identify objects in their surroundings.
According to Muturi, the smart glasses are suitable for both fully blind and low-vision individuals. Key features include a voice assistant, object recognition, and navigation support, which help users identify items, navigate unfamiliar spaces, and receive audio descriptions of their environment.
Victor Ng’ang’a, co-founder of the project and a fellow Software Development student, stressed that this advanced technology enables users to access information independently and provides instant text-to-speech capabilities. However, Ng’ang’a also mentioned during KCA University’s Innovation Week that limited funding has been a barrier to the product's development, particularly regarding the necessary updates to its database of objects and scenes.
KCA University Vice Chancellor and CEO Isaiah Wakindiki encouraged the innovators, noting that societal challenges present opportunities for creative solutions, and urged them to continue developing ideas that will benefit future generations.
The students expressed a desire to seek mentorship from experts in generative AI and computer vision to further enhance their innovation, with the aim of eventually moving toward mass production.
