Revolutionary lumen glasses: the AI‑driven aid paving way for blind independence

An absence of sight is a significant disadvantage which does not permit full independence. Despite the numerous equipment adaptations available for blind people, they still remain at considerable risk. A traditional white cane can't warn of an impending danger and a guide dog, though helpful, comes as a costly investment for a few years, given their significantly shorter lifespan compared to humans. The Romanian-based startup, .lumen, seeks to improve the lives of these individuals by developing innovative glasses for the blind.

Approximately 40 million people worldwide were either born blind or lost their sight later in life. Despite their heightened other senses, their lives are still fraught with threats from the outside world. The Romanian company, .lumen, founded in 2020, was created by Cornel Amariei, a man with a passion for robotics and all aspects of automation. Interestingly, he comes from a family of blind people, and he is the only one with full sight. This drove him to devise a device aimed at enhancing the comfort and safety of others' lives.

The inspiration for these glasses was derived from autonomous vehicles, which have enjoyed increasing popularity recently. It is stated that they "operate somewhat like a guide dog". The difference is that while a dog guides its owner by the hand, the glasses guide by the head. With the application of haptic technology (including vibrations), the glasses are capable of guiding a blind person and alerting them of any potential dangers nearby.

The innovative nature of the glasses wouldn't be possible without the integration of artificial intelligence and traditional algorithms used in programming autonomous vehicles. As a result of this, .lumen is capable of accurately identifying any obstacles in the wearer's path. This could range from larger, more obvious objects to the smaller ones, that could potentially cause stumbles or discomfort.

When setting up the glasses, a destination is programmed into the device. The device then charts out the safest and most comfortable route and intuitively guides the user. The device was unveiled at the CES tradeshow in Las Vegas, and though it is still in the testing phase, the creators hope to release it to the general market by the middle of next year.