On Tuesday, the Dutch-startup Envision and Google debuted Envision glasses, an augmented version of Google Glass Enterprise Edition 2, as a dedicated assistive device for the visually impaired. The device uses an Optical Character Reader (OCR) and computer vision software to read text in over 60 languages and describe the wearer’s surroundings through the Glass’s built-in speakers. 

The Envision glasses are embedded with an 8MP camera to read printed text, handwritings, signboards on any surface. The device even lets the wearer scan for people who have been programmed and identified as “familiar faces”. Other than that, the glasses detect objects, colours and describe scenes to aid the wearer with capabilities to interact with people, commute across streets and navigate their homes with relative freedom. The Glasses also allow voice-based commands and geo-location enabled phone-calls through its three beamforming microphones. The glasses, however, need internet connectivity to perform many of its’ tasks. 

The Glasses are available for the regular retail price of $ 2,099 on Envision’s website, ready to be shipped in August 2020.