If we step back and take a look at wearable technology news over the past few months, we will notice that a large majority of it revolves around smartwatches and headsets, such as Google Glass. While these are all great products, they are all targeted at the consumer, which is a good thing if your business plan is to make money. However, some companies have something different in mind – helping people who need it…like really need it. The new OrCam is one of those products – it helps the visually impaired be able to see.
Essentially the way that the OrCam works is that it attaches to a normal set of glasses and helps the visually impaired be able to better understand what they’re seeing by pointing them out. The OrCam can recognize faces, objects, and even places, which will greatly people who are visually impaired. Not only that, but the OrCam can locate bus numbers and even monitor traffic lights, which mean that eventually the device could even replace guide dogs.
The OrCam can detect what you want it to be doing by itself. If it recognizes a traffic light, it will help you cross the road. It is also always monitoring faces and places that it recognize, so it is always able to tell you who is who.
Not only is the OrCam very intuitive, but it is also able to be taught new things. To teach the device, you simply have to shake it, and then wave your hand to store a new face or place. The device will then instruct you on how to store the data.
Not only can the OrCam recognize people and objects, but it can also read to you. You simply have to point at an article or computer screen, and the OrCam will automatically start reading to you.
But how does it transmit all this data to you? Simple, it uses our friend bone conduction! We’ve seen a number of bone conduction headphones coming out over the past year or so, and the reason that they’re so great is that they allow you to still be able to hear the world around you because of the fact that it transmits sound through vibrating through your bones rather than by directing sound to your inner ear. The fact that allows people who are visually impaired to still be able to hear without any problems is very necessary.
Without a doubt the OrCam is sure to be one of the most advanced pieces of technology on the market for people who are visually impaired. But that does come at a price of around 2,500. Shipping is expected to start this month, and the first shipment has already sold out, but the OrCam website says they should be delivered by the end of 2013.
