People with severe sight loss may soon be able to see again. Scientists at Oxford University have made a breakthrough in developing smart glasses that enhance images of nearby people and objects on to the lenses, providing a much clearer sense of surroundings.
The glasses are being tested at Oxford and allowed some people to see their guide dogs for the first time.
Oxford University researchers are testing the glasses in public areas to measure how they can help people with limited vision navigate and avoid walking into obstacles.
"The idea of the smart glasses is to give people with poor vision an aid that boosts their awareness of what's around them - allowing greater freedom, independence and confidence to get about, and a much improved quality of life," said Stephen Hicks from the University of Oxford who is leading the project.
The smart glasses consist of a video camera mounted on the frame of the glasses; a computer processing unit that is small enough to fit in a pocket; and software that provides images of objects close-by to the see-through displays in the eyepieces of the glasses.
The transparent electronic displays where the glass' lens would be give a simple image of nearby people and obstacles. The camera with specially designed software interprets the nearby surroundings allowing people to see important things much more distinctly than before.
The glasses don't replace lost vision but assist with spatial awareness. Anyone using the glasses looks through them to make the most of their existing sight with additional images appearing in their line of sight to give extra information about who or what is in front of them.
The research and development of the glasses is funded by the National Institute for Health Research. The trials are being carried out with the support of the Royal National Institute of Blind People.
"We eventually want to have a product that will look like a regular pair of glasses and cost no more than a few hundred pounds — about the same as a smartphone," Hicks said.
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