Smart eyewear technology, such as augmented reality and virtual reality glasses, has been in development for several years. Companies like Google, Microsoft, and now Apple have been working on creating devices that can enhance the user's vision and provide additional information and features. These types of devices have the potential to revolutionize various industries such as gaming, education, and healthcare. Thompson & Hardwick Optometrists, as experts in the field of optics, are well-suited to evaluate and advise on the implications of this technology.
That's why we thought to share some of our favourites with you we you. Here’s our top five list.
1. Fauna Audio glasses
Smart Bluetooth glasses aren’t especially new tech, however, we were really impressed with the quality and style options of these ultra cool audio glasses.
Incorporating highly directional audio, with minimal sound leak and touch sensitive
controls Fauna allow the wearer to enjoy their own audio whilst still being able to contribute to conversations and be aware of their surroundings. The glasses can even control the users devices via access to the mobile device virtual assistant. Changing a song or answering a call whilst biking has never been easier!
Fauna currently have four styles of prescription ready frames that can be used as sunglasses. They can be used with single vision or varifocal lenses as well as with blue light blocking lenses for eye comfort in a modern world. The Fauna innovative range doesn’t stop there, we have it on good authority that 3D printed versions are in development.
In a fast-changing environment these frames are a must for the modern professional making home working and those pesky online meetings that but more bearable.
2. Noctura 400
The sleep mask that controls diabetes! We’ll not quite, but it does help protect the retina from diabetic changes.
What’s really amazing about this tech is it’s simplicity. The mask is worn nightly and shines a specific wavelength of light into the eye. It’s not bright and it contains the least amount of harmful blue light as possible.
The premise: unbeknownst to us all our, eyes work harder through the night to sees even though we are asleep. This creates a huge oxygen demand which is something a diabetic eye struggles to provide. The discrepancy in turn promotes new blood vessel growth within the retina. The problem is that new vessels are weak and bleed easily causing the damage. Using the mask to shine light into the eye in effect stops the eyes from producing oxygen hungry pigments needed for sight at night and removes the stimulus to diabetic changes. Simple but it works!
3. OrCam
OrCam is lightweight wearable tech that helps sight impaired patients to manage day to day tasks more easily. It can even help those with dyslexia and other learning difficulties to read more efficiently.
The tech uses a handheld or spectacle mounted AI camera which can be programmed to recognise faces, audibly alerting the wearer as to who is in the room. Not only that it will read from any surface, can recognise barcodes and identify colours as well as money. All this information is transferred to the wearer via a small microphone enabling greater independence.
New features include a learning algorithm which can help teach those with reading difficulties. The device can scan and read full pages or just start from a particular sentence using hand gesture recognition. Pretty amazing we think!
4. eSight
One of the highlights of this years CES show was the eSight AI glasses. These wearable digital magnifiers are literally giving people their sight back.
Using real-time video recording the internet connected tech enhances a digital video feed using a combination of AI powered image enhancement software and proprietary display and optical hardware. Think of this a bit like two large HD TV screens displaying what the user is looking at in real-time before the eyes creating a virtual cinema screen for the wearer. Clever hey?
To those with vision difficulties this can allow them to once again see their loved ones faces and facial expressions and be the difference between reading the paper or relying audiobooks. Potentially life changing tech and all at Thompson & Hardwick are really excited about it.
5. Triggerfish
Triggerfish digital pressure measuring contact lenses have actually been around for a number of years but we think that the potential for new iterations of these lenses is super cool and really exciting.
Triggerfish is a lens that continually measures the eyes pressure over a period of a day or two. This would be invaluable information for those suffering with Glaucoma and would help the medical practitioner to tailor the very best treatment for the patient ensuring minimal vision loss.
Impressive, but think of the potential for other applications is mind-blowing. Digital contact lens technology already exists but with enhancements in battery tech and electronics Thompson & Hardwick Optometrists are really excited about the future uses of these devices. In fact only recently Google announced the development of glucose monitoring lenses to help combat the management of diabetic blood sugar control.
Thompson & Hardwick like to engage with new ideas and concepts, coupled with our interest and expertise with contact lenses we are really excited to see what developments will arise in the near future. Imagine night vision contact lenses, walking home from the pub on a Friday night would be a lot safer. Think of augmented reality lenses that place directional arrows on the street showing you which direction the train station is! The applications are endless!
We hope you have enjoyed this list of some our favourite innovations. If you have any questions about what is currently available and would like more information please get in touch via our email: info@tandhopt.co.uk we'd be only too happy to help.