It’s easy to scoff at AI and ask, “Who is actually asking for this?” You might also think that smart glasses “aren’t worth it yet.” But to the blind and low-vision community, the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses and their AI features have been an absolute life-altering game-changer. And we need to talk about it.
How the low-vision community embraced AI smart glasses
On the Vergecast: A deep dive with a visually impaired Ray-Ban Meta glasses user and the CEO of Be My Eyes.
On the Vergecast: A deep dive with a visually impaired Ray-Ban Meta glasses user and the CEO of Be My Eyes.
is a senior reporter and author of the Optimizer newsletter. She has more than 13 years of experience reporting on wearables, health tech, and more. Before coming to The Verge, she worked for Gizmodo and PC Magazine.
On this episode of The Vergecast, we’re going to dive deep into why accessible design is universal design. First, guest host Victoria Song will chat with Jason Valley, a visually impaired Verge reader. Jason initially reached out to Victoria after her Live AI hands-on, challenging the notion that the feature was a “solution looking for a problem to solve.” Jason shares how the tech has helped him live a more independent life, what he’s hoping to see improve, and how the blind and low-vision community has enthusiastically embraced the technology.
After that, Victoria sits down with Be My Eyes CEO Mike Buckley. Be My Eyes is an app that pairs blind and low-vision users with sighted volunteers to help them go about their day. Buckley gives his thoughts about how accessible tech design benefits everyone, why smart glasses and AI are a natural combo, and what challenges and opportunities in this space remain.
And finally, we have features reporter Mia Sato on to answer a spicy question about smart glasses from the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email vergecast@theverge.com). Specifically, do smart glasses belong in the bedroom?
Want to learn more about everything in this episode? Here’s some links for further reading — and a cute pic of Jason’s guide dog Noel!
- Live AI on Meta’s smart glasses is a solution looking for a problem
- Meta’s smart glasses can now describe what you’re seeing in more detail
- The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses actually make the future look cool
- Be My Eyes AI offers GPT-4-powered support for blind Microsoft customers
- The principles of wearable etiquette
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