AI-powered smart glasses launched to help people with sight loss access the world around them
Assistive technology specialist Envision has launched accessible AI smart glasses designed for people with sight loss.
Developed in partnership with smart eyewear specialist Solos, Ally Solos Glasses offer a hands-free, screen-free way for people with sight loss, elderly individuals, and those with cognitive impairments to access the world.
The glasses are powered by Envision’s accessible AI assistant, Ally.
By speaking, users can ask Ally Solos Glasses to read text from books, signs, menus, and documents; describe surroundings, people, or scenes; recognise people, objects, and signs; scan documents or photos for meaningful content; answer questions, provide reminders, or check calendars; and converse naturally, with Ally remembering context across turns.
This happens through subtle open-ear audio in a lightweight, splash-resistant glasses frame.
Envision and Solos say they worked closely with people with sight loss and blind individuals to design “a wearable experience that fits seamlessly into everyday life—without screens, distractions, or complexity”.
The glasses come with a short onboarding process that teaches users how to interact with Ally using natural language, so that using the glasses feels intuitive and conservational. Envision says Ally should feel like a helpful companion that is always listening but not overwhelming.
The glasses are built on Solos’ AirGo platform, known for its comfort, durability, and modularity. Features include HD cameras for accurate visual understanding; Whisper open-ear audio for clear, discreet sound; 10-hour battery life with quick-swap USB-C arms; responsive voice interaction without a screen; and multiple frame styles.
In 2024, state-of-the-art AI glasses that help people with dementia navigate their environment were among the groundbreaking technologies awarded £300,000 as a finalist in the £4.4m Longitude Prize on Dementia.
