A project to develop smart glasses which can help blind and partially sighted people see shapes and obstacles has been named as one of 10 finalists in this year’s Google Impact Challenge.

Created in partnership between the RNIB and Oxford University, the team has developed a high-tech, cost effective pair of smart glasses which its says will maximise the remaining vision the wearer has.
A 3D camera attached to the glasses captures images of a person’s environment and processes that information to identify shapes and object nearby.
Revealing the 10 finalists today (July 18), entrepreneur and star of the BBC’s Dragon’s Den, Peter Jones, confirmed that charitable grants of £500,000 would be awarded for four of the finalists.  
He also opened voting to the public, who will decide the winner of one of the four grants.
Managing director of RNIB Solutions, Neil Heslop, said: “We are delighted to be finalists in the Google Impact Challenge. These smart glasses have the potential to transform the way blind and partially sighted people can go about their everyday lives.”
Members of the public are encouraged to read about each of the finalists at https://impactchallenge.withgoogle.com/uk2014 and vote for their winner by July 30.

SOURCE: OPTOMETRY.CO.IN