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OrCam device provides artificial vision
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ANAHEIM, Calif. – OrCam Technologies announced the availability of a wearable assistive technology solution for people who are blind, visually impaired or have a reading disability, here at an American Academy of Optometry-sponsored press conference.
Bryan M. Wolynski, OD, FAAO, a consultant for OrCam, told attendees that the OrCam MyEye is an intuitive portable device that includes an 8-megapixel smart camera mounted onto the patient’s eyeglass frame and a “small speaker that speaks into the patient’s ear.”
He explained that this unit is connected by a wire to a small computing device that fits into a pocket or on a belt and contains a rechargeable battery.
The company said in a press release that the device reads from any printed text – including newspapers, computer screens, menus, supermarket product labels and street signs – and also recognizes products and people’s faces.
“OrCam has been used by people in their 20s to 100 years old,” Wolynski said.
The device can be easily used by people with any level of technological capability and across all spectrums of vision loss, he added.
Each OrCam MyEye customer is personally trained on how to use the device, the company said in the release.
Wolynski added that a pilot study of 12 people that was published in JAMA Ophthalmology in May showed that the device is more effective than many low vision aids already in use.
Reference:
Moisseiev E, et al. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2016;134(7):748-752. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2016.1000.
Disclosure: Wolynski reports he is a consultant for OrCam.