#Blindscentz: The Future is Bright

The future is so bright I’ve got to wear shades. Why would a blind woman with no light perception feel she needs to wear shades?  Good question.  Let’s dive into the answer.

Although I still have great conversational etiquette, I sometimes have difficulty making eye contact during a conversation. The sunglasses help remove this awkward barrier for the sighted person who is used to eye contact when conversing. Glasses also protect my eyes when navigating in the wild. I am sure everyone has had a stray branch slap them in the face once or twice. It can be most disconcerting if you have no warning.

The real reason I wear my sunglasses is because they are Meta Rayban smart glasses. These glasses are an equalizer of sorts. I will share some of the many ways I benefit from their use daily. Smart glasses are often getting a bad rap. Something that is rarely discussed is the benefits gained through their use from the sight loss community. The use of  artificial intelligence has helped me navigate my world with fewer barriers and more dignity.

If you have ever been in the hospital lab waiting room when I was there you may have witnessed me say “Hey meta! Tell me how much time is beside my name on the screen.”

Many waiting people assume I am randomly asking them to read the screen waiting time to me. I laugh and explain that I have asked my glasses to report the details back to me. How cool is that!

When I am out and about wayfinding and find myself a little lost, I have been known to ask my glasses what they see. They will often confirm details needed including street signs, doors, etc. They will also confirm if there are people near-by. This is important because if needed I can call out for help. While my glasses do have video recording ability, I generally do not use this function around other people unless I have alerted them or am at a venue that I wish to capture as anyone with a phone typically does.

I use my smart glasses to help me cook. They will recite a recipe for me. They can also quickly confirm the spice or item in my hand. I have used them to confirm if my hamburger is still pink or my biscuits are golden brown.

My glasses can video call a friend or a volunteer agent using the BE My Eyes app to help me with sighted assistance. There is an app called Airis Explorer that allows me to pay for certified professional guidance. I can use this feature for free to navigate the Vancouver Airport. The agent can be my eyes to help me to my gate or target area. In the USA Walmart customers can use the Airis service for free to shop in a numberof stores.

I have used my glasses to record my progress in cooking or landscaping to share out into the world on social media. This allows people to understand that blind people are people first and can navigate life with modifications where needed.

Smart technology and artificial intelligence are an equalizing tool that helps break down barriers for the blind and partially sighted community. Why shouldn’t I have the right to be able to identify people I know using my glasses? Why shouldn’t I be able to use them in public to assist me in navigating my world with more confidence? (No, it is not safe to use them to cross the street without any other orientation and mobility tools). The Meta smart glasses are an affordable option to many other blind technologies that are often priced out of reach for a community that has a very high unemployment rate. There is an amazing future in AI for the blind community to help build infrastructure and systems to be able to navigate technology using voice only, reducing the need for screens.

The future is so bright! I am so grateful for my smart shades!

Edwina Nearhood is a long time Fort St. John resident sharing her vision loss journey.  Please remember, every person’s vision loss experience is as unique as they are.