eSight produces glasses chock full of digital technology that helps people with legal blindess to actually see. Inside the headset is a high-definition camera, OLED screens, and technology to support a real-time video feed. Mounted on carrier frames, it also features a “bioptic tilt” to switch viewing modes and access peripheral vision.
It’s relatively simple to operate, as well; the tiny camera sits in the nose of the glasses, displated on an HD screen inside the headset. The image is big enough to be seen in peripheral vision, and eSight’s controller allows customization in the form of zoom, focus, contrast, and color. The video below tells Justin’s story: he is a DJ who connects eSight’s headset directly to his computer. Apparently, no one notices that he’s wearing assistive technology — it looks like futuristic DJ gear. Check out his story in the video below!
Unfortunately, eSight’s price is so high – it’s not covered by insurance – that those who need it aren’t getting access to it. There’s also the issue that eSight doesn’t need a prescription, and has yet to be clinically tested. So people might spend an inordinate amount of money on something that never addresses their specific medical problem. (Now where have I heard that before?)
That’s not to say eSight couldn’t make a big impact in the – ahem – forseeable future. For someone who has had drastically limited vision their entire life, the price tag might be well worth it. Just ask Kathy from video below, who was able to see her own baby Axel (the first baby she’s ever seen) right in the nick of time.
(All video credit: eSight)
