The new innovation that allows visually impaired people to "see"
<p>For a local Sydney woman, she loves reading anything she can get her hands on. At first, she might sound like a bookworm. However, she loves reading simply because she was born completely blind and had no idea what it was like to read junk mail and trawl through the adverts looking for a decent bargain.</p>
<p>This changed last September, when she received a small device that clips onto a pair of glasses. The device uses artificial intelligence to recognise faces and read text for her.</p>
<p>The device, OrCam MyEye 2.0, has completely changed her life.</p>
<p>Lisa Hayes explained to <a href="https://www.news.com.au/technology/gadgets/wearables/the-breakthrough-of-the-21st-century-how-this-product-changed-a-blind-womans-life/news-story/74f9881ed0f6f87a8797842bd982d1da">news.com.au</a>:</p>
<p>“It has got be the breakthrough of the 21st century as far as I’m concerned.”</p>
<p>“It’s one of the best things I’ve ever had.”</p>
<p>The tech is designed by an Israeli company called OrCam and the device is designed for the blind and visually impaired.</p>
<p><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7824337/picture1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ca47348ee3fc4a22aecf5e25c10ac6fb" /></p>
<p><em>What the device looks like. Photo credit: OrCam</em></p>
<p>On the front of the device, there’s a small camera with real time visual recognition technology. On the back of the device is a small speaker that relays the information into the ear of the user. It’s available in 23 languages.</p>
<p>Miss Hayes is overjoyed with the device.</p>
<p>“Being totally blind since birth, I’ve never been able to read a print book,” she said. “I can now actually read. I can read medication boxes, I can pick up junk mail.</p>
<p>“I feel like I’m part of the real world.”</p>
<p>The device has gotten attention around the globe, with Prince William being shown the technology on a historic visit to Israel.</p>
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<div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div>
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<p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BkkFGF3n-9v/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">#princewilliam made a historic visit to Israel, meeting with 4 top technology companies. He met with OrCam Technologies and used OrCam MyEye 2, the most advanced assistive wearable technology, that reads text, recognizes faces, and identifies products for the blind, visually impaired, and people with reading difficulties. #assistivetechnology #blindness #lowvision #OrCam #assistivetech #visuallyimpaired #partiallysighted #blind #lifechanging #visualimpairment #wearabletech</a></p>
<p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/orcam_technologies/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> OrCam</a> (@orcam_technologies) on Jun 28, 2018 at 2:43am PDT</p>
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<p>The royal was thrilled with the technology, <a href="https://www.orcam.com/gb/article/prince-william-experiences-life-changing-device-for-blind-people/">saying</a>:</p>
<p>“Wow. That is absolutely incredible.</p>
<p>“That will help many people I am sure. What brilliant tech.”</p>
<p>Would you use this device? Let us know in the comments.</p>
