Visually impaired UKZN students get boost with AI smart glasses
'For the first time, I feel like I won't be left behind. I can do things on my own, read my notes and slides in the lecture hall and recognise my friends. I finally have control,' said Bright Sello, a fourth-year Bachelor of Science student upon being told that he will be one of the recipients of the artificial intelligence (AI) glasses.
Sello, Thandeka Ngcobo, Londiwe Ndaba, Siboniso Mabuza and Thembisa Xolo were awarded the life-changing glasses. Sello, who is partially sighted, struggled to navigate the academic environment. Lectures were particularly daunting for him.
'I often sat in class unable to follow along because I couldn't read what was on the screen or see what the lecturer was pointing to,' he said. 'I had to rely heavily on classmates or tutors after hours to help me catch up, which made me feel like I was always lagging behind.'
The Envision Glasses, equipped with a high-definition camera embedded in lightweight frames built on the Google Glass platform, use AI and have the ability to read printed and digital text, recognise faces, navigate environments and access real-time descriptions of their surroundings – all through discreet audio feedback. Each pair of glasses costs about R75 000 and comes with lifetime software updates and technical support.
The university managed to secure the students a pair of the R75 000 smart glasses through the efforts of the UKZN Foundation, which approached assistive technology provider Sensory Solutions (Pty) Ltd to donate these glasses to the university's Disability Support Unit.
'The impact of the glasses extends far beyond the classroom. Imagine being able to read a printed timetable independently for the first time, confidently find your way to a lecture venue or recognise your lecturer or classmates in a crowd,' said Amith Ramballie, the head of the university's Disability Support Unit.
He said: 'This milestone is particularly significant because no other university in South Africa currently offers students access to this device. While wearable assistive technology has existed for years, previous models were often more expensive or lacked functionality and reliability.'
His excitement was shared by Mukthar Khan of Sensory Solutions, the exclusive distributor of Envision Glasses in the country. He added: 'UKZN is the ideal launch partner for this technology in South Africa. We've seen a genuine commitment to inclusion from the university and a thoughtful, student-first approach that aligns perfectly with what this technology aims to achieve.'
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