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Digital Glasses Update!

It’s been over a year and a half since I first showcased the early version of the vision-enhancing app that I had built for my father.

And now, after a tremendous amount of testing and refining, numerous personal setbacks, and a brutal work schedule, the app is finally ready to be released to everyone!

I’ve updated the user interface to allow the app to serve two functions: as a standard magnifier (but with the extra image filtering), and as an “Augmented Reality” headset.

There are many “Magnifier” apps available on the app store already for visually impaired individuals, but very few actually provide live image enhancing that this app delivers. So even as an everyday magnifier, this app is already incredibly useful to anyone with sight issues.

It is the “Headset” mode where this application really shines though. Over the last year, there have been a few new startups with eSight-like headsets appearing with promises of cheaper alternatives to eSight. And naturally, the price of eSight headsets has dropped from over $15,000 USD to just under $10,000 USD. But even the cheapest products from NuEyes that I have been able to sample still cost over $3,000. My Digital Glasses app, however, only needs a $20 VR/Google Cardboard headset, a $20 Bluetooth remote, and a $200 iPod touch. Plus, it also support Apple Watches and Pebble Watches in addition to the Bluetooth remotes.

Check out the details of the app here.

I’ve also put all the source code on github here.

Hardware Requirements
Ideally, an iPod touch is the best device to use for your headset. Fourth generation and up (which can be found here) is ideal because the camera is superb from this version onward.

AR/VR Headsets can be found here. Be sure to purchase a headset that has a strap so that it will stay on your head hands-free and, most importantly, does not block the camera of the iPhone/iPod.

Bluetooth remotes are the cheapest way to control the app while wearing a headset, and can be found here. Any iCade Bluetooth remote will should be compatible with this app. If you have one that is not compatible, please contact me so I can add support!

Alternatively, Apple Watches (found here) and the significantly cheaper Pebble Watches (found here) are also supported as remotes for the headset.

3 responses to “Digital Glasses Update!”

  1. Fiona Huffman Avatar
    Fiona Huffman

    Hello i have keratoconus and can see pass 4 inches from my face i was on a a camera app on my phone and I noticed I could see clearly when I look through it so that led me to think, did anybody invent a camera glasses? so I did a Google search I found e sight I saw the price I said no way then I thought DIY glasses. This led me to you, thank you! so much here my question can I use any VR because the ones that are listed are out of stock

    1. Admin Avatar
      Admin

      Hi Fiona!

      Yes, you can use almost any VR googles that fit your phone AS LONG AS THEY DONT COVER THE CAMERA. I’ve noticed that a lot of the headsets totally cover the back of the phone, which blocks the camera. So watch out for that when you are searching around.

  2. Leon Sampson Avatar
    Leon Sampson

    I lost my glasses a few years ago and did something similar because it was impossible to function without my glasses: rock on dude, keep refining this and democratise vision for the blind, big companies will never drop the price its a medical device if anything it will follow the standard pattern of medical technology and people will be charged the maximum the company can legally get away with

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