Breakthrough tech creates vision via sound for the blind
World-first technology in the form of Augmented Reality in audio has the potential to radically change the lives of millions of people with blindness or low-vision.
As Co-Founder and CEO ROBERT YEARSLEY explains, “ARIA” delivers a form of technologically-enhanced human echolocation that enables blind users to perceive their surroundings in precise detail.
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Vision via sound for the blind
Pioneering vision-tech innovator ARIA Research has created world-first technology that turns images into sounds enabling blind and low vision people to ‘visualise’ the real world.
ARIA, which stands for Augmented Reality In Audio, leverages novel machine vision and artificial intelligence systems to interpret the user’s surroundings in real-time, delivering a sensory augmentation through binaural speakers located in the arms of high-tech optical glasses.
“There are currently 338 million people who are blind or low-vision and that number is expected to grow to more than half a billion by 2050,” said ARIA Co-founder and CEO Robert Yearsley. “Our aim is to develop the first comprehensive, commercially-scalable solution to address the unmet needs of these people – our end-users – and to enable increased independence and autonomy.
“Ninety-percent of blind people are dependent on others for moving around outside their homes and the majority also bear major challenges with core elements of living and maintaining a household independently. We want to change that.”
ARIA will commence clinical trials of its smart glasses in early 2024 as one of the first projects at the NSW Government supported Human Augmentation Laboratory (HAL) in Sydney. ARIA will lead HAL, which will be an industry-led, open lab facility that will focus on rapid research translation and the acceleration of deep-tech startups.
The company’s groundbreaking research and development saw it recognised as the Australian Technology Company of the Year at the Australian Technologies Competition (ATC) in 2023. ARIA Research also took out the Medtech and Pharma categories.
The ATC is a national growth and awards program designed to showcase and promote innovative Australian technologies with global growth potential.
In announcing the company’s win, the judges highlighted ARIA’s genuine IP, impressive level of user testing and funding consultation, its Australian manufacturing focus as well as the significant and global problem the technology solved.
“As these awards demonstrated, Australia is full of amazing innovation and to be recognised as a front-runner is humbling,” added Mr Yearsley.
More information: ariaresearch.com.au
This story was produced in collaboration with Media & Capital Partners