Hello everyone,
This is Gabriel from Fovionics. About 10 years ago, I met a friend back in Brazil who lost his vision at a very young age. He wanted to buy a technology that did reading, and it was half the price of a car back in Brazil.
He then became the inspiration behind Fovionics, where we're developing smart glasses specifically designed for the visually impaired community.
Most of the glasses today has AI, but ours will be the first where the AI will understand distances as well, as our glasses have a unique sensor not present in other technologies. This means that the AI will have better insights into how far waypoints are, when asked for directions it'll provide better details understand the environment in 3D. We also have a haptic object avoidance technology, to enhance safety from objects above the cane level.
We are finishing out APP to connect with the glasses, and wanted to learn more about your experience with the Meta AI app, and onboarding, and trying to understand if it was easy for you to set your glasses up.
Also, I'd love to see your comments about the Meta glasses, and other technologies you are excited about!
If you'd like to learn more, fill out the form below and we'll be reaching out soon!
Website to learn more: https://www.fovionics.com/
Comments
I'm not a fan of glasses but I do have a question.
For those that are, when you say you have sensors for directions, would that include maps? For example; would I be able to say, take me to the nearest tesco, a supermarket here in the UK, and it will do that with turn by turn directions? What about sensing cars/a clear path?
Even though glasses aren't for me; I'm looking forward to a video or two, showing off what this thing can do.
Keep in mind; there have been glassses companies that have said similar things, I can't remember the name of the one I am thinking of right now but they were around here about a year or so ago.
They said the glasses can see this and read that, and they were planning on making maps availible in their second version, I even got on call with one of the guys, he seamed nice enough so I pre ordered a pair, the pair of glasses were on there way and I got an email asking me if I could post another pair of glasses to another blind person living in the UK and they'll repay me for shipping, I told them no, that's not my job. The day arives, I get it and... The app isn't availible on the app store, so I couldn't even use the thing without having to email them to ask for a link, I didn't do that though because, if I remember correctly, you had to slot one of the arms on, and once I got the thing on my face it didn't feel very nice and there was a problem, the audio was only coming out of one arm speaker thing, I don't think the other one had one.
Whatever you do; don't be like that company and ask someone who paid for your product to ship another product to another person. Also, if your going to make an app, please make it availible on the app store/play store before launch, it makes it much easier on all of us.
signed up for this
Hi Gabriel,
I live in the UK, and I've just signed up. I'd be interested in learning more. I love the idea of smart glasses. Is this a product you're planning to ship internationally? If so, please take note of Brad's comments above about shipping and app availability! I couldn't agree more with Brad's comments above.
Brad and Tara Reply
Hi Brad and Tara,
Thank you very much for getting back to me. Yes, the idea is to include map directions in the future as well. Initially we can guide you to doorways, inside environments, etc.
In terms of cars, that is something that we wouldn't be covering initially as there is high risk of accidents, and safety is a priority.
In terms of availability in Europe, we are planning but initially it'll only be available in the U.S. because of the reasons you mentioned.
Making sure of app availability, policies, and more is a priority, and that's why we would be starting with the U.S. first, and then move to other countries.
I'd love to answer any other questions that you might have.
pricing
I'll come on out and say this and hope no one takes offense because it needs, to be said. Are these gunna be priced at an outrageous price? A pair of metas are like 375 round there abouts and I would honestly hope that the community won't have to pay an absurd price. I've seen this time and time again and I will not be happy if this is the case in price. We should not have to spend more on tech that's made for us and yet meta glasses are affordable and are worth every penny. I surely hope the price tag will be round the same price point. Oh and what ever you do, please do not, run on unsupported hardware. Please! I've seen this with other blindy glasses and that puts me off even more. We should be able to spend just as much on blind tech as we are with mainstream tech. Not raising prices to an outrageous price to where no one can afford because you wanna take advantage of our money. Please, do not let this happen. 2. Make the glasses not flimsy and good quality and have them be comfortable for people to ware. We do not need these big bulky glasses to have people notice us. That's another thing I've seen with a lot of blindy glasses. Just make them regular, normal sized glasses thank you very much! Meta glasses depending on the glasses, look, like regular sunglasses from what I'm told. Least mine do. The only thing that's different are the cams and when I have them off, people don't really notice much and it don't make you look dumb. It's things like these I've listed above that makes me real disappointed in a lot of blindy glasses I've seen and makes me wanna shake my head at every turn! If it sounds like I'm harsh, it's because I am, I've lost trust when it comes to this sort of thing because time and time again, companies will do that one thing you wish they didn't do. I'll believe it when I see all the things I list above to come into play but for now, think I'll pass and just shake my head. Nothing new accept for priced way too expensive and bulky glasses that run on unsupported hardware. Please tell me I'm not the only one feeling this way! Oh and one more thing. I agree with the comment above. Please, please please have your app in the stores instead of beta testing programs when launching. Makes you look like you ain't stable and it shows! We do not need things like this to be suss! You're charging money for glasses and you don't have your app in stores. Not a good look! If you're glasses are public then your app needs to be tested and ready to launch with in stores as well. The OrCam MyEye was a joke, the invision glasses are a joke and the selest glasses ain't even gunna be sold anymore. If these gunna be anything like the same marketing and pricing tactics I want no part. I hope your company will learn from this.
I completely agree.
These won't be for me as they're glasses but please don't run on old hardware. We need up to date hardware so we can take advantage of the latest software.
Another question is how much monthly will people be paying, because they wil be paying monthly; i know that. You have to pay for the AI after all.