Latest news with #EnvisionSmartAIGlasses
The Citizen
16-06-2025
- The Citizen
Visually impaired UKZN students get boost with AI smart glasses
The future of five visually impaired UKZN students is looking much brighter and clearer after the institution secured them a life-changing pair of Envision Smart AI Glasses to aid them with their studies, Berea Mail reports. '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.' Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
05-06-2025
- IOL News
Revolutionising Education: UKZN provides AI glasses to empower visually impaired students
UKZN visually impaired students proudly showcase their new Envision Smart AI Glasses. Image: Supplied The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has made history as the first university in South Africa to provide visually impaired students with cutting-edge Envision Smart AI Glasses, a powerful assistive device that uses artificial intelligence to help users navigate the world with greater independence and confidence. The five recipients, Bright Sello, Thandeka Ngcobo, Londiwe Ndaba, Siboniso Mabuza, and Thembisa Xolo, were selected through a rigorous process led by the University's Disability Support Unit (DSU). Each pair of glasses, valued at R75 000, was donated by Sensory Solutions (Pty) Ltd following a request from the UKZN Foundation. The Envision Glasses, built on the Google Glass platform, use a high-definition camera to capture visual information and instantly convert it into audio feedback. This allows users to read printed and digital text, recognise faces, find objects, and navigate their environment using discreet audio prompts 'For the first time, I feel like I won't be left behind,' said Bright Sello, a fourth-year Bachelor of Science student who is partially sighted. 'I can do things on my own, read my notes and slides in the lecture hall and recognise my friends. I finally have control.' Before receiving the glasses, Sello faced significant challenges in the lecture hall. '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 explained. '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.' With the glasses, Sello says his academic life has transformed. 'Now, I won't have to depend on others all the time. It's not just about being able to see the material, it's about regaining my independence, dignity and the confidence to fully participate in my own education.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Amith Ramballie, Head of the DSU, praised the move as a milestone in inclusive education. 'UKZN is proud to lead the way in implementing advanced assistive technology that speaks to the needs of our diverse student body. These glasses not only reflect our commitment to accessibility but also our belief in every student's right to learn, grow and succeed independently,' Ramballie 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.' The glasses support more than 60 languages and connect seamlessly with smartphones, making them adaptable for various settings and users. From reading timetables to navigating crowded lecture halls, students can now experience a new level of autonomy in their academic and social lives. '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 Ramballie. 'These simple yet powerful moments are what Envision Glasses make possible.' Sensory Solutions' Mukthar Khan, whose company distributes Envision Glasses in South Africa, described UKZN as the perfect partner to launch the technology in the country. '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,' said Khan. 'It is now up to you to use this remarkable piece of technology to reach your goals, from academic success to personal and professional growth, we hope these glasses bring you more ease, freedom and joy in your studies. We look forward to witnessing the incredible things you'll achieve.' IOL News Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
