The much-hyped and later discontinued Google Glass technology has found a second life through Envision, a company that builds hardware and software tools for the visually impaired.
“We got a little bit of an exemption,” says Karthik Kannan, founder and chief technology officer of Envision.
“We're the only company in the world today that's allowed to sell to the consumer directly, because you can't just buy these anywhere, you have to be a distributor.”
Envision's journey to selling smart glasses started in 2017, when the Amsterdam-based start-up's smartphone app, now called Envision AI, began to gain popularity.
The app uses a phone camera to identify and read signs, objects, menus, books or other material in real time, making it easier for visually impaired users to navigate situations.
The popularity of the free app, according to Mr Kannan, also fuelled Envision's desire to improve the user experience based on feedback from customers.
“If you're a low-vision person and you have to have a phone in one hand and a cane in the other, that can be cumbersome,” he says. “So, we started looking for something that might be sleek and modern-looking to implement.”
Part of enhancing the experience, Mr Kannan says, was to take the best aspects of the Envision app and realise the in glasses.
As Envision's app won a Google Play Award in the category of “best accessibility experience”, Mr Kannan says Envision was able to come to an agreement with Google and eventually use the company's technology for its Envision Glasses.
The glasses, priced from $1,899 to $3,499, were introduced in 2020 but have since undergone improvements during the AI boom.
“It's opened up a whole new world for us,” says Mr Kannan, reflecting on AI's impact on Envision's glasses.
“Eighty per cent of the things you could do with the glasses initially relied upon being online, but that's down to 30 per cent … it's been phenomenal over the last three years, taking complex AI and putting it into a form factor like this,” he adds.
The global assistive technology market is projected to reach $32.25 billion by 2030, from nearly $23 billion in 2023, expanding at a compound annual growth rate of 4.7 per cent during the period, according to Coherent Market Insights.
The growth comes as technology develops and products can be scale at a more rapid pace. It can be attributed to the increasing prevalence of disabilities, rising geriatric population, and technological advancements in assistive technology devices, the research agency said.
Meanwhile, the Envision glasses can also be used to recognise faces, among other features, Mr Kannan says.
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“You can even make video calls directly from the glasses if you need to,” he says.
Videos provided by the company show people with limited eyesight using the glasses to carry out a variety of tasks such as read restaurant menus or navigate busy streets.
Although Envision's primary product is the glasses, Mr Kannan says providing exposure to the company's app continues to be a priority.
Soon, the company will unveil a desktop version of the Envision app and it is already enabled for use with Apple's Vision Pro, with negotiations with other tech companies under way to broaden availability.
“We're currently in talks with Meta to see if we can put our software on their Ray-Ban Meta glasses,” he says.
Making Arabic a priority
Envision's app, according to the company, can read more than 100 languages, but Mr Kannan says there has been a major focus on Arabic, which traditionally has proven to be challenging, despite advancements in machine-learning, because of its complexity.
At first, Envision relied on various commercially available optical character recognition (OCR) technology to quickly implement Arabic but later evolved strategies to make the most from AI and other tech developments.
“As our userbase in the Middle East grew and we built up a community of users, we've started to bring a lot more of those efforts in-house,” Mr Kannan says.
“As a result, we now have more control over how the AI works when translating documents that are scanned and how it works if there's written text on a blackboard.”
In Dubai, Khalfan bin Dhaher, 36, is one of many sending feedback to Envision.
“I was selected as part of the company's ambassador programme back in 2019,” says Mr Dhaher, who is visually impaired.
“At the beginning I used it occasionally and gave them feedback and suggestions, they've really improved it since.”
Depending on the situation, Mr Dhaher says he's able to wear the glasses for half the day and navigate places where he used to require assistance such the grocery shops or restaurants.
“They are somewhat magical,” he says, adding that the glasses have also helped him reduce the amount of time he spends with his smartphone.
“Sometimes people used to get confused and assumed you were taking a picture of them but really you're just using the app to help yourself,” he says.
“Now I'm able to walk by myself in the mall just using my white cane and the glasses.”
Future plans for Envision
“We're ultimately a software company,” says Mr Kannan, reflecting on plans for the future.
“We really want to build an accessibility assistant, not just smart glasses, not just a smartphone app,” he says, hinting what Envision is working on.
In the months and years ahead, Envision would also like to widen its offerings to appeal to people with other types of disabilities such as dyslexia and dementia, to name a few, according to Mr Kannan.
“All of these things are now possible with the generative AI revolution upon us,” he says.
While it remains to be seen exactly what Envision will pursue or release next, there's definitely an appetite in terms of the overall assistive technology marketplace.
Q&A with Karthik Mahadevan, chief executive of Envision
_____________________________________
Where do you want to be in five years?
In five years, I aspire to see Envision as the global leader in assistive technology, with our solutions fully integrated into everyday devices, making accessibility universal.
What new skills have you learnt since launching your start-up?
Since launching Envision, I’ve honed my skills in adaptive leadership, technology development, particularly in AI and machine learning, and deepened my understanding of global accessibility standards.
What other successful start-up do you wish you had started?
While I admire many start-ups, I am deeply committed to the mission of Envision. If I were to choose another area, it would likely be in environmental technology, focusing on sustainable solutions.
Who is your role model?
My role model is Steve Jobs, for his unwavering commitment to innovation and design, coupled with his profound impact on technology and how we interact with it.
What is your next big dream to make happen?
My next big dream is to achieve seamless integration of our technology into daily life, eliminating barriers for people with visual impairments and promoting an inclusive society.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Employment lawyer Meriel Schindler of Withers Worldwide shares her tips on achieving equal pay
Do your homework
Make sure that you are being offered a fair salary. There is lots of industry data available, and you can always talk to people who have come out of the organisation. Where I see people coming a cropper is where they haven’t done their homework.
Don’t be afraid to negotiate
It’s quite standard to negotiate if you think an offer is on the low side. The job is unlikely to be withdrawn if you ask for money, and if that did happen I’d question whether you want to work for an employer who is so hypersensitive.
Know your worth
Women tend to be a bit more reticent to talk about their achievements. In my experience they need to have more confidence in their own abilities – men will big up what they’ve done to get a pay rise, and to compete women need to turn up the volume.
Work together
If you suspect men in your organisation are being paid more, look your boss in the eye and say, “I want you to assure me that I’m paid equivalent to my peers”. If you’re not getting a straight answer, talk to your peer group and consider taking direct action to fix inequality.
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
Paris%20Agreement
%3Cp%3EArticle%2014%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E1.%20%5BThe%20Cop%5D%20shall%20periodically%20take%20stock%20of%20the%20implementation%20of%20this%20Agreement%20to%20assess%20the%20collective%20progress%20towards%20achieving%20the%20purpose%20of%20this%20Agreement%20and%20its%20long-term%20goals%20(referred%20to%20as%20the%20%22global%20stocktake%22)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E2.%20%5BThe%20Cop%5D%20shall%20undertake%20its%20first%20global%20stocktake%20in%202023%20and%20every%20five%20years%20thereafter%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
FIGHT CARD
Bantamweight Hamza Bougamza (MAR) v Jalal Al Daaja (JOR)
Catchweight 67kg Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR) v Fouad Mesdari (ALG)
Lighweight Abdullah Mohammed Ali (UAE) v Abdelhak Amhidra (MAR)
Catchweight 73kg Mostafa Ibrahim Radi (PAL) v Yazid Chouchane (ALG)
Middleweight Yousri Belgaroui (TUN) v Badreddine Diani (MAR)
Catchweight 78kg Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Adnan Bushashy (ALG)
Middleweight Sallaheddine Dekhissi (MAR) v Abdel Emam (EGY)
Catchweight 65kg Rachid Hazoume (MAR) v Yanis Ghemmouri (ALG)
Lighweight Mohammed Yahya (UAE) v Azouz Anwar (EGY)
Catchweight 79kg Omar Hussein (PAL) v Souhil Tahiri (ALG)
Middleweight Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Laid Zerhouni (ALG)
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: CVT auto
Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km
On sale: now
Price: from Dh195,000
What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Champions League Last 16
Red Bull Salzburg (AUT) v Bayern Munich (GER)
Sporting Lisbon (POR) v Manchester City (ENG)
Benfica (POR) v Ajax (NED)
Chelsea (ENG) v Lille (FRA)
Atletico Madrid (ESP) v Manchester United (ENG)
Villarreal (ESP) v Juventus (ITA)
Inter Milan (ITA) v Liverpool (ENG)
Paris Saint-Germain v Real Madrid (ESP)
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
Other key dates
-
Finals draw: December 2
-
Finals (including semi-finals and third-placed game): June 5–9, 2019
-
Euro 2020 play-off draw: November 22, 2019
-
Euro 2020 play-offs: March 26–31, 2020
Winners
Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
Fixtures and results:
Wed, Aug 29:
- Malaysia bt Hong Kong by 3 wickets
- Oman bt Nepal by 7 wickets
- UAE bt Singapore by 215 runs
Thu, Aug 30:
- UAE bt Nepal by 78 runs
- Hong Kong bt Singapore by 5 wickets
- Oman bt Malaysia by 2 wickets
Sat, Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong; Oman v Singapore; Malaysia v Nepal
Sun, Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman; Malaysia v UAE; Nepal v Singapore
Tue, Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore; UAE v Oman; Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu, Sep 6: Final
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
The specs: 2019 Audi A8
Price From Dh390,000
Engine 3.0L V6 turbo
Gearbox Eight-speed automatic
Power 345hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque 500Nm @ 1,370rpm
Fuel economy, combined 7.5L / 100km
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
COMPANY%20PROFILE%3A
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