Can augmented reality help low vision individuals see a world that resembles the vision of others?

industry

Enterprise & Medical

the problem

NuEyes had a bold idea of building an AR device that could run software that would boost the eyesight of people categorized under “low vision.” They wondered if augmented reality could help people with vision problems live a more normal life? Could the technology enhance what they already saw to a point where what they could see more closely resembled the vision of others?

services

Augmented Reality

Developer-Friendly SDK

the solution

With several of it's Unity and hardware integrations engineers on staff 302 went to work to help Nueyes take its smart glasses platform to the next level.

The result is an innovative, augmented reality-equipped headset that will become a versatile part of NuEyes’ offerings. Not only that, but the plan is to build a library of apps and capabilities that will extend the usability of NuEyes’ Pro3 platform using a developer friendly SDK developed by the team.

The idea for augmented reality hardware that helps people with low vision is one that goes far beyond the typical AR use cases.

“When it comes to augmented reality, we needed to find a partner that understands the technology and human interaction with it,” he said. That’s what Bowie and NuEyes found when it connected with 302 Interactive CEO Kyle Morrand, who had spent some time interacting with augmented reality before launching 302 in 2014.

So often – perhaps TOO often – the novelty of augmented reality influences public opinion when it comes to long-term viability of this new technology. Yes, big splashes like Magic Leap’s announcement that AR will change gaming are backed by multimillions of dollars in advertising. However, what has come after that is useful applications of AR.

“I’m tired of the business cards and five second IKEA experience...I am interested in what will everyday AR look like? What is some augmented reality that I would want to use every day?”

So, starting from scratch, how do you solve a problem that nobody else has been looking to solve? Collaboration and maximizing your skillsets as part of a team. 302 Interactive’s work alongside NuEyes has put both companies on a path toward aiding a community that can benefit greatly from emerging technology.

NuEyes came up with the idea for a headset but they needed they needed to display 3D/2D content in real-time. That’s where 302 Interactive came in. The company has specializes in developing solutions using Unity 3D and Unreal Engine to create immersive interactive solutions across mediums. With several of it's Unity and hardware integrations engineers on staff 302 went to work to help Nueyes take its smart glasses platform to the next level.

keeping the end user in mind

Moreso than in most projects, building out this project took a ton of forward thinking and consideration of the end user.

When building apps for people with low vision, it’s imperative you put yourself in the place of those end users. What would be helpful for someone with low vision, beyond the obvious enhancers? How can we maximize the use of the NuEyes Pro3 hardware so that it becomes a leader in this quickly emerging space? The partnership gave both parties the ability to attack this problem with few limits and endless opportunity.

making it accessible & improving quality of life

NuEyes has been concerned with accessibility since it first decided to approach LOW VISION patients as their target market. That is one of the major reasons 302 so quickly partnered with the company. They saw that NuEyes was not interested in becoming just another AR company building video games. They wanted to change the world.

In 2022, a quality of life improvement can be as close as the next company or tech business that creates something amazing. Through their collaboration, 302 Interactive and NuEyes hope to help as many of the 2.9 million Americans over age 40 who have low vision. Technology in this age has become the catalyst for so many improvements in life and it should be no different for people whose visual acuity has decreased. The partnership represents another way that augmented reality can represent the “tech for good” ideal.