The mobile and the apps in it can do much more than the Smart Glasses. But Smart Glasses can be used hands free and it is easier to focus on objects for taking photo and video.
Prashant Ranjan Verma Accessibility Specialist Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies Member – International Association of Accessibility Professionals From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Cauvery Krishna Sent: 25 July 2025 21:22 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [AI] My Advice for the Visually Impaired in India Regarding Smart Glasses - July 2025 Could you please tell what are some of the things that this Meta AI glasses can do which an Android or IPhone with apps like Be my Eyes, Chat GPT, and Gemini pro cannot do. On Fri, 25 Jul 2025, 12:01 Mohib Anwar Rafay, <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > wrote: I'm really looking forward to Oakley launching their glasses in India soon with different frames. As the Oakley HSTN frame is an older model that’s no longer in production. This frame features a 4 base lens structure, and the lenses are 49mm wide. That size might be a bit too small to effectively shield your eyes from harsh light coming in from the sides. Also, Oakley is offering just one lens option, the 24k Prizm lens, which is nearly 90% dark. This might not be helpful for someone with low vision, and it could be an unnecessary expense for someone who is totally blind, as paying for the lens wouldn’t really make sense for them. Ray-Ban is offering a variety of lens options, giving you the flexibility to pick the lens color and features that suit you best. Ray-Ban also has 4 base lenses, but lens width is little bit wider than Oakley's. I really hope the AI live feature comes out soon because that would make these glasses super helpful for people with visual impairments. However considering Oakley's battery backup and camera quality is attracting towards them between these two choices! On Fri, Jul 25, 2025 at 10:19 AM Mujtaba Merchant <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > wrote: Thank you Prashanth for clarifying the doubt I had about the case and glasses charge options. From: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > On Behalf Of [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> Sent: 25 July 2025 07:35 AM To: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> Subject: RE: [AI] My Advice for the Visually Impaired in India Regarding Smart Glasses - July 2025 Most AI features like object and scene description is already available in India. Only Live AI is not launched. I think there are privacy concerns of the regulatory authorities but I think it will come soon in some form. The charging setup of Ray Ban Meta is similar to that of the AirPods or most other Bluetooth earbuds. You need to charge the case only. When the smart glass is placed inside the case, it its battery is not 100%, it gets charged by the case. In the Meta AI app we can see the battery status of the glass and the case. The Smart Glass can also announce the battery status. Thanks, Prashant From: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > On Behalf Of Nishant Rana Sent: 24 July 2025 20:46 To: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> Subject: Re: [AI] My Advice for the Visually Impaired in India Regarding Smart Glasses - July 2025 Thank you for the detailed and informative write up. Was under the impression that the AI features such as taking pictures asking questions after and such were restricted to a few countries of which India wasn't a part, Am I mistaken when it comes to that aspect? be good if I am, as these sound quite useful indeed. On Thu, 24 Jul 2025 at 12:30, <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > wrote: My Advice for the Visually Impaired in India Regarding Smart Glasses – July 2025 Having used the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses for nearly nine months, and with over 25 years of experience in assistive technology and digital accessibility, I want to share my understanding of the current landscape of smart glasses, especially in the Indian context. Who Should Consider Smart Glasses? Among people with visual impairment, needs vary significantly. Those with low vision who can effectively use their residual eyesight for daily activities may find limited additional value in current smart glasses. However, for people who are totally blind—particularly those already accustomed to wearing goggles or protective eyewear—smart glasses can be a valuable tool. If affordability is not a constraint, I recommend that totally blind users consider purchasing the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. These devices do not solve all accessibility challenges, but they offer a reliable and always-available virtual assistant. They can read text aloud, describe objects, and answer a wide range of questions, making them a helpful everyday companion. For blind individuals who are not used to wearing any spectacles or eyewear, there may be an adjustment period to get comfortable with the form factor of smart glasses. Battery Life and Practical Use One of the main limitations of current smart glasses is battery life. Due to safety concerns and weight, it’s impractical to embed large batteries into eyewear. For example, Ray-Ban Meta glasses offer up to 4 hours of continuous use. Some other smart glasses may provide longer battery life, but full-day usage on a single charge is still not feasible. A practical workaround could be owning two pairs—using one while charging the other. However, this may not be an affordable or realistic option for everyone. That said, smart glasses are not meant to fully replace human assistance. In India, sighted assistance is often easily available, and the quality of human help will, in most cases, surpass what AI-based tools can currently offer. Current Options in India As of July 2025, the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are, in my opinion, the best option currently available in India. While other models—such as those from Eco Vision—are being developed with promising features aimed specifically at visually impaired users, they are not yet available in the Indian market. The Ray-Ban Meta’s hardware is robust, and Meta continues to improve the device through regular software updates. For those who wish to explore this emerging technology, it’s a good time to invest. Future Outlook Just like smartphones and computers, the lifespan of smart glasses is expected to be around two to three years. This means users will likely have the chance to upgrade to newer, more capable models in the near future. As someone actively involved in testing and training others on assistive technology, I plan to try out every new model that becomes available. While this may sound like a promotion of Ray-Ban Meta, I’ve aimed to be objective. My views are based on practical experience using and evaluating most of the smart glasses currently available or under development in India. Prashant Ranjan Verma Accessibility Specialist – DAISY Consortium General Secretary – NAB Delhi www.daisy.org <http://www.daisy.org> , www.nabdelhi.in <http://www.nabdelhi.in> -- Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list.. Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "AccessIndia" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> . To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/00e501dbfc68%24b0735b70%24115a1250%24%40gmail.com <https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/00e501dbfc68%24b0735b70%24115a1250%24%40gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> . -- *** “The most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.” -- Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list.. Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "AccessIndia" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> . To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/CAOLm80xZuRzJ4X3sJ3J-kaOoQxGCr%3DAYkWaXLv3N8mSrB5yCgw%40mail.gmail.com <https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/CAOLm80xZuRzJ4X3sJ3J-kaOoQxGCr%3DAYkWaXLv3N8mSrB5yCgw%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> . -- Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list.. Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "AccessIndia" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> . To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/055a01dbfd08%249a454c00%24cecfe400%24%40gmail.com <https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/055a01dbfd08%249a454c00%24cecfe400%24%40gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> . -- Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list.. Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "AccessIndia" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> . To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/003c01dbfd1f%2486ba9570%24942fc050%24%40gmail.com <https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/003c01dbfd1f%2486ba9570%24942fc050%24%40gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> . -- Mohib Anwar Rafay Phone: +919999996464 -- Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list.. Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "AccessIndia" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> . To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/CAMudc6xjQzCgV1DH45C-JdWKxYKeMGz9me7dVGczQJHAbNtBwg%40mail.gmail.com <https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/CAMudc6xjQzCgV1DH45C-JdWKxYKeMGz9me7dVGczQJHAbNtBwg%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> . -- Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list.. Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "AccessIndia" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> . To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/CAK%3DRgBBLsj9bOS67Jw8S%3Dy0jiB-cEeNup2GD4n-RKcaRZEt8Lg%40mail.gmail.com <https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/CAK%3DRgBBLsj9bOS67Jw8S%3Dy0jiB-cEeNup2GD4n-RKcaRZEt8Lg%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> . -- Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list.. Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "AccessIndia" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/0a1801dbfd7e%24b51aa310%241f4fe930%24%40gmail.com.
