Bionic Spectacles

Oxford University scientists have developed glasses that can help blind people see and navigate their way around. The smart and sleek bionic specs use a tiny camera and a pocket computer to alert wearers about the obstacles and surroundings.

The navigation glasses are designed to look like standard spectacles with a pinhead–sized camera to detect objects in front of the wearer. This camera would send information about the objects to a pocket computer, which would then process it and present it in dot patterns, enabling the wearer to avoid or know what is ahead. The spectacles are light in weight and cost around £1000.

The trials of the device being successful, scientists say the spectacles would be available to purchase from 2014, which would greatly benefit people suffering from age–related low–vision diseases and blindness.