Assistive technology holds incredible power to break down barriers and widen possibilities for the disabled in the UK. From enabling communication to improving mobility, new British assistive devices make daily activities easier. Here are 5 exciting homegrown innovations showing the promise of technology to profoundly enhance quality of life.
1. OrCam MyEye
OrCam MyEye is an ingenious wireless assistive device developed by UK-based OrCam Technologies. This compact, lightweight device harnesses advanced artificial intelligence to provide enhanced visual assistance for the blind or visually impaired. MyEye clips magnetically onto the frame of any glasses and features a small smart camera that can be oriented in whichever direction the user needs to look.
Using its powerful computer vision, MyEye can instantaneously read printed or digital text aloud to users from books, newspapers, product labels, street signs, computer screens, and more, enabling greater independence. The 13 megapixel camera has a quick-response text reader that can scan multiple lines at once, reading items held up to the camera or visible in the user's natural field of view.
MyEye also utilizes facial recognition capabilities and can audibly identify people that the user has saved images of in the device's memory. It will announce their name when they appear in the camera's view, great for recognizing friends and acquaintances. This also works for identifying common objects, which MyEye can label verbally through the wearer's small Bluetooth earpiece.
With its simple point-and-listen functionality and hands-free wireless design, OrCam MyEye provides a seamless assistive wearable experience, enabling those with visual impairments to move through the world with more confidence, connectivity and joy of discovery. This innovative British accessible technology shows the power to unlock life's everyday moments and interactions.
2. Buddi
Buddi is an assistive health wearable start-up based in the UK that has developed an innovative smart bracelet for individuals with conditions like dementia, autism, or epilepsy. Their premier product, the Buddi Connect, is a discreet wristband that uses GPS, WiFi and cellular technology to track the wearer's movements and location.
Families and caregivers of vulnerable people can use the associated Buddi mobile app to view real-time location tracking for the individual and receive instant alerts if they wander off or deviate from regular patterns. The app shows the wearer's location on a map and movement history. Geo-fencing features even allow setting up custom safe zones.
In addition to location tracking, Buddi Connect also has useful wellness monitoring features. Automatic fall detection will trigger alerts to caregivers if the wearer has a serious tumble. Two-way calling allows caregivers to talk to the wearer through the bracelet with the push of a button. And there is an SOS button the wearer can press in emergencies to notify contacts.
Optional add-ons include blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen level monitoring through supplemental sensors. All of this data aids in ensuring the health and safety of vulnerable individuals. Developed with key input from dementia associations and autism charities, the Made in Britain Buddi Connect provides security, confidence and peace of mind to both wearers and caregivers alike.
3. Dot Mini Braille Smartwatch
Touchscreen smartwatches have typically posed a challenge for blind and visually impaired users, but the innovative Dot Watch created by UK tech start-up Dot aims to change that. The Dot Watch allows wearers to conveniently check notifications and use features through an advanced Braille interface rather than relying on voice commands alone.
This ground-breaking device has a responsive braille display consisting of 4 lines of 40 refreshable braille cells each. Users can quickly feel incoming text messages, emails, and other app alerts displayed in braille text they can read by touch. They can then respond via braille input buttons below the display, making the Dot Watch the first mainstream smartwatch to integrate interactive tactile braille.
The interface is highly customizable, with users able to set their own configurations and shortcuts to access functions or notifications. The watch is compatible with iOS and Android phones, syncing wirelessly via Bluetooth so everything on the phone is mirrored on the watch display. Gesture controls allow easy navigation between screens and apps.
Invented by students from the Royal College of Art and Imperial College London, the innovative Dot Watch was funded through Kickstarter, showing strong consumer demand for accessible smartwatch technology. Since its launch, continuous feedback from the blind community has helped evolve the Dot Watch's design and usability. This British-designed product exemplifies how technology can enable greater connectivity and independence in everyday life.
4. Kinetic AI
Kinetic AI is an exciting British assistive technology start-up that has developed smart mobility solutions for power wheelchair users, including their flagship Kinetic Wheelchairs system. This add-on intelligent control system can be installed on new or existing power chairs to provide autonomous navigation assistance.
Using a sophisticated array of sensors, artificial intelligence, and advanced mapping and positioning technology, the Kinetic system enables power wheelchairs to essentially drive themselves and automatically avoid obstacles. This provides users much greater independence in navigating their environment.
The smart wheelchair can self-drive indoors and outdoors, following routes and avoiding collisions with objects or people thanks to real-time 3D sensor feeds, predictive trajectory software, and cloud-hosted neural networks that continually optimize performance. Routes can be pre-mapped for frequently travelled paths. The wheelchairs can even call the elevator and manoeuvre themselves inside upon reaching one.
While autonomous, the user maintains control through an intuitive joystick with options to take over at any time. The Kinetic system eases navigation, taking the cognitive burden off the user. Originally developed at the University of Edinburgh, Kinetic Wheelchairs aim to redefine mobility for the disabled by blending autonomy, intelligence and user-centric control. Test programs demonstrate the technology's immense potential to change lives.
5. Mimu Smart Gloves
Mimu is an emerging UK assistive technology start-up that has invented innovative smart gloves to help bridge the communication gap between deaf individuals and the hearing world. Developed by a team at the University of Bristol, the Mimu gloves contain sensors and artificial intelligence technology that can translate sign language hand motions into audible speech.
The lightweight gloves have thin, stretchy biomotion sensors lining the fingers and palms that detect the nuances of each sign language movement. The accompanying small pack analyses the hand motions using trained AI and converts them into natural spoken words and sentences, which can be heard by conversation partners not fluent in sign language.
This compact, stylish design removes the awkwardness and discomfort of older sign language translator devices. Mimu aims to enhance social connection and inclusion for the deaf community by enabling fluid conversations and blending seamlessly into users' regular hand gestures and body language.
The start-up has worked extensively with deaf associations and sign language users to refine the gloves' design and translation accuracy. They are currently conducting field tests with plans to continue improving the AI and gloves based on user feedback. By leveraging wearable technology and artificial intelligence, the pioneering Mimu gloves show the potential to open up communication for all.
While more progress is needed for full accessibility and inclusion, British innovations like these provide an exciting glimpse of a more tech-enabled future. As UK researchers collaborate with disabled users to understand their needs, new homegrown assistive devices can help tear down barriers to possibility.
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