New sunglasses give real-time subtitles in conversations

Well, we’re now officially living in the future!

Available now after several years of piloting, new glasses can help deaf and hard of hearing people see real-time subtitles during conversations.

How do they work?

Using augmented reality (AR) the glasses take audio collected from the built-in microphone and convert it to text that is projected on the lenses for the wearer, effectively allowing them to read real-time subtitles of what’s being said.

The hardware was developed by AR glasses company Nreal, while XRAI Glass provided the software.

The XRAI glasses can add subtitles to everything the user listens to, but they can also deliver short summaries of any conversation or instructions and answer the user’s questions.

The glasses themselves are a tool, but the software is through an app on your phone which can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.

Conversations can be transcribed and kept on your phone for future reference

Not just for deaf people

These incredible glasses not only give people with hearing difficulties access to conversations, but they also give real-time translation of nine languages!

English, Chinese (Mandarin), Japanese, Korean, Spanish, French, Portuguese, German and Italian can all be translated instantly for the user, making them quite desirable for anyone travelling.

Of course, being translated through a phone also means deaf people can use them to make and receive phone calls, another added bonus!

What people are saying

Mark Atkinson, CEO of the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID), said “This is a great example of the positive difference innovative technology can make for people who are deaf or have hearing loss. At RNID we are excited about the potential for technology to transform the lives of our communities.”

Founder of DeafKidz International, Steve Crump, said “As a profoundly deaf person myself, I was blown away by this technology. When I tried on the glasses, I was astonished – this is a product that enables enhancement and participation like never before. I see XRAI Glass as a hugely positive force.”

XRAI Glass CEO Dan Scarfe says, “We are so proud of the ability this innovative technology has to enrich the lives of people who are deaf and have hearing loss, so that they can maximize potential. Whether that means being able to have a conversation while continuing to make dinner or keeping a conversation going while walking with a friend. The scale of the opportunity is huge.”

How much do they cost?

Ok, so there’s two parts; the hardware and the software.

The hardware is the augmented reality glasses which are made by Nreal and can be bought in the UK from EE for about £340.

For the software, you need to download the app for free from the Google Play Store and subscribe to XRAI’s service.

Currently, there are three levels of subscription: Essential, Premium and Ultimate, with the Essential subscription free to use.

As with all technologies, these glasses will only become smaller, cheaper and more common. It’s not unreasonable to imagine that in a decade, nearly every deaf person in the country will be wearing everyday glasses that provide instant, accurate subtitles.