Envision Announces More Affordable Smart Glasses For Blind & Visually Impaired

Envision is introducing two new editions of its assistive technology glasses. Meant to help people who are blind or visually impaired live relatively normal lives, the new devices use the same hardware and form factor as the original Envision smart glasses but cater to needs of consumers.

In case you didn’t know, Envision’s smart glasses help users read, identify people and objects as well as make hands-free video calls to contacts they trust. In 2022, to make it a little more affordable for consumers, the company made its app free to access, reduced the price of the original Envision glasses and partnered with AIRA, a professional visual interpretation service.

As of today, there are over 200,000 Envision smart glasses wearers around the world. Now with the introduction of the Read Edition & Home Edition versions, the device will be accessible to more consumers. They join the top-of-the-line Professional Edition, which comes with all the bells and whistles.

The Read Edition’s features focus on the basics like the need to read and scan text. Home Edition allows for calls and scene interpretation while the Professional Edition has read technology, scanning, camera, and video calls as well as free feature updates and maintenance

Now, since all three versions share the same hardware, upgrading is as simple as purchasing an upgrade module from the Envision app or webshop. This will allow Read Edition users to upgrade to Home or Professional version and Home Edition users to get the Professional package.

The company promises that the new smart glasses will get constant improvements via software updates. These are incremental maintenance and security additions, bug fixes, performance enhancements, and stability improvements.

However, new features and functionality, which are part of the “Feature Updates” will be made available via annual subscription of $199 for the Read and Home Edition. For users who have purchased the Professional Edition, they get a lifetime subscription of said Feature Updates.

Here’s the breakdown of what each device offers and their respective prices:

Envision Glasses: Read Edition: Retail Price – $1,899 (US Dollar)
All Envision Glasses reading features – Instant Text, Scan Text, Batch Scan
Maintenance and security updates
1-year subscription to feature updates and new functionality
1-year warranty
Includes Titanium Frames

Envision Glasses: Home Edition: Retail Price – $2,499 (US Dollar)
All Envision Glasses reading features plus: Call an Ally, Call Aira, Describe Scene, Detect Light, Recognise Cash, Detect Colors, Find People, Find Objects, Teach a Face and Explore
Maintenance and security updates
1-year subscription to feature updates and new functionality
1-year warranty
Includes Titanium Frames

Envision Glasses: Professional Edition: Retail Price – $3,499 (US Dollar)
All Envision Glasses features: Instant Text, Scan Text, Batch Scan, Call an Ally, Call Aira, Describe Scene, Detect Light, Recognise Cash, Detect Colors, Find People, Find Objects, Teach a Face and Explore
Maintenance and security updates
A lifetime subscription to unlimited feature updates and new functionality
2-year warranty
Lightweight Titanium frames
Fashionable Lux Frames

Envision Glasses Editions will be available to the public from January 26, 2023 Editions directly from Envision and via its global distributor network.