The speaking specs that give blind people ‘sight’

A GADGET that clips to a pair of spectacles and speaks to the wearer, telling them what they are looking at, could offer ‘sight’ to blind people.

The finger-sized device– OrCam MyEye 2.0 – allows users to ‘ read’ books, newspapers, computer screens and even whiteboards six yards away, as well as identify food products.

It can even learn to recognise the faces of loved ones.

Invented by Israeli computerscience professors, it is fitted with a 13 megapixel miniature camera, a microphone and speaker and requires no phone app or wi-fi connection.

When the user look sat a stimulus, the camera take san immediate picture which is then analysed by an in-built computer algorithm.

Within five seconds, a computerised voice reads words or tells the wearer who or what is in front of them.

OrCam co-founder Professor Amnon Shashua says: ‘ We’ve seen this device transform lives. Many people use it just once and cry with happiness.’

While the original MyEye has been available since 2015, its capabilities were previously limited to reading.

The updated version features facial recognition. To activate this function, wearers tap the device and it can then tell them the name of the person they’re with. The device can also translate multiple languages and is fitted with a light, allowing users to read in the dark.

Prof Shashua says: ‘ There is no other device using such sophisticated technology, and we have 100,000 users already.’