From Assistive to Empowering.
How Physical AI Is Rewriting the Rules of Inclusion
AI isn’t just living in our laptops anymore, it’s moving with us.
Wearables. Voice interfaces. Smart glasses. Physical AI is changing how we experience the world and for neurodivergent youth or those with accessibility needs, it’s doing something far more powerful, it’s unlocking doors that were never meant to be closed.
We often talk about AI in terms of productivity or speed. But what if we reframed it as a bridge from potential to purpose?
Think about it.
A smart watch that helps manage overstimulation through haptic feedback.
An AI-enabled language assistant that helps a young entrepreneur pitch their idea confidently in real time.
A wearable that monitors anxiety levels before public speaking and adjusts lighting or audio prompts to ease tension.
This isn’t sci-fi. It’s already happening in forward-thinking spaces, where inclusion isn’t an afterthought it’s the design principle.
But here’s the catch, accessibility doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when we bring the right people, those with lived experience into the design room early. It happens when young, disabled, or neurodivergent entrepreneurs are empowered not just to use tech, but to lead with it.
Empowering Independence Through AI
Envision Smart Glasses are AI-powered wearable devices designed to assist blind and visually impaired individuals in navigating their environments with greater autonomy.
Developed by Envision, a company co-founded by Karthik Mahadevan and Karthik Kannan in 2017, these glasses integrate advanced computer vision and machine learning technologies to interpret and vocalise visual information.
The inception of Envision was inspired by Mahadevan's visit to a school for the blind in India, where students expressed a strong desire for independence. This experience led Mahadevan and Kannan to develop technology that could bridge the accessibility gap. Their commitment to inclusivity and empowerment continues to drive Envision's innovations.
Envision Smart Glasses have been recognised for their transformative impact on the lives of visually impaired individuals, enabling them to perform tasks that were previously challenging or inaccessible. By leveraging AI, these glasses provide users with tools to engage more fully with the world around them.
Key Features:
Real-Time Text Recognition: Reads printed and handwritten text in over 60 languages, enabling users to access a wide range of written materials.
Scene Description: Provides detailed descriptions of surroundings, helping users understand their environment.
Object and Face Recognition: Identifies objects and familiar faces, facilitating social interactions and daily tasks.
Colour Detection: Assists in distinguishing colours, useful for tasks like selecting clothing.
Video Calling: Allows users to initiate video calls with trusted contacts for assistance, enhancing safety and confidence.
Integration with Envision App: Seamlessly connects with the Envision smartphone app for additional functionalities and updates.
So what does that look like in your world?
Who are you designing for and who are you designing with?
What barriers could physical AI help dismantle in your community or industry?
How could wearables shift how you engage with your customers or team?
We often say tech is the great equalizer, but only if we build it that way.
For more information or to explore Envision's products, visit their official website: https://www.letsenvision.com.
Do you know someone with a big idea and a unique challenge?
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Let’s make inclusion the innovation not the exception.