A firm has designed a pair of glasses that will help people with dementia remember names and stay safe.
The glasses, installed with an AI tool called Cross Sense, have been created as a ‘gentle anchor’ to help those suffering from Alzheimer’s in their daily lives.
Developed by Animorph Co-operative, the device not only points out what is in front of users, but also walks them step-by-step through everyday tasks.
From reminding them of medical appointments or where their keys are, the technology could transform the lives of millions living with the condition.
Installed with a microphone and a live display, the glasses can tell users the names of relatives, doctors or carers by recording the identity of their important people.
Wispy, its AI companion, also provides users with emotional support, regular check-ins and helps dementia sufferers keep track of appointments, and even records their daily rhythms.
Meanwhile, three in four people with various stages of dementia who have used the spectacles have experienced meaningful improvement after using them one time.
Rosalind Tranter, a retired dentist with dementia, said the device has prevented her from being a ‘burden’ on her 30-year-old son, Joshua.
The glasses, installed with an AI tool known as Cross Sense, have been created as a ‘gentle anchor’ to help those suffering from Alzheimer’s in their daily lives
Developed by Animorph Co-operative, the device not only points out what is in front of users, but also walks them step-by-step through everyday tasks
‘My mum was a runner,’ she told The Times. ‘She would get out and couldn’t find her way home.’
‘What I want is to stay living in my flat and not be a burden to my son. And I think technology like this can help do that. It can help me stay independent. And it is not speaking down to me.’
Szczepan Orlins, who is a software architect at Animorph said the firm hoped to ‘defy’ the disease, and ‘not just mitigate it.’
He added that the project’s vision had been helped by recent leaps in AI technology as well as strides in ultralight smart glasses.
And thanks to this combination, an idea which began with virtual reality helmets has now developed into trendy smart glasses reminiscent of high-end fashion firms.
The software is set to go on the market as an app by the end of 2026, which can be installed into the glasses that currently come with a price tag upwards of £700.
Animorph plans to charge £50 a month for the app. However, there is a tiny flaw with the gadget.
When journalists at The Times used the device to make a cup of tea, it advised to smell the milk before adding boiling water and finally, the tea bag.
The glasses are one of five projects which have been shortlisted for the Longitude Prize on Dementia, an initiative seeking to fund tech that will help those with the disease live as independently as possible.
From reminding them of medical appointments or where their keys are, the technology is set to transform the lives of millions
The five projects, shortlisted from countless across the globe, were handed £300,000 each to bring their own visions to life.
Among those shortlisted are SenS2, a British-designed WiFi hub that records people’s movement patterns without invasive cameras.
Australian Memory Aid, a headset created to help users stay connected with relatives via video call, is also among the list of nominees
An American project, called Theora 360, designed to detect and foresee falls, has been shortlisted, while Autonomous, a Portuguese app recording home routines to create a safe environment, also made the cut.
The winner of the £1million prize is set to be announced in March of this year.
