The new AI glasses that could transform life for those with dementia
Spectacles that help wearers find the right words and do basic tasks are to be trialled this autumn, ahead of a launch in 2027.
Spectacles that help wearers find the right words and do basic tasks are to be trialled this autumn, ahead of a launch in 2027.
High-tech spectacles to help people living with dementia cope with everyday life are set to become available from early next year and the company developing them wants volunteers to trial them in a UK-wide pilot scheme this autumn.
Szczepan Orlins, chief executive of CrossSense, the maker of the glasses, told Saga Magazine that at least 20 pairs of participants – those with early-stage dementia and their carers – would be involved in the in-depth trial. “We want to start it in the fourth quarter of this year, and each participant will have the glasses for four weeks,” he says.
To qualify for the trial, CrossSense is “looking for people who have a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or early-stage dementia,” Orlins explains. “Participants can self-refer via our website and we will ask for confirmation of diagnosis as part of the screening process.”
The trial will be monitored through data from the glasses and regular check-ins via a dedicated app, as well as questionnaires at the start, midpoint and end of the pilot period. People taking part will also have the option to give their feedback through interviews with the research team.
The CrossSense glasses, which harness Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, will help people with mild cognitive impairment do everything from get dressed in the morning and make a cup of tea to find the right words when talking to loved ones.
By asking gentle prompts, CrossSense’s AI companion – named Wispy – will understand and learn a person’s unique way of doing things, with the AI adapting to each user’s needs as their dementia progresses.
Wispy will work by identifying objects and providing step-by-step instructions to guide users through everyday tasks, for instance “pick up the kettle” or “put teabag in cup”.
Professor Julia Simner, from the University of Sussex, who was the lead scientist working with CrossSense on the glasses, says she drew on her background in neuropsychology and multisensory cognition throughout the development phase.
“It shows how technology works best when it’s guided by the people it’s meant to support,” she explains. “With their insights, we were able to create an assistive technology that feels gentle, intuitive, and truly helpful.”
Such is the excitement about the glasses – which are chunky in style as they incorporate a camera, microphone and speakers – that they have just won the £1m Longitude Prize on Dementia. This fund, launched by the Alzheimer’s Society, Innovate UK and Challenge Works, is targeted at supporting innovators who create ground-breaking technologies to help people with dementia.
“CrossSense captures exactly the kind of revolutionary AI the Longitude Prize set out to support,” says Dame Wendy Hall, AI expert and chair of the Longitude Committee. “The team’s progress over the past three years has been remarkable – their expertise, co-design approach and focus on personalised AI, built on existing smart glasses hardware, truly set them apart.”
Professor Fiona Carragher, chief policy and research officer at Alzheimer’s Society, is excited about the huge potential of AI and the glasses to support those with dementia live better for longer.
“By anticipating people’s needs as their condition progresses, easing daily living challenges and providing additional reassurance to families, this revolutionary technology will allow people with dementia to maintain their independence for longer within the familiar environment of home,” Professor Carragher says.
The CrossSense technology is expected to cost about £50 a month per subscription, while the smart glasses themselves cost up to £1,000 – although they are likely to become cheaper and the hope is they will eventually be available through the NHS.
Register your interest in the next four week-trial for you or someone you care for and find out more.
(Hero image credit: CrossSense)
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