I’m not a fan of giving Meta unfiltered access to my POV.
I haven’t seen any use for the Meta smart glasses that legitimizes their existence enough to outweigh the potential harm. Then an accessibility podcast introduced me to an unintended use for the face-mounted, internet-connected camera feeds that brings a net positive to the world.
“Calling Aira with your Meta glasses is now easier!”
Podcaster Carrie Morales interviews a staff member from Aira Explorer, a visual interpreting app that makes visual information accessible for people who are blind or low-vision by connecting them to interpreters through their phone cameras.
Aira Explorer now officially supports Meta smart glasses, allowing its users to navigate their environment hands-free while receiving assistance. I can imagine it’s a more useful point of view for the interpreters compared a handheld phone camera.
Aira has an Access Partner program with organizations like stores and museums that offer the use of both Aira Explorer and Aira ASL apps free to their visitors, levelling access to visual information and communication. Aira’s Meta Ray-Bans integration pilot began in July 2024, and a beta rollout started in September of that year.
Apple Glasses are rumoured to be on the way soon, so Aira Explorer users may have a less data-hungry hardware option this year, and probably a lot of inexpensive copycat products soon after, which could mean even broader access to a useful accessibility tool.
Links:
Aira with your Meta glasses is now easier! | Epic A11y Podcast