LOW VISION TECHNOLOGY
We are a vision research start-up company at pre-seed stage with two patents pending. We seek research partners in the optometry and ophthalmology fields to work with us on our next stage of evolution. Share our goal of enabling people with sight loss to better enjoy screen media on TVs and other devices. Our story so far:
We specialise in developing vision technologies that enhance human sight capabilities. Our primary product, Visual Assistant TV, is designed for the partially sighted and blind people with some residual sight. It is operable on smart screen TVs via a high spec set-top-box and on recent versions of Android mobiles and tablets. Future capital investment in software development will enable operability on Apple mobiles and tablets as well as an in-studio version for broadcasters. Our patent-pending technology has potential applications in occupational health, defence, aerospace and autonomous vehicles.
OUR MISSION FOR BETTER VISION
According to global media company Comcast, 96% of visually impaired adults watch television on a regular basis, but 53% of them have difficulty in following along with key visual elements. Our mission is to resolve this. For people suffering from sight loss, we can provide a prescription based corrective technology that significantly improves the functioning of their vision. We have discovered that even a minimal enhancement of image visual cues has a profound impact on our ability to decipher the content. Our patent-pending technology is capable of changing video in real time, making it perfect for integration into TVs, set-top-boxes, smartphones and computers. The technology was presented at ophthalmology and optometry conferences in Rome, Athens, Lienz, and Klagenfurt.
OUR SOLUTIONS...
Visual Assistant
for TV
Visual Assistant is the first personalised video correction technology allowing you to create a TV experience aligned with your vision needs. Our solutions help almost all visually impaired people with severe impairments or mild refractive errors to see images in more detail and contrast while also sitting further away from the screen.
Visual Assistant TV Studio
We have integrated our technology into a broadcast transcoder that removes all compression artifacts and other inconsistencies from the input stream. This results in the best possible image for Visual Assistant video modifications needed for the visually impaired.
Visual Assistant Mobile
Checking timetables, menus and labels can be a struggle when you forget your prescription glasses. With the Visual Assistant Smart app your smartphone becomes a fully functional configurable visual tool that fits in your pocket. Our mobile app works as pocket binoculars with its ability to increase contrast and sharpness to reveal previously unseen detail.
Visual Assistant delivers media and entertainment using a revolutionary prescription based technology that can change what you see on TV in real time. Every imaginable aspect of the image, from colour vibrancy, contrast of visual cues, sharpness of detail, brilliance of light (to mention just a few!) can be enhanced to create the best possible viewing experience.
FUTURE SOLUTIONS
Visual Assistant
Cloud
Our Cloud solution will make it easier for streaming services such as Netflix and YouTube to create accessible video content automatically.
Visual Assistant
API
We can provide broadcasters and TV manufacturers with the Visual Assistant embeddable module to make video content on home entertainment systems more accessible.
Visual Assistant
Glass
Projection glasses from Intel or Vuzix can allow visually impaired people to feel comfortable and stylish while using our assistive technology. We’ve tried it with XREAL Air AR Glasses and our end-user testers love them!.
MARKETS OF TOMORROW
With increasing life expectancy and ageing populations, the World Health Organisation predicts that the number of visually impaired people will double in the next 25 years. According to WHO, 1.3b people suffer from some form of sight loss; 441m with mild, moderate or severe vision impairment. The world’s seven largest economies are home to 24m visually impaired people, and a further 240m in India, China, Africa and the Far East. We offer a solution that can potentially help most of them. Our technology is a prescription based vision enhancement tool for people suffering from most types of sight loss. The Visual Assistant technology is completely adaptable, scalable, easily implemented and requires no change to the digital equipment it can work on.
Visual Assistant delivers media and entertainment using revolutionary technology that can change video content in real time. It requires no changes in existing infrastructure.
ADD NEW FUNCTIONALITY
Potential Wins
for OEMs
OEMs can leverage existing technology by integrating our assistive technology into their products for delivering superior image quality to their visually challenged users. The same technology that enhances images for the visually impaired can enable a self-driving car to make better decisions based on more accurate camera images. Providers of inclusive digital products and services could increase the quality of their offer while providing better social impact. All good for burnishing ESG credentials.
Society
Wins
The ability to access information is essential for success in education, employment, and life. Visual Assistant technology enables the visually impaired to access all types of visual information, allowing them to be better informed and lead more active and productive lives. In the long term, Visual Assistant has the ability to reduce the need for formal support services and long-term care and its associated costs.
We intend inviting OEMs to build on our experience of delivering accessibility products. In partnership, we can help them deliver more accessible products and services to provide superior viewing experiences. Samsung TVs integrate their Re-lumino technology for people with Retinitis Pigmentosa.
Consumer Electronics
Some contemporary TVs already feature integrated basic accessibility features like text-to-speech, zoom and high contrast user interfaces as standard operating functions within electronic program guides. Adding our technology to the mix, a TV, or set-top-box, can also offer sharper images with higher contrast for older citizens and the visually impaired.
Broadband
In the UK, regulator OFCOM’s proposal to broadband providers that they integrate accessibility improvements for television viewing and in the US the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act are drivers of change in the media industry. Visual Assistant is an accessibility technology that can better help providers meet these new criteria.
Streaming Services
Our solution works seamlessly with existing infrastructure. It is also simple to use, deploy and maintain. Visual Assistant offers an opportunity to provide higher quality video over the same bandwidth.
COMPATIBLE PRODUCTS
Consumer Optical Devices
Visual Assistant offers an opportunity to attract a wider customer base to include those with less than perfect vision, or to increase the quality of images taken in low light conditions that our technology enables.
Smart Phone
Producers
Embedding our virtual prescription glasses technology into smartphones will allow people with refractive errors to see letters on screen without their glasses.
Security
Forces
Adding our technology into existing surveillance or targeting equipment will provide an extra edge in extremely poor visibility conditions.
Our unique diagnostics procedure allows potential Visual Assistant users to quickly determine the type and severity of their functional vision loss. A prescriptive model of a personalised sight adaptation strategy is created together with a diagnosis. The prescription is a series of image modifications that restores the deteriorated areas of the retinal image by adding missing visual cues. The restored image is projected to the retina, and perceived by the remaining vision with the best possible contrast, sharpness of details and vibrancy of colours.
Although Visual Assistant offers out of the box prescriptions for most common vision impairments, we know that every eye is unique. Every prescription can be further tailored and perfected to fit most eye conditions.
DIAGNOSTICS
WE CAN HELP PEOPLE WITH THE FOLLOWING:
Cataract
A cataract is a clouding of the lens inside the eye, producing blurred vision and sensitivity to light. In addition, colours often seem faded, with a yellow or brownish tint. Most cataracts are age-related and progressive, but they are often removed once they interfere with daily life.
Visual Acuity Loss
Visual acuity is the ability to see fine detail. Low visual acuity results in objects looking blurry. Some visual acuity loss can be corrected through wearing spectacles. 2.5 million people in the UK are estimated to suffer acuity loss – even with corrective glasses.
Contrast Senstivity Loss
Contrast sensitivity is the ability to discriminate between different brightness levels, in particular between a foreground and a background colour. It varies between individuals and declines with age. It can also be affected by cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and other conditions.
Central Field Loss
Macular degeneration affects the part of the eye responsible for sharp, detailed central vision. It can cause blurring or darkness in the centre of the visual field, and can also affect the ability to see fine detail. It is particularly common in older people. Effects are in many ways similar to Diabetic Retinopathy.
Peripheral Vision Loss
Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions in which the nerve at the back of the eye is damaged. Glaucoma causes progressive deterioration of peripheral vision. The most common first symptom is difficulty seeing in poor light. Retinitis Pigmentosa has similar symptoms.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic Retinopathy is caused by the complications of diabetes. Its effects vary and include blurred and patchy vision and floating spots in the visual field.
VISUAL ASSISTANT IN ACTION
Improve your Eyesight
Improve your Eyesight
Diabetic Retinopathy
Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma, Retinitis Pigmentosa
A Day in a Museum
PILOT STUDIES
School for Visually Impaired Children
A pilot study where teachers and children studied how Visual Assistant helped with reading, writing, drawing and orientation, or simply having fun.
Home for
Seniors
A pilot study using a high contrast TV for seniors with vision loss. We studied the effect of the Visual Assistant on viewers with a wide range of visual impairments, as well as refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia and astigmatism.
Art
Gallery
Gallery visitors, visually impaired or not, are able to use Visual Assistant technology to get a new perspective of this gallery’s exhibits. Sighted users can use the technology to gain a fresh perspective into existing art works and people with sight loss can simply enjoy the art collections in a new light.
EARLY ADOPTERS
CREATIVE TEAM
Matej Zorec
Founder
Research & Development
Tim Carrington
Founder
Business & Marketing
David Breskvar
Mobile Development
ADVISORS
Prof.Dr. Matjaž Mihelcic
Vision
Ana Mohorko
School for Visually Impaired
Marko Mikulin
UX Development
CONTACT US
Visual Assistant Ltd
17 Dane John, Canterbury
Kent CT1 2QU, UK
T: 0044 (0)1227 463646