Leading the way: 10 promising European startups helping the blind and visually impaired
Summary
Visual impairments, including blindness and partial sight, affect millions of people worldwide, significantly impacting their ability to navigate daily life independently. From smart mobility aids to advanced medical devices and accessible software, vision technology is rapidly evolving to empower individuals with better tools for daily living, enhancing their ability to navigate the world and maintain their eye health. By utilising eye-tracking technology, DIVE Medical’s device enables paediatric ophthalmologists and paediatricians to diagnose and treat visual impairments early, even in infants as young as six months. Their solutions include high-contrast displays, AI-generated voices for dialogues and texts, and screen reader tools with Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to provide audio descriptions of on-screen elements. Their Smart Cane 2 integrates features such as obstacle detection, voice assistance, and real-time navigation, providing users with essential information about their surroundings and public transport options.