With a series of grants, Meta is backing efforts to learn how its AI glasses can increase independence and provide other benefits to people with disabilities.
The parent company of Facebook and Instagram said it is putting up nearly $2 million for groups to “solve problems in their communities and industries” using AI glasses. The smart glasses allow users to take pictures and video, accept calls, listen to music and chat with an AI assistant hands-free.
The funds will be shared among 30 organizations across 18 states, a dozen of which focus on the needs of people with disabilities.
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“We selected recipients based on demonstrated impact, scalability, and relevance to areas where hands-free technology can make the biggest difference — including accessibility, workforce safety, education, agriculture and economic opportunity,” Meta said in announcing the award recipients.
The projects funded will focus on a wide array of needs.
United Spinal Association in New York said it plans to outfit wheelchair users with AI glasses, which they will use to document accessibility barriers they encounter at parks and in other public spaces. The nonprofit will then share any issues identified with parks departments and other officials to promote accessibility improvements.
A separate initiative from the Illinois Assistive Technology Program will focus on helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities access employment using AI glasses by providing “hands-free on-the-job support, task guidance and workplace readiness tools that build confidence and competence.”
Meanwhile, The Arc Davidson County & Greater Nashville will use AI glasses as a voice-first assistive technology to help individuals with developmental disabilities increase independence. And, the University of North Texas plans to provide AI glasses to students with disabilities to “support classroom access and independent campus participation.”
Other disability groups slated to receive funds from Meta include Easter Seals Greater Houston, the American Council of the Blind, the Braille Institute of America, The Carroll Center for the Blind, VisionCorps, Easterseals Iowa, PACER Center Inc. and Deaf Equality.
While many see potential in Meta’s AI glasses for those with disabilities, there are also privacy concerns with some dubbing the devices “pervert glasses” after incidents where people have used the glasses to covertly film encounters that they subsequently posted online.
