Samsung has been working on a special visual processing VR application and related hardware for some time now, and “Relúmĭno” VR glasses are finally ready for a global unveiling at CES 2018, one of the most highly anticipated consumer tech shows in the world that begins Tuesday, January 9.
Taken from the Latin “to return to the light”, Relúmĭno aims to offer an improved visual experience for people with visual impairments.
Essentially a visual aid app, Relúmĭno works on smartphones fixed to special smart glasses.
Using complex image processing algorithms, Relúmĭno helps people with visual disabilities see and read better by leveraging the power of AI combined with the convenience of VR.
Here’s how it works:
The phone’s camera captures images, which are then processed by the application. The images are then viewed by the user through special smart glasses designed for comfort and usability.
It sounds like a relatively simple process, but years of research and development have gone into creating the Relúmĭno system.
Essentially, there are four user modes for different types of visual impairment.
Regular Mode aids vision by making images sharper and shapes more defined.
Color Invert Mode is ideal for reading assistance because it inverts the text and background colors and increases the contrast.
Partial Vision Mode is specially designed for those with peripheral or central loss of vision. The algorithm processes the imagery to help fill in those blind spots and help the user see the whole picture.
Display Color Filter Mode actually works pretty much like regular sunglasses, filtering out the glare from brighter colors and improving overall vision in the process.
When the earlier version of Relúmĭno was launched back in August 2017, it was essentially just the smartphone app, which you had to use with a regular VR headset. Now, the company is expected to launch a more ergonomic smart glass product that looks a little less awkward than having to walk around with an HMD on your head all the time.
Fresh out of Samsung’s Creative Lab, the Relúmĭno glasses will be showcased at CES 2018. Samsung will presumably do a ton of demos so people can get a feel for how the product actually feels and works.
The price is still unknown at this point, but considering that this is a visual aid, we’re assuming that the mark-up won’t make it too unaffordable for the masses.
Here’s a video from Samsung that shows how the project developed over time:
https://youtu.be/cmal7zgwlMU
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