Horus Technology Launches Early Access Program for AI-Powered Wearable for the Blind; Rebrands Company as Eyra

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Horus Technology, a start-up that combines deep learning, machine vision, and wearable technology to enhance the lives of the blind and visually impaired, today launched its Horus Early Access program for individuals and organizations. The company also announced that it will change its name to Eyra Ltd. to reflect the broader scope of its technology and ambitions, while keeping Horus as its product name.

As part of the Horus Early Access program, Eyra is looking for participants in Italy to test the Horus wearable before its public release. The goal is for people to provide feedback on their overall experience to improve the Horus device. Trials have already started with the Italian Union of Blind and Partially Sighted People. These wearables are expected to be available by January 2017, with applications from English-speaking candidates in other countries to be considered later in the year. Current supported languages include English, Italian, and Japanese.

"We wanted to launch the Horus Early Access Program with the same spirit as our past product development – co-creation is critical. There's no better way to create a revolutionary, life-changing technology than to collaborate with the very people who are going to use it every day," said Saverio Murgia, CEO and co-founder of Eyra. "Seeing the faces of people who try Horus for the first time is what drives our passion and proof that we're making a real difference in their lives."

According to the World Health Organization, there are roughly 285 million people who are visually impaired. The Horus wearable will scan surroundings and transform visual information into verbal messages. The device, which is worn like a headset, uses an NVIDIA Tegra K1 for GPU-accelerated computer vision, deep learning, and sensors that process, analyze, and describe images from two cameras. The headset uses bone conduction instead of going through the ear canal, so users can hear in different environments. The battery and GPU are housed in a box that's roughly the size of a smartphone.

"We designed the Tegra K1 to be high in performance, low in power, and extremely versatile," said Serge Palaric, vice president of EMEAI sales and marketing of embedded and OEM at NVIDIA. "It's inspiring to see the different ways that companies such as Eyra are incorporating our technologies into their designs and the broader social impact they're making."

Eyra at GTC DC
Eyra will have a booth at GTC DC, where it will show Horus demonstrations and speak on the topic of "Designing a Wearable Personal Assistant for the Blind: The Power of Embedded GPUs" in Washington, D.C., from October 26-27, at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.

About Eyra  
Eyra Ltd. (formerly Horus Technology) is focused on the development of innovative technology-driven solutions for visual impairment. The company's wearable device is a real personal assistant for the blind and visually impaired, helping to make their everyday tasks easier and more natural. The device's main features are text reading, obstacle detection, and facial and object recognition.

Media Contact:

Saverio Murgia
+39 0237901116
[email protected] 

Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jzz1pmyjqTk
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SOURCE Eyra Ltd.