AT&T to Provide Wireless Connectivity for Aira's Devices that Enhance Access to Information for Blind and Visually Impaired People
Groundbreaking Assistive Technology Platform to Offer Support to Blind and Visually Impaired Customers through Wearable Smart Glasses
Jan 04, 2017, 06:30 ET
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* is providing wireless connectivity to startup Aira to support their innovative technology platform that assists the blind and visually impaired. The platform will blend wearables, connectivity and Aira's human-assisted artificial intelligence to give blind and visually impaired customers information about their surroundings akin to sighted people. And do it quickly and efficiently.
Aira's remote technology uses wearable smart glasses to connect those with diminished vision to a network of certified agents. The agents can "see" from the wearer's perspective using video in nearly real-time and then communicate information and instructions back to the wearer. With the help of AT&T Dynamic Traffic Management - a capability being showcased at CES - Aira can prioritize data traffic. This can help to provide a more predictable experience, especially in times of network congestion.
This can help the wearer achieve everyday tasks and new challenges. According to Aira, the smart glasses can help wearers navigate busy streets, ride on public transportation, shop at retail stores or even climb a mountain.
This will be the first product to come out of the AT&T Foundry for Connected Health.
"Companies entering AT&T's Foundry are looking to solve a problem through connectivity," said Chris Penrose, President, Internet of Things Solutions, AT&T. "Our provision of wireless connectivity to Aira will bring nearly real-time access and management to their platform. Ultimately, we believe that this should improve the experience for the blind and visually impaired."
The AT&T Foundry for Connected Health is located within Texas Medical Center's Innovation Institute in Houston, Texas. It is working with companies such as Aira to bring connected and integrated healthcare solutions to market.
"The AT&T Foundry for Connected Health is uniquely positioned to bring together hospitals, doctors, nurses and other caregivers with innovative technology companies and AT&T's deep connectivity expertise," said Igal Elbaz, Vice President of Ecosystem & Innovation at AT&T. "Our mission at the AT&T Foundry is to bring ideas from concept to commercialization faster than previously possible. This work with Aira exemplifies that rapid and collaborative innovation model."
"We are thrilled to be connected by a global leader like AT&T. We share a mission-level commitment of leveraging technology to improve quality of life," said Suman Kanuganti, CEO of Aira. "It's exciting to have the AT&T ecosystem by our side to help our blind and visually impaired users stay connected," Kanuganti said.
The Consumer Technology Association (CTA)™ Foundation chose Aira as a 2017 Eureka winner. They focus on startup companies with technologies that improve lives. Aira & AT&T will showcase Aira's connected device at CES 2017 in Eureka Park. Aira will provide details about commercial availability at a later date.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
About Aira
Aira is a remote assistance technology platform that is designed to help blind and low-vision users gain greater independence in a wide range of daily activities ranging from navigating city streets, exploring new areas, workplace assistance and literally traveling the world. The blind, wearing smart glasses, are connected with a network certified Agents (Human and AI), similar to Uber routing. Agents use a real-time interactive cloud-based ¨Mission Control¨ style dashboard purposely built to provide an augmented reality context of remote user by processing of live data streams from cameras, GPS, and other sensor systems from wearable platforms. Visit http://www.aira.io for more information.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) helps millions around the globe connect with leading entertainment, mobile, high speed internet and voice services. We're one of the world's largest providers of pay TV. We have TV customers in the U.S. and 11 Latin American countries. We offer the best global coverage of any U.S. wireless provider.* And we help businesses worldwide serve their customers better with our mobility and highly secure cloud solutions.
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SOURCE AT&T Inc.