(Photo/Red Star News)

A Chinese company has developed special glasses which help visually impaired people better understand their surrounding environment and get around more easily, Red Star News reported on May 30.

Thanks to a camera installed in the specially made glasses, dedicated online customer service staff can see where the user is going, tell them where they are, how they can avoid obstacles and reach their intended destination.

Moreover, using voice commands, users can have the glasses identify articles and money, provide high precision positioning and navigation services, as well as “read” words in books and newspapers for them.

On May 29, 55 visually impaired people tried the glasses at the office building of Chenghua Disabled Persons’ Federation in Chenghua District of Chengdu, capital of southwest China’s Sichuan Province.

(Photo/Red Star News)

Using the glasses, a man surnamed He who lost his sight because of diabetes 15 years ago walked out of a room at the venue smoothly. The experience was quite helpful, said He, adding that the price of the glasses is still a little high and the cost of subsequent services is not affordable for everyone.

“The glasses are quite useful,” said 61-year-old Zeng, who lost his sight when he was two years old. He noted that the glasses helped him avoid obstacles around him, adding that he usually walks with a white cane, and it’s easy to walk into cars parked on the sidewalk.

The glasses are currently being sold for 3,000 yuan (about $434.73) each, and the developer charges users 0.25 yuan per minute for services. According to Wang Xiaoqiang, founder of the company, the product is used for an average duration of 1 hour per day, amounting to a total of around 450 yuan every month, including 15 yuan for data service.

(Photo/Red Star News)

If the platform can attract more users, the company will be able to make advertising revenue, and would, therefore, be able to reduce the cost of services or even provide them for free, said Wang, adding that they are also actively seeking policy support.