Sony to support SightPlus development
Partnership will speed up commercial release
UK start-up GiveVision and the Sony UK Technology Centre (Sony UK Tec) have announced a partnership to develop and manufacture the next generation of wearable technology, which could help to restore sight to people with visual impairments.
GiveVision has already developed a prototype device, called SightPlus, which has been shown to significantly improve the visual function of people with incurable sight loss.
GiveVision will be working with Sony UK Tec to develop and manufacture a new, lightweight version of the SightPlus device, which condenses the existing ‘vision enhancing’ technology into a single pair of glasses.
The collaboration with Sony will add to the expertise of the existing GiveVision team, and provide world leading technology expertise around camera, display and smartphone innovation, as well as a global manufacturing footprint, GiveVision said in a statement. It will locate its design office to the Sony UK Tec facility in Pencoed, South Wales.
Gerald Kelly, general manager of Sony UK Tec, said: “Sony is delighted to welcome GiveVision to Wales. Our team is very impressed with the technology GiveVision has, and the impact it will make on the lives of millions of people. Our partnership with GiveVision is a great example of how open innovation can enhance the value of young companies through true partnerships and creates a positive impact on the Welsh economy.”
Stan Karpenko, CEO of GiveVision, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Sony on the development and manufacture of our life-changing technology. Having access to Sony’s world-beating technology, as well as their manufacturing skills and resources will allow our company to launch and scale our latest products at speed across global markets.”
A recent study of the SightPlus prototype device, conducted by Moorfields Eye Hospital, found that almost 70 per cent of users reported that their visual acuity was enhanced to 0.2 logMAR or better. Fifty-nine out of the 60 trial participants found that SightPlus improved their visual acuity by an average of six lines on a sight test chart (31 EDTRS letters or 0.6 logMar).
The SightPlus device was designed to help people with central vision loss, often caused by conditions like macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy, as well as conditions affecting the whole visual field such as albinism and optic neuritis. The device works by simulating human vision in near real time, using a combination of augmented and virtual reality technology.