Meta AI-Powered Smart Glasses Now Available in Puerto Rico, Offering New Independence for Visually Impaired
San juan, Puerto Rico - Residents of Puerto Rico now have access to cutting-edge Meta AI services integrated into smart glasses, a development hailed as a meaningful step towards technological equity for the island’s US citizens. The proclamation, made friday by Gabriella Boffelli, Executive Director of the Federal Affairs Administration of Puerto Rico (PRFAA), and Dan Sachs, Vice President of State Policy at Meta, follows a month-long push by the Puerto Rican government to bring the assistive technology to the island.
The primary focus of this initiative is to empower individuals with blindness or visual impairments. The AI-powered glasses, including the Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta models, utilize the Meta AI request to provide real-time audio descriptions of the surrounding surroundings. This functionality translates the visual world into auditory facts, enabling users to independently navigate daily tasks like reading menus, identifying signage, and understanding documents.
“Thanks to the direct collaboration with Meta, PRFAA ensured that the artificial intelligence functions of Meta would be enabled throughout Puerto Rico,” Boffelli stated in a press release. “This effort guarantees that US citizens of Puerto Rico have equal access to the technology and benefits enjoyed across the United States.”
The collaboration was praised by both sides. Sachs emphasized the importance of open communication with PRFAA in facilitating access to Meta’s products and services, including Goal AI, across the island. He also acknowledged the governor’s office for recognizing the potential of artificial intelligence and expressed a desire for continued partnership.
Beyond basic object and text recognition, the glasses can assist with identifying people and detecting obstacles, substantially enhancing independence and mobility for visually impaired users.
The smart glasses are available for purchase starting at $299 and can be prescribed by an eye care professional. This accessibility marks a crucial advancement in assistive technology, offering a new level of self-sufficiency for Puerto rico’s visually impaired community.
Keywords: Meta AI, Smart Glasses, Puerto Rico, Accessibility, Visually Impaired, Assistive Technology, Ray-Ban Meta, Oakley Meta, Goal AI, PRFAA, technology Equity.
