Nirbhay Narang is a computer science major from Cornell University set to graduate in 2025. Passionate about human-computer interaction, Narang has developed innovative smart glasses aimed at assisting people with hearing loss. These glasses use artificial intelligence to provide real-time transcriptions of conversations, which are displayed both on the glasses themselves and on a connected smartphone.
For individuals with hearing impairments, environments filled with overlapping conversations—like crowded rooms—can be particularly challenging. Even with hearing aids, distinguishing the voice of the person directly in front of them from background noise is often difficult. Narang’s smart glasses address this issue by capturing audio through a smartphone’s microphone, transcribing it instantly on the phone, and then transmitting the transcription to the glasses. This seamless connection is facilitated by software and an app developed by his company, AirCaps, which is currently accepting pre-orders for these lightweight glasses. AirCaps is taking pre-orders for its glasses now at a discounted price of $699 with monthly or pay-as-you-go plans for the transcription services. Prescription lenses are an extra $150.
In the United States alone, approximately 30 million people experience disabling hearing loss, with hundreds of millions more affected globally. Hearing aids can be expensive and may not effectively filter out background noise, limiting their usefulness in complex auditory environments. Narang’s solution offers an affordable and effective alternative, enhancing the ability of individuals with hearing loss to engage in conversations and understand spoken content.
Beyond aiding those with hearing impairments, the smart glasses have potential applications for people with attention deficit challenges and second-language learners. For individuals who struggle with concentration, the visual display of transcribed text can help maintain focus during conversations. Language learners can benefit from reading and hearing words simultaneously, aiding in comprehension and language acquisition.
