Vuzix anounced Xander, a Boston-based early-stage startup, is using the Vuzix Blade to power its XanderGlasses, a smart glasses solution that displays real-time captions of in-person conversations to help people with hearing loss. Xander unveiled its first product at CES 2023 in Las Vegas this week.
XanderGlasses are designed to be used like a simple “on” and “off” device. They work anywhere people need them, whether they are at home, at work, or in a loud public setting. As XanderGlasses don’t rely on smartphone or cloud connectivity, they are remarkably reliable and perfectly private. In this augmented reality experience, captions are displayed seamlessly right in the field of view of the wearer.
Xander has already received awards and recognition at CES 2023 including CTA Foundation Eureka Park Accessibility Contest winner, AARP AgeTech After Dark Finalist and CES Eureka Park Pitch Competition Finalist. XanderGlasses are expected to be available in Spring 2023.
“48 million people in the U.S. struggle with hearing loss and that will increase as the population ages. If you can’t hear what others are saying, XanderGlasses can help you see what others are saying,” explains Alex Westner, Co-Founder and CEO at Xander. “Our team has spent countless hours with people of all stages of hearing loss, and XanderGlasses is the result of our customer-driven approach.”
“We’re grateful to the CTA Foundation and AARP for supporting our mission to use sight to augment sound,” added Marilyn Morgan Westner, Xander Co-Founder. “Despite advances in other assistive hearing devices, there are situations where many people don’t feel satisfied. XanderGlasses can help people with hearing loss clearly understand others’ speech and feel more confident in conversations.”
“Healthcare remains a significant market vertical for Vuzix and Xander’s selection of the Vuzix Blade to power its XanderGlasses is the latest example of how our products can directly improve people’s lives,” said Paul Travers, President and CEO of Vuzix. “With almost 50 million people in this country alone and 1.5 billion worldwide impacted by some level of hearing loss, the need for products like XanderGlasses is significant and we look forward to supporting their efforts to roll out their solution this year.”
