AI-Enhanced Lumen Glasses That Guide the Blind Set to Make Public Debut at CES 2026

.Lumen, a Romanian startup, has developed a novel technology that is changing the way blind and visually impaired people navigate their surroundings. The AI-enhanced Lumen Glasses resemble and feel like a headset, with a strap over the forehead and a power pack in the back. They weigh roughly one kilogram and utilize a combination of sensors and artificial intelligence to detect their surroundings and gently nudge the user with vibrations and sounds.

The main idea was to take the technology that allows automobiles to drive themselves and reduce it down enough that it could fit on a human head. Six cameras capture the area around them, while three of those fancy movement and position tracking devices assist the device in determining where it is and where it is heading. There are also two infrared lasers that allow it to function normally in low light conditions. To top it all off, GPS assists with location. All of that data is fed directly into a brainy system, which processes it over 100 times in a single second, resulting in a real-time map of the environment surrounding the user.

The device primarily provides guidance through gentle taps on the forehead, creating a sensation similar to a guiding dog tugging its handler’s hand, although it’s more of a soft nudge in the proper way. When necessary, it uses special speakers to send out aural cues, but the main event remains those haptic feedback taps, which are quiet enough not to disturb anyone. Users simply give the device vocal orders, such as directing it to go to work or another location they’ve saved as a favorite, and the glasses will take care of the rest, avoiding obstructions as well as securely crossing the road.

These glasses can detect many things that a white cane would miss, such as overhanging hazards, stairs, doorways, bus stops, and even slippery surfaces that may be concealed beneath a layer of snow. It can identify crosswalks and assist users in securely navigating traffic. What is the best part? It all takes place on the gadget itself, thus no internet connection or other specific equipment is required. This means it works equally well indoors and outdoors, in a large city or a small village.

The battery life is also acceptable, lasting up to two hours on a single charge, which is sufficient for most individuals to go where they need to go. Lumen has tested the glasses with over 400 blind users in 40 countries, gathering real-world feedback from individuals going about their daily lives in cities and countryside alike. Most people pick it up quickly, finding it intuitive after only a few minutes of playing with it.

The Lumen glasses have even received CE certification for all of their safety and health features in Europe, which is no small feat. Pre-orders are currently open, priced at €9,999, which translates to around $11,800. The company plans to begin sales in Romania during early 2026, with a hands-on tour planned for several cities. At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, consumers will be able to test it out at the Romanian Pavilion.
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