Useful Tech
Ray‑Ban Meta Smart Glasses with Meta AI – Glasses that See and Read for You
Instructor: Doug Poirier
What they do: AI-enabled smart glasses that describe surroundings, read signs and menus, capture media, translate, and respond to voice commands.
Where to buy:
Meta Store
Ray-Ban Canada
Notes:
Requires Meta View app and a Meta account (via email, Facebook, or Instagram).
Envision Ally App – App that Describes What You See
Instructor: Windy
What they do: Real-time OCR app that reads text, identifies scenes and objects, and connects with remote assistants.
Download from:
Ally/Envision Website
Notes:
Available on iOS, Android, and desktop. Easy setup – just download and go!
NaviLens Labelling System – Colourful Smart Labels That Speak
Instructor: Doug Poirier
What they do: Scannable QR-style labels that speak names, ideal for organizing household or travel items.
Download NaviLens app here:
NaviLens website
Notes:
Request free label codes via the app. For best performance, print labels in colour.
ChatGPT Pro – AI Assistant for Writing, Summarizing, and More
What they do: Versatile AI assistant that can describe images, summarize articles, compose documents, and plan tasks.
Use it here:
chat.openai.com
Note:
Voice access available via 1-800-242-8478(WHATSAPP) in Canada/US (Pro version required).
Seeing AI – App That Speaks What It Sees
What they do: iOS-only app for reading text, describing scenes, identifying products, recognizing people and currency.
Download from:
Apple App Store (Canada)
Kapsys SmartVision 3 – Smartphone with Tactile Keypad and Voice Access
Instructor: Doug Poirier
What they do: Smartphone with physical buttons, touchscreen, TalkBack and voice command integration.
Where to buy:
Kapsys Official Site
Special Needs Computers (Canada)
Amazon Fire HD 8 – Accessible Tablet for Reading and Entertainment
What they do: Affordable Android-based tablet with VoiceView screen reader.
Where to buy:
Amazon Canada
Hable Easy & Hable One – Braille Keyboards for Smartphones
Instructor: Doug Poirier
What they do: Compact, wireless Braille input devices for typing and navigation on smartphones.
Where to buy:
Hable Easy
Hable One
OrCam MyEye – Glasses That Read Text and Recognize Faces
What they do: Clips onto regular glasses to provide instant audio feedback of text, people, products and more.
More info:
OrCam Website
Brailliant Braille Display – Refreshable Braille for Reading and Typing
What they do: Bluetooth-connected Braille display for reading and input on smartphones or computers.
More info:
HumanWare Brailliant