Gang Luo, PhD, an Associate Scientist of Mass. Eye and Ear/Schepens Eye Institute, recently created the SuperVision+ Goggle app to provide a low cost solution for head mounted vision enhancement devices for the visually impaired. The free app for iPhones (iOS) is designed to be used together with 3D virtual reality glasses, widely available off-the-shelf products.
The SuperVision+ Goggle app offers features such as 10x zoom level, a flashlight, enhanced image contrast, autofocus, head movement control, and, most recently, image stabilization, and is available as a free iOS app. With this app, an iPhone can easily be used as an inexpensive, hands-free device by combining it with Google cardboard glasses, sold online from $6-30 and marketed as virtual reality glasses. Devices with similar functions have been developed by companies such as Jorby and eSight, but these devices are expensive ($1500 to $3000) and have not been successful in gaining popularity.
SuperVision+ Goggle is the second released one in a suite of vision assistance apps developed in Dr. Luo’s lab. His first app, SuperVision+ Magnifier, which can turn a smartphone to a handheld magnifier, has been downloaded by more than 48,000 people from about 110 countries.
