Smart Glasses? What are the A.I. Glasses and are they useful?

There’s no stopping Technology. Devices keep getting smaller, and some would say, invasive. One of the newest gadgets is AI glasses — they look like regular glasses, but they can also act like a tiny computer you wear on your face. Recently, Facebooks parent company, Meta, announced a new version of these glasses. Let’s break down what they are, and if they can be helpful to seniors.

What Are AI Glasses?

Think of them as a mix between regular eyeglasses and a smartphone.

• They look like normal glasses.

• They have a small camera and microphones built in.

• You can ask them questions out loud and get answers back.

• They are intended to be a useful tool for everyday life.

In simple terms: instead of pulling out a phone, your glasses have a display in the eyepiece to look at instead, and a voice that can talk to you and answer questions.

How Could They Help Seniors?

• Memory Support – Forgot a phone number or recipe? You could ask your glasses like you’d ask Alexa or Siri.

• Travel & Independence – Glasses can read street signs, restaurant menus, or medication labels out loud.

• Hands-Free Convenience – No more fumbling with a phone when your hands are busy (carrying groceries, cooking, etc.).

• Health & Safety – In the future, some glasses may remind you to take your medicine or help detect falls.

Concerns to Keep in Mind

Of course, new technology comes with questions.

• Privacy – Glasses with cameras may make people around you nervous.

• Learning Curve – Like smartphones, it may take a little practice.

• Cost – New tech usually starts out expensive before prices come down.

The more important concern for consumers, and especially seniors, is how distracting it will be to have a screen right in front of your field of view, along with a voice similar to Siri that’s talking to you throughout the day. Imagine walking around the house and a notification or an advertisement pops up right in front of your eyeball! For seniors, a major concern is a fall, and this doesn’t seem helpful in preventing that concern from materializing.

Final Thoughts

AI glasses may sound futuristic, but they’re here already, and soon to be easily accessible. It’s only a matter of time before each large tech company has a version of their own. For seniors, the biggest win might be independence — getting helpful information without always needing to pull out a phone. But in my professional technical opinion, the downsides such as security risks and distractions, heavily outweigh the benefits, at least for now.

As these devices improve, they could become as common as smartphones are today. For now, it’s worth keeping an EYE on.