San Diego-based Company Partners with AT&T to Launch Innovative "Back-To-School" Program for College Freshmen Who Are Blind

San Diego-based company Aira has partnered with AT&T and the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) to launch an innovative “back-to-school” program for college freshmen who are blind. In the hopes of making the transition to college easier, the program provided 100 blind students, including one local freshman at California State University San Marcos, with Aira smart glasses.

The Aira platform uses smart glasses, AT&T connectivity and Aira’s network of certified agents to help customers navigate their surroundings.

The agents give Aira customers, known as explorers, visual information. The agents can “see” from the explorer’s perspective using a dashboard with video, sensors and other data in near real-time.

Just like for any freshman student, the first weeks of college can be daunting for students who are blind trying to navigate a new environment. With Aira glasses, blind students can do everyday tasks and take on new challenges.

For example, student explorers are using Aira to perform self-guided tours of campuses to find the library, gym, student center and classrooms, while discovering new things along the way.

"It's an amazing opportunity to be a part of the new back-to-school program," said Blake Steinecke, a freshman business major at California State University San Marcos. "While I'm a new user and still trying to figure out how the smart glasses will best serve me, I think that this technology has endless possibilities. I've found the glasses to be super helpful with completing online homework, getting directions, and calling Uber cars. Also, walking into a new place and having the atmosphere described to me has been really valuable. I grew up with perfect vision, so this helps me to vividly picture my surroundings."

“Connectivity underlies everything we do. When coupled with Internet of Things technology, connectivity has the power to positively impact our lives and shape our experiences,” said Ignacio De La Torre, Assistant Vice President, AT&T External Affairs. “We’re excited to team with Aira and the National Federation of the Blind to help make this time more manageable and memorable for participating students. It’s another great example of IoT for Good.”

"The National Federation of the Blind is committed to equal education for blind college students. Much of our effort goes to making this becomes a reality," said Mark A. Riccobono, president of the National Federation of the Blind. “Aira provides a blind student with another tool for accessing information. It augments the information we get from our other senses, but doesn’t prevent us from using our blindness skills and independent judgment. We believe it’s a useful technology and are pleased to make it available to blind students."