Startups

In the current status quo, recognition for blind individuals is a very rare thing to see. Especially in more conservative countries like South Korea, specific facilities that help visually impaired individuals to live a good life are lacking significantly. However, it is not a fact that no action is been taking in our society. There are many startup companies that are actively beginning this journey to enhance the lives of the visually impaired.

One prominent company is Aira. This startup provides a visual interpreter to individuals who are visually impaired. The system is then paired with wearables like Vuzix or Google Glass so that the smartphone can provide real-time feedback on surroundings through a human agent with a sensor that detects the surroundings. 


Another prominent company is Wayfinder, this company mainly focuses on transportation. Visually impaired individuals have a hard time traversing through cities. In response to this setback, Wayfinder provides a digital navigating system that helps locate stops and signs that the users have a hard time distinguishing. Through Wayfinder, daily transportation no longer becomes a burden for the visually impaired. 

In conclusion, many actions are being made to support the visually impaired. Still, we should strive to increase the amount of support to make these companies grow and contribute to the visually impaired community. Change starts from the hands of the users. We must instigate change and create a society that brings in and accept individuals who are a bit different. 


By Sungjoon Choo

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