GiveVision

GiveVision is a company focused on developing assistive technology for people with visual impairments. It was founded in 2014 by Stan Karpenko, a software engineer whose personal experience with his mother's sight loss motivated him to create a solution. The company's flagship product is the GiveVision headset, which combines a smartphone with a virtual reality headset to enhance vision for individuals with conditions like macular degeneration, Stargardt's disease, and diabetic retinopathy.

The technology works by projecting a video feed from the headset's camera onto the parts of the retina that are still functional, effectively bypassing the damaged areas. Users can control the device with a trackpad to zoom in and out, adjust contrast, and change colors to suit their specific visual needs. This allows them to perform tasks that were previously difficult or impossible, such as reading, watching television, and recognizing faces from a distance. The headset is designed to be lightweight and can be used for several hours on a single charge.

GiveVision operates on a direct-to-consumer sales model and also partners with organizations and charities, such as the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) in the UK, to make its technology more accessible. The company has received funding from various sources, including Innovate UK and the EU's Horizon 2020 program, to support its research and development efforts. GiveVision's mission is to empower visually impaired individuals by providing them with tools to regain their independence and improve their quality of life.

Keywords: assistive technology, visual impairment, sight loss, smart glasses, vision enhancement, macular degeneration, low vision aid, augmented reality, medical device, accessibility