OrCam device
{{Short description|Portable, artificial vision device}}
{{advert|date=November 2019}}
{{use mdy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox company
| name = OrCam
| logo = OrCam logo.svg
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| type = Private company
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| industry = Health, Assistive technology
| founded = {{start date and age|2010}}
Jerusalem
| founder = Ziv Aviram
Amnon Shashua
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| hq_location_country = Har Hotzvim, Jerusalem, Israel
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| key_people = Prof Amnon Shashua
(Chairman and CTO) Ziv Aviram
(President and CEO)
Dr. Yonatan Wexler
(Executive VP of R&D)
| products = OrCam MyEye and OrCam MyReader
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| num_employees = 394
| num_employees_year = 2021
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| website = http://www.orcam.com/
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OrCam devices such as OrCam MyEye are portable, artificial vision devices that allow visually impaired peopleThe NYTimes article headlined "Simple Home Improvements for the Vision Impaired" (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/13/realestate/simple-home-improvements-for-the-vision-impaired.html) uses twice the words "visually impaired" to understand text and identify objects through audio feedback, describing what they are unable to see.
Reuters described an important part of how it works as "a wireless smartcamera" which, when attached outside eyeglass frames, can read and verbalize text, and also supermarket barcodes. This information is converted to spoken words and entered "into the user’s ear." Face-recognition{{cite web
|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/07/12/the-orcam-myeye-helps-visually-impaired-people-read-and-identify-things
|title=The OrCam MyEye helps visually impaired people read and identify things
|author=Romain Dillet |website=techcrunch.com |date=July 12, 2017
|access-date=February 8, 2018}} is also part of OrCam's feature set.{{cite web
|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tech-orcam-valuation/israeli-visual-aid-company-orcam-valued-at-1-billion-idUSKCN1G326E
|title=Israeli visual aid company OrCam valued at $1 billion |website=Reuters
|date=February 19, 2018}}
Devices
OrCam Technologies Ltd has created three devices; OrCam MyEye 2.0, OrCam MyEye 1, and OrCam MyReader.
OrCam My Eye 2.0: File:OrCam155.jpg
- OrCam debuted the second-generation model, the OrCam MyEye 2.0 in December 2017.
- About the size of a finger, the MyEye 2.0 is battery-powered, and has been compressed into a self-contained device.
- The device snaps onto any eyeglass frame magnetically.
- Orcam 2.0 is small and light (22.5 grams/0.8 ounces) with functionality to restore independence to the visually impaired.{{cite news |website=CBSLocal.com (CBS, New York)
|url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2017/12/06/new-device-gives-people-with-vision-problems-a-second-chance-at-sight
|title=New device gives people with vision problems a second chance at sight |date=December 6, 2017}}
- It comes in two versions. The basic model can read text, and a more advanced one adds features such as face recognition and barcode reading.
- As of July 2023, the retail cost is between $4000 and $6000 (USD).
Clinical Studies
JAMA Ophthalmology:
In 2016 JAMA Ophthalmology conducted a study involving 12 legally blind participants to evaluate the usefulness of a portable artificial vision device (OrCam) for patients with low vision. The results showed that the OrCam device improved the patient's ability to perform tasks simulating those of daily living, such as reading a message on an electronic device, a newspaper article or a menu.{{cite news |title=Portable Artificial Vision Device May Be an Effective Aid for Patients with Low Vision - For The Media - JAMA Network |url=https://media.jamanetwork.com/news-item/portable-artificial-vision-device-may-be-an-effective-aid-for-patients-with-low-vision/ |work=media.jamanetwork.com}}
Wills Eye:
Wills Eye was a clinical study designed to measure the impact of the OrCam device on the quality of life of patients with End-stage Glaucoma. The conclusion was that OrCam, a novel artificial vision device using a mini-camera mounted on eyeglasses, allowed legally blind patients with end-stage glaucoma to read independently, subsequently improving their quality of life.{{cite web |last1=Waisbourd |first1=Michael |last2=Ahmed |first2=Osama |last3=Siam |first3=Linda |last4=Moster |first4=Marlene R. |last5=Hark |first5=Lisa A. |last6=Katz |first6=L. Jay |title=The Impact of a Novel Artificial Vision Device (OrCam) on the Quality of Life of Patients with End-Stage Glaucoma |url=http://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2335212 |website=Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science |pages=519 |language=en |date=11 June 2015}}
Employee testing
The New York Times described how a pre-release OrCam device was used by a Coloboma-impaired employee of the device's developer in 2013{{cite news |newspaper=The New York Times
|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/04/science/israeli-start-up-gives-visually-impaired-a-way-to-read.html
|title=Device From Israeli Start-Up Gives the Visually Impaired a Way to Read
|author=John Markoff |date=June 3, 2013}} for grocery shopping. It was the small size of the prototype rather than the functionality that gave her added mobility in an Israeli store's aisles.{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}
Added life-enhancement was described: "to both recognize and speak .. bus numbers ..
Social aspects
In contrast to an early version of Google Glass, which "failed ... because .. Glass wearers were ..mocked",{{cite web
|website=The New York Times |date=December 31, 2015
|url=https://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/12/31/its-an-unobtrusive-assistant-whispering-in-your-ear-not-little-brother
|title=It's an Unobtrusive Assistant Whispering in Your Ear (Not Little Brother)
|author=John Markoff}} early OrCam devices used designs that "clip unobtrusively on your shirt or perhaps your belt."
In addition, it does not record sounds or images, what was called "the privacy puzzle that stumped Google.
One 2018 technology reviewer wrote that he wished it had a headphone jack "so it would be less disruptive in places where others are working."{{cite magazine
|magazine=PC Magazine
|url=https://www.pcmag.com/article/358317/orcam-myeye-brings-new-features-to-visually-impaired
|title=OrCam MyEye Brings New Features to Visually Impaired
|author=Michael J. Miller |date=January 5, 2018}} An attempt was made to use bone conduction.{{cite magazine
|magazine=AccessWorld
|publisher=American Foundation for the Blind
|date=February 2017
|url=https://www.afb.org/afbpress/pubnew.asp?DocID=aw180205
|title=MyReader and MyEye from OrCam: Text and Item Recognition at the Touch of a Finger
|author=Bill Holton
|access-date=December 24, 2018
|archive-date=December 24, 2018
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224170618/https://www.afb.org/afbpress/pubnew.asp?DocID=aw180205
|url-status=dead
}}
USA introduction
In 2018 a team headed by New York Assemblyman Dov Hikind introduced use of OrCam devices to ten individuals screened for what he termed "new Israeli technology that really makes a difference to the blind."{{cite web |date=November 11, 2018 |title=10 blind individuals gifted $35K in Hi-Tech "seeing" devices, Life-Changing Israeli Tech changes lives, thanks to anonymous donor. Hikind: "It's a modern-day miracle!" |url=https://www.boropark24.com/10-blind-individuals-gifted-35k-in-hi-tech-seeing-devices-life-changing-israeli-tech-changes-lives-thanks-to-anonymous-doner-hikind-its-a-modern-day-miracle |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129202901/https://boropark24.com/10-blind-individuals-gifted-35k-in-hi-tech-seeing-devices-life-changing-israeli-tech-changes-lives-thanks-to-anonymous-doner-hikind-its-a-modern-day-miracle/ |archive-date=January 29, 2020 |access-date=December 24, 2018}}
Although not the first USA success, it was more focused than a publicly funded project that was authorized in 2016 by a California government agency.a year later it was still (just) authorized, but none were actually distributed: {{cite web |url=https://www.orcam.com/en/article/technology-for-the-blind
|title=Technology for the Blind |date=June 1, 2017}} Also in 2016 the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind demonstrated its use.{{cite web
|url=https://abc7chicago.com/technology/for-the-visually-impaired-a-echnologicalbreakthrough/1305289
|title=For the visually impaired, a technological breakthrough
|website=ABC7chicago.com
|author=Hosea Sanders |date=April 24, 2016}}
Technology
In the area of hardware, miniaturization has been quite important, but one major area, software, was mentioned by Assemblyman Hikind, and reported by The Times of Israel
{{cite web |website=The Times of Israel
|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/orcam-raises-30-4-million-bringing-startup-to-1-billion-valuation
|title=OrCam raises $30.4 million, bringing startup to $1 billion valuation
|author=Urvashi Verma |date=February 20, 2018}} is the "AI-driven algorithms" that "reports .. how many people are in a room.Hikind report, Winter 2018 edition
In addition to reading printed text, it can also aid in "seeing" what is on a television or computer screen.{{cite magazine
|url=https://www.wired.com/2013/06/augmented-reality-orcam
|title=Augmented Reality: OrCam
|author=Bruce Sterling |magazine=Wired |access-date=February 8, 2018}} Although OrCam can't help with handwritten information,{{cite magazine
|magazine=Ability Magazine
|url=https://abilitymagazine.com/orcam-point-seeing
|title=OrCam - A Point of Seeing}} it can reuse information, the basis of recognizing "US currency, and even faces."{{cite web
|website=AFB.org (American Federation for the Blind)
|url=https://afb.org/aw/18/2/15244
|title=MyReader and MyEye from Orcam: Text and Item Recognition}}
=Features=
While early language support was for English, French, German, Hebrew and Spanish, others now available include Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese and Swedish.
History
OrCam Technologies Ltd was founded in 2010 by Professor Amnon Shashua and Ziv Aviram. Before co-founding OrCam, the two in 1999 co-founded Mobileye, an Israeli company that develops vision-based advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) providing warnings for collision prevention and mitigation, which was acquired by Intel for $15.3 billion in 2017.
OrCam launched OrCam MyEye in 2013 after years of development and testing, and began selling it commercially in
In its early years, the company raised $22 million, $6 million of which came from Intel Capital. By 2014, Intel, which was also investing in Google Glass, had invested $15 million in Orcam.{{cite web
|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2014/03/27/intel-invests-in-orcam-google-glass-for-the.html
|title=Intel Capital invests in OrCam, Google Glass for the visually impaired
|author=Eric Van Susteren |publisher=Silicon Valley Business Journal
|date=March 27, 2014}} In March 2017, OrCam had raised $41 million in capital, making it worth $600 million.{{cite news
|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-intel-mobileye-orcam/after-sale-to-intel-mobileyes-founder-raises-sights-on-ipo-for-orcam-idUSKBN1711V6
|title=After sale to Intel, Mobileye's founder raises sights on IPO for OrCam
|date=March 30, 2017 |access-date=February 8, 2018|newspaper=Reuters}}
=Marketing=
One outcome of initial marketing in the USA was that they "reached a deal with the California Department of Rehabilitation, ...qualifying blind and visually impaired state residents."
{{cite news |newspaper=The Washington Post
|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/05/21/could-a-new-smart-cam-designed-for-the-blind-help-my-dyslexic-daughter/?noredirect=on
|title=Could a new smart cam designed for the blind help my dyslexic daughter?
|author=Ruth Eglash |date=May 21, 2016}}
OrCam Technologies Ltd
OrCam Technologies Ltd. is the Israeli-based company producing these OrCam devices, which are wearable artificial intelligence space. The company develops and manufactures assistive technology devices for individuals who are visually impaired, partially sighted, blind, print disabilities, or have other disabilities. OrCam headquarters is located in Jerusalem, operating under the company name OrCam Technologies Ltd.
OrCam has over 150 employees, is headquartered in Jerusalem,{{Cite web |last=Webster |first=Sophie |date=January 7, 2022 |title=OrCam's MyEye Pro Device on Glasses Can Help Visually Impaired Users to Read |url=https://www.techtimes.com/articles/270220/20220107/orcams-myeye-pro-device-help-visually-impaired-users-read.htm}} and has offices in New York, Toronto, and London.
Awards
- 2018 Last Gadget Standing Winner {{cite web|url=https://lastgadgetstanding.com/competitions/2018-2/entries/orcammyeye2/|title=Last Gadget Standing|website=lastgadgetstanding.com|access-date=February 13, 2018|archive-date=January 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129183340/https://lastgadgetstanding.com/competitions/2018-2/entries/orcammyeye2/|url-status=dead}}
- 2018 CES Innovation Awards Honoree in Accessible Tech{{cite web|url=https://www.ces.tech/Events-Experiences/Innovation-Awards-Program/Honorees.aspx|title=CES Tech Events|website=ces.tech|access-date=February 8, 2018}}
- 2017 NAIDEX Innovation Award {{cite web|url=http://www.naidex.co.uk/awards/|title=Naidex|website=Naidex|access-date=February 8, 2018}}
- 2016 Louise Braille Corporate Recognition Award{{Cite web |url=https://www.asb.org/front-page-blog/177-honorary-chair-paul-r-levy-and-asb-help-to-make-the-56th-annual-louis-braille-awards-a-success.html |title=THE 56TH ANNUAL LOUIS BRAILLE AWARDS - Associated Services for the Blind & Visually Impaired |access-date=February 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214014426/https://www.asb.org/front-page-blog/177-honorary-chair-paul-r-levy-and-asb-help-to-make-the-56th-annual-louis-braille-awards-a-success.html |archive-date=February 14, 2018 |url-status=dead }}
- 2016 Silmo-d-Or Award {{cite web|url=https://en.silmoparis.com/Silmo-d-Or-Awards/Winners-2016|title=Winners 2016|website=en.silmoparis.com|access-date=February 8, 2018|archive-date=February 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208123341/https://en.silmoparis.com/Silmo-d-Or-Awards/Winners-2016|url-status=dead}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.orcam.com/|OrCam official website}}
- [https://www.facebook.com/orcamtech/ OrCam Facebook page]
- {{Official website|http://www.mobileye.com/|Mobileye official website}}
- [http://www.blindness.org/ Foundation Fighting Blindness website]
- [https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/ National Center for Health Statistics website]
{{Hebrew University of Jerusalem}}
Category:Products introduced in 2013
Category:Medical device manufacturers
Category:Companies based in Jerusalem
Category:Hebrew University of Jerusalem