Tanzanian innovators build AI glasses to empower visually impaired users

A team of four young innovators are developing artificial intelligence-powered smart glasses to help people with visual impairments understand their surroundings, with the technology expected to enter the market in March next year.

Known as Miwani Janja, the technology uses AI to describe objects and information around users and communicates the information through audio, helping people with visual impairments access information independently.

Co-founder Baraka Martin told The Citizen on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, that the idea was inspired by the experience of one of the team’s co-founders, who studied alongside blind students for seven years.

“During the seven years, we saw some of the challenges they faced in accessing books and other information,” he said.

The technology was designed to address challenges facing people with visual impairments in accessing books and other information.

The challenge is significant as only about 10 percent of books worldwide are available in Braille.

The team developed its prototype in 2025 before releasing the second.

“We successfully developed our prototype in 2025, and this year we released our second,” he said.

The team is now working with a manufacturing partner as it prepares production, with the glasses expected to enter the market around March 2027.

According to him, the innovators have not yet sold or distributed the glasses because the project is still at the prototype stage.

Another co-founder, Mr Kelvin Lingo, added: “Our focus is currently on refining the product and preparing for production.”

He added that the expected price of the glasses is between $200 and $300, noting that the team is exploring partnerships to improve access.

Mr Lingo said the team plans to work with accelerators, non-governmental organisations and development organisations to reach more users.

Beyond the initial product, the innovators plan to expand the technology’s capabilities.

Over the next three years, they aim to bring AI processing onto the device, reducing dependence on internet connectivity while lowering operating costs.

He said the team is also exploring additional features, including enabling users to access trending news through the glasses.

The innovators are financing the project themselves while seeking organisations and partners to provide funding and resources for further development.

Mr Lingo said support from partners would help the team move into production and scale the technology to reach more people with visual impairments.