Technology is cool. That’s why we write about it and why you read it but sometimes something comes along that has life-enhancing potential. Real innovative use of developing technology.
It’s also fair to say that not everything we see at CES makes it out of the “wouldn’t it be cool” stage but I truly hope this one comes off as it has the potential to be world changing for those with a visual impairment.
At CES 2026 we were introduced to .lumen – Glasses for the Blind. A wearable that replicates the functionality of a guide dog, assisting blind people move safely and independently.
Instead of the tug of a dog leash, the glasses pull your head through a haptic interface with the use of gentle vibrations on your forehead.
The .lumen glasses indicate to the wearer safe walking paths, identifying hazards to help you avoid such things as roads, puddles or mud courtesy of the in-built AI.
So impressed were the judges at CES 2026 the .lumen glasses received an innovation award in Accessibility & Longevity
This adds to the growing list of recognition across Europe and the US. .lumen is a Romanian startup who have christened their innovative technology Pedestrian Autonomous Driving (PAD AI)
Whilst it’s easy to feel sorry for the existing guide dog network who may be required in fewer numbers if this comes off but it is a fact that training a guide dog incurs considerable costs both in training and throughout the working dog’s life. Keeping a dog may not always be practical for all users.
“I was born in a family where both my parents and sister have disabilities. Growing up as the only person without disabilities in my family was tough, but it made me realize how much technology can help. That’s why I founded .lumen, to help people.” said Cornel Amariei, CEO & Founder .lumen
Tech specs
| Dimensions & Weight | • Dimensions: 30 cm (length) × 21 cm (width) × 8.5 cm (height) • Weight: 1,000 grams, headset balanced at head level |
| Sensors | • Cameras: 6 cameras – 2 color and 4 infrared in stereoscopic pairs • Projectors: 2 infrared laser projectors for nighttime use • IMU: 3 inertial measurement units (with accelerometers and gyroscopes) • Localization: GNSS – GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS |
| Control | • Buttons: 3 menu buttons + 1 power button • Voice recognition: Available in English (software update 2026) |
| Processing | • CPU: ARM Cortex-A78AE, processor with 6 or 8 cores • RAM: 8 or 16 GB LPDDR5 • GPU: NVIDIA Ampere, 1024 CUDA cores • Storage: 128 GB, 256 GB, or 1 TB |
| Feedback | • Haptic: .lumen v8 haptic feedback interface • Audio: Stereo speakers with beamforming & Emergency speaker |
| Functionalities | • Guide Me: Replicates the main guiding functions of a guide dog • Show Me: Represents nearby objects through auditory feedback • Find Me: Identifies nearby objects on request • Take Me: Navigates to destinations selected on the map (software update 2026) • Audio Menu: Intuitive audio menu controlled through buttons |
| Connectivity | • Wi-Fi: Version 5 (802.11ac) or newer • Bluetooth: Version 4.2 or newer |
| Power & Battery | • Battery life: Up to 2 hours in “Guide Me Outdoor” mode • Battery capacity: 4,000 mAh / 57.6 Wh • Charging: USB Type-C, supported inputs: 5 V ⎓ 3 A, 9 V ⎓ 3 A, 15 V ⎓ 3 A, 20 V ⎓ 3 A |
More information including some fabulous video can be found at the .lumen website.
Lets hope this project realises its enormous potential
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The elder statesman of the EFTM team, Rob has been a long time listener, reader and follower – He’s “Producer Rob” for the EFTM podcast and looks after our social media posts. To be fair, he’s probably the most tech-savvy bloke in the crew too!
