Bengaluru student invents smart glasses for visually impaired

At just 19 years, Bengaluru engineering student Tushar Shaw is redefining accessibility with his creation—intuitive glasses designed to empower the visually impaired.

Percevia has earned Shaw a spot among the national winners of Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow 2025 competition, according to a press statement.

Shaw grew up next door to a visually impaired neighbour and watching him navigate everyday tasks like crossing the road, identifying people, or locating objects made him realise how challenging it was.

“I knew I had to create something that gave them a sense of independence,” he said.

Shaw had no background in computer vision or hardware design. However, he was determined to work towards assistive technology for the visually impaired. 

“Samsung Solve for Tomorrow gave me not just the resources, but also the confidence and mentorship to bridge that gap,” he added.

The statement explained that Percevia is designed to help visually impaired users perceive their surroundings through sound. Using an integrated suite of audio sensors, object-recognition cameras, and AI-based spatial analysis, the glasses detect and describe what lies ahead—from identifying objects and estimating distances to recognising human voices and faces. 

The device alerts users through subtle vibrations or real-time voice feedback, creating a kind of “sensory map” of their environment.

“I used Gemini 2.0 Flash for screen description and built facial and object recognition features using datasets contributed by visually impaired volunteers. Their feedback helped me identify gaps in the prototype—what worked in theory often needed to be rethought in practice,” Shaw explained.

Percevia emerged  as a winner under the theme ‘AI for a Safer, Smarter, and Inclusive Bharat’.

For Tushar, this competition is the beginning of an exciting journey ahead.

“I want to collaborate with brands specialising in accessibility tech, refine the product’s design, and make it affordable for people across India. I’m also continuing my studies—there’s still so much to learn before I can build something truly transformative,” Shaw said.