Could smart glasses support your goals?

Ray-Ban Meta glasses are mainstream smart glasses with a built-in camera, speakers, microphone and Meta AI.

They can respond to voice commands and provide information about some of the things around you.

If you are blind or have low vision, these features may be useful for some everyday activities. They do not replace your usual orientation and mobility skills or other strategies you use to move around safely.

What could I use Ray-Ban Meta glasses for?

Depending on the feature and your needs, you could explore using the glasses to:

• hear descriptions of your surroundings
• read signs, menus and other visible text
• identify colours and objects
• take photos and videos
• make calls and send messages
• listen to audio and control compatible media using your voice.

For example, you could try commands such as:

• “Hey Meta, describe my surroundings.”
• “Hey Meta, read this text.”
• “Hey Meta, describe the colour.”
• “Hey Meta, take a photo.”

How can Guide Dogs support me?

A Guide Dogs practitioner can work with you to consider whether Ray-Ban Meta glasses are appropriate for your goals. Depending on your individual circumstances and service, this could include:

• helping you learn to use the glasses safely and confidently
• including the glasses in your training where appropriate
• providing a support letter if you need one to seek funding for the glasses.

Your practitioner can also help you consider other technology if Ray-Ban Meta glasses are not the best fit for what you want to achieve.

What should I consider?

Accuracy and safety.

Meta AI uses artificial intelligence to interpret information. AI can make mistakes. Do not rely on the glasses for safety-critical information where an incorrect description could cause harm. This could include medication labels or medical instructions.

The camera may also miss information outside its field of view. Ray-Ban Meta glasses should not replace your usual orientation and mobility strategies. It is also advised to continue using proper orientation and mobility skills rather than treating the glasses as a navigation tool.

Image quality can also affect the information you receive. Movement, glare, poor lighting, small print and fine detail can make visual information harder to interpret.

Privacy.

Think about your privacy and the privacy of people around you when using a camera, AI or video call. Meta Smart Glasses Support provides information about controlling information shared with Meta and has dedicated legal and privacy guidance for AI glasses.

Before using the glasses:

• understand what information you are sharing and how it may be handled
• consider whether people nearby can hear audio from the glasses
• consider other people's privacy before taking photos, recording video or making a video call
• check whether you need permission before recording people, particularly in private places.

For children, parents or guardians should check Meta's current account requirements and any consent requirements before the glasses are used.

What are the benefits and limitations?

Ray-Ban Meta glasses offer hands-free access to several features in a mainstream glasses design. They can read visible text aloud, describe surroundings, identify objects and colours, capture photos and video, and support calls and messages. However, they may not provide the same experience as technology developed specifically for people who are blind or have low vision. They should also not be relied on as a navigation tool.

Before choosing them, consider:

• what you want the technology to help you do
• whether the available AI features meet your needs
• privacy
• accuracy and safety
• battery and charging needs
• the apps and accounts required for the features you want to use.

Meta Smart Glasses Support provides current help for pairing, updating, Meta AI, charging, accounts, privacy and troubleshooting.

What other options could I explore?

Ray-Ban Meta glasses are one option. Depending on your goals, other technology may suit you better. Options you could discuss with your Guide Dogs practitioner include:

• AI description apps designed with blindness or low vision in mind, such as Seeing AI or Be My AI
• smartphone video calling
• hands-free audio products
• other smart glasses.

The best option will depend on what you want to do, the environments where you will use it and your existing technology.

Want to know if they could work for you?

Talk to your Guide Dogs practitioner about your goals and the tasks you would like technology to help with. Together, you can explore whether Ray-Ban Meta glasses or another option could be suitable and how technology could fit into your broader training.

If you are blind or have low vision, these features may be useful for some everyday activities. They do not replace your usual orientation and mobility skills or other strategies you use in your everyday life.