Every year, only 2.000 guide dogs are trained to support over 300 million blind people around the world. A huge gap that a Romanian startup is trying to fill with a surprising solution: smart glasses that use self-driving car technology.
A personal mission
The story of .lumen starts in 2020 with Cornel Amariei, an entrepreneur with a deeply personal mission. As the only member of his family without a disability, Amariei has experienced firsthand the lack of advanced assistive technology. Today, his Bucharest-based startup has 50 professionals, including engineers, professors, disability experts, designers and scientists.
Technology that drives
The glasses .lumen They use a haptic interface that “guides” the user's head, directing them towards safe paths. Robert Gutt, responsible for the company's navigation, explains:
The system creates a virtual 3D and semantic map of the surrounding environment, distinguishing roads, sidewalks and other objects. It is designed for outdoor use, which presents a much more complex environment than that of an autonomous car.
This blind aid does more than just avoid obstacles. In specific situations, such as approaching stairs or pedestrian crossings, it provides audio notifications to guide the user. It can also connect to Google Maps to download routes and direct users to specific destinations or objects, such as benches.
Support for the blind, the real life impact
The tests speak clearly: over 300 blind people from nearly 30 countries have tried these glasses, with extremely positive feedback. Gutt excitedly recounts seeing users walk independently, without a cane for the first time:
I saw a blind person moving in this crowded area for 10-15 minutes, a difficult environment with many people bumping into each other. Yet, he walked freely, without a cane or assistance. Seeing this touched many, it was their first experience of walking without aids.
Thanks to nearly $4 million in funding from Venture to Future Fund and from European Innovation Council, .lumen is preparing for launch. A limited series has already been on the market since the end of 2024: it will be followed by expansion into the US market in 2025. The goal is ambitious: sell 10.000 units by the end of 2026.
AI Support for the Blind, a Bridge to Autonomy
There is nothing more beautiful than the special bond that develops between a blind person and their guide dog. These faithful four-legged companions are not only expert guides, but also irreplaceable friends who offer emotional support and constant companionship. They are silent heroes who dedicate their lives to ensuring safety and independence.
Unfortunately, with training costs in some countries (such as the USA) reaching 500.000 euros and only a handful of dogs trained each year, millions of people cannot benefit from this extraordinary partnership. While we wait for everyone to experience the joy of having such a special companion by their side, .lumen glasses represent a promising technological solution. They will never replace the warmth and affection of a guide dog, but this and other solutions could offer many the freedom of movement they deserve.