A groundbreaking AI software integrated into smart glasses has been awarded a £1 million prize for its potential to assist individuals with dementia. Known as CrossSense, the technology incorporates a chatty AI assistant named Wispy, housed within chunky, black-rimmed frames that are equipped with a camera, microphone, and speakers.
Wispy enhances the everyday lives of its wearers by providing verbal cues, text prompts that appear in their field of vision, and engaging in light conversation. This innovative approach aims to offer not just reminders but also to facilitate social interactions and stimulate memories.
CrossSense was awarded the Longitude Prize on dementia, one of several accolades promoted by Challenge Works and supported by Nesta. The initiative, funded by the Alzheimer’s Society and Innovate UK, seeks to foster technologies that help individuals with dementia maintain their independence longer. With dementia cases projected to reach approximately 150 million worldwide by 2050, the urgency for effective solutions is palpable.
Szczepan Orlins, CEO of CrossSense Ltd, stated that the prize money would expedite the path to market for their product. A smartphone version of the software is expected to be released by the end of this year, while the CrossSense-enabled smart glasses are anticipated to be available in early 2027. Orlins noted that, although CrossSense Ltd develops the AI software, it collaborates with various hardware manufacturers to produce the glasses, which can accommodate prescription lenses and are compatible with hearing aids.
“With the prize, we will be running a pilot with smart glasses in the last quarter [of 2026] for four weeks in people’s homes, which would give us enough data to know that this is ready,” said Orlins. The accompanying app allows caregivers to input information regarding the wearer’s level of care, enabling Wispy to adapt to the user’s needs through machine learning, which takes into account any changes in their condition.
The expected subscription cost for the CrossSense technology is about £50 per month, while the smart glasses may retail for up to £1,000, with the potential for price reductions. Initially, the smart glasses will be marketed directly to consumers, with plans for eventual availability through the National Health Service (NHS).
In a preliminary study led by Professor Julia Simner from the University of Sussex, 23 pairs of individuals living with dementia and their caregivers tested the CrossSense glasses. Though the study has yet to undergo peer review, the results indicated that participants were able to correctly identify 82% of household items when using the glasses, compared to only 46% without them. “Crucially, the benefit lasted even after the glasses were removed,” Simner noted, adding that participants retained the ability to identify 78% of items an hour later.
Dr. Foyzul Rahman, a cognitive decline expert at Loughborough University who was not involved in the study, highlighted that CrossSense’s approach of offering real-time prompts and feedback distinguishes it from traditional reminder-based technologies. He cautioned that more extensive, controlled studies are necessary to determine the practical benefits of such devices in daily life. Ethical considerations surrounding data collection from users also warrant attention.
Rahman raised concerns about user engagement with assistive technologies, particularly given that the smart glasses have a battery life of only one hour, necessitating a portable power source. However, for 70-year-old Carole Greig, who has been living with Alzheimer’s for nearly three years and has tested the CrossSense glasses, the technology represents a significant advancement. “For people with the condition like mine who’ve got cognitive impairment, it’s just an amazing thing,” she remarked. “How fantastic that we can be given some more independence, that we’re going to be able to cope on our own and not be a burden. And not only that, it’s not just [not] being a burden, it’s enjoying your life.”
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