Local medtech earns top honours with world-first vision technology

MedTech & Diagnostics News: A trailblazing medtech company has clinched the prestigious title of Australian Technology Company of the Year at this year’s Australian Technologies Competition (ATC). This accolade comes in recognition of their world-first technology that transforms images into auditory experiences for individuals with blindness or limited vision.

Sydney-based ARIA (Augmented Reality in Audio) stands at the forefront of technology innovation, harnessing cutting-edge machine vision and artificial intelligence systems to bridge the sensory gap for those in need. Their device, resembling a pair of sunglasses, revolutionises perception by translating the visual world into an auditory landscape, all captured and conveyed through binaural speakers ingeniously positioned within the arms of the glasses.

The ATC serves as a platform to spotlight and promote innovative Australian technologies with substantial global growth potential. Judges for this year’s event included Melina Georgousakis, Founder of Franklin Women.

In bestowing the title upon ARIA Research, the judges underscored the company’s genuine intellectual property, extensive user testing and funding consultation efforts, unwavering commitment to Australian manufacturing, and, most significantly, the far-reaching impact of their technology in addressing a substantial global problem.

ARIA co-founder and CEO, Robert Yearsley, stated “As these awards demonstrate, Australia is full of amazing innovation, and to be recognised as a front-runner is humbling.”

He emphasised the pressing need for their innovation by highlighting the staggering 338 million individuals currently with blindness or low-vision, a number projected to swell to over half a billion by 2050.

ARIA’s mission is resolute: to develop a comprehensive, commercially scalable solution that empowers these individuals, fostering increased independence and autonomy. Presently, 90% of blind individuals rely on assistance for mobility outside their homes, presenting profound challenges in daily living and maintaining a household independently. ARIA is steadfast in its commitment to shattering these barriers and effecting transformative change.

Looking ahead, ARIA will initiate clinical trials of its smart glasses in the early months of the upcoming year. This venture will unfold as a pioneering initiative at the recently announced Human Augmentation Laboratory (HAL) in Sydney, supported by the NSW government.

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