.lumen stands out for applying advanced AI to one of the biggest unmet access challenges in the world. With mobility support currently out of reach for millions, this offers a credible route to far wider independence for blind and visually impaired people. 

 

.lumen is tackling one of the biggest inequalities in independent mobility. More than 338 million people worldwide are visually impaired, yet only around 28,000 guide dogs exist globally, with each dog costing up to $50,000 to $70,000 to train and deploy. That leaves most blind and visually impaired people without access to the kind of mobility support that enables genuine independence. 

 

.lumen applies self-driving car logic to pedestrian movement through its Glasses for the Blind, using AI and haptic guidance to help users move confidently through real environments.

 

The project has already tested its technology with more than 900 blind and visually impaired people across 40-plus countries. In live demos, most first-time users can walk safely while blindfolded after less than 3 minutes of onboarding. Demand is strong too, with 1,500 people applying through Romania’s Tech Assist programme alone. The result is a more scalable route to confidence, safety and freedom of movement for millions of people who currently have very limited options.

 

Vote now for this finalist to win the Tech4Good People’s Award and register to join the online ceremony on Friday 3 July to see if they win!