RNIB project wins Google's UK Impact Challenge

Smart glasses for blind and partially sighted people have been chosen as one of the winners at the final of the Google Impact Challenge 2014 – with the RNIB-backed project winning £500,000 in funding.

The RNIB and Oxford University worked together to develop the glasses, which maximise what remaining vision a person has.

Neil Heslop, managing director RNIB Solutions, said: ‘We are absolutely delighted to be the winner of the Google Impact Challenge 2014 public vote. Thank you so much to everyone who voted for the smart glasses.

‘These glasses have the potential to transform the way blind and partially sighted people can go about their everyday lives. One gentleman with sight loss who tried the glasses reacted with 'wow, I can see your face'.