AR software solutions provider XRAI has been selected to supply AR glasses as part of a pilot program aimed at enhancing accessibility for employees with hearing impairments within the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD).

The three-month-long pilot program is being conducted in Bristol's MOD Abbey Wood. Eight sets of AR glasses, supplied by XRAI Glass under a £10,000 contract, are among the first to be tested by staff members of the Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) company. Under a £10,000 contract with XRAI Glass, the Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) organization is one of the first to test the technology, which comprises eight sets of AR glasses, reports Auganix.‍

Users wearing phone-tethered augmented reality (AR) smart glasses will be able to read speech in real-time through closed captioning. The XRAI Glass software converts audio into a subtitled version of conversation which will then appear on the user’s glasses screen. The software’s sophisticated voice recognition capabilities can identify who’s speaking and will soon have the power to translate languages, voice tones, accents, and pitch.

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Steve Crump, Founder and Chair, DeafKidz International, said: “As a profoundly deaf person myself, I was blown away by this technology. When I tried on the glasses, I was astonished – real time subtitles that enable you to engage and participate as never before. I see XRAI Glass as a hugely positive force, and I can’t wait to work with the team to help bring this to life.”

The trial is being led by Chris Chennell, a senior architect on the DE&S Digital delivery team. Chennell stated: “The initial feedback has been really encouraging, and I’m very hopeful this will prove to be a really positive addition for our staff. The next three months will gather more feedback to help us determine the best way to assist our colleagues with hearing loss, whether it’s through this technology or something else.”

DE&S said that if the trial is successful, the goal would be to make the glasses available throughout the MOD and possibly other government agencies.