Microsoft is said to be working on its first wearable, a head band which helps the blind to find their way around the city.
There were widespread rumours about the company prepping a smartwatch, however, the latest bit from the rumour mill says that the company’s first wearable will be a band which will be worn around the head.
The Sunday Times reported that the wearable dubbed Alice Band communicates with the sensors installed in the nearby buildings and train carriages and communicates the information to the user through a ear piece.
This would help the user navigate their way around public places like train stations, escalators, and stair cases and also at shops, malls and banks.
The company has been working on this project since 2012 as part of its partnership with the Guide Dogs for the Blind under the Cities Unlocked project. The project also gets the support of the government project Future Cities Catapult.
Microsoft’s device will be one of the Catapults released by the Technology Strategy Board of the UK which develops innovation in unique, specialist areas.
It was said that the company is still researching and testing the device and hence it may not hit shelves anytime soon. However, the company has scheduled a meeting with Queen Elizabeth on Thursday when it will demonstrate it to her.
This could not be an effort to take down Google Glass as it is specially designed for the blind. Moreover, Alice Band will not be made commercially available anytime soon as it is still being researched. However, it has to be taken with a grain of salt as there is no official word from the company yet.
