Boston-based neurotechnology company Brain Power has shipped the first 60 units of its award-winning Empowered Brain™ smartglasses, and plans to ship successive rounds of orders ahead of schedule. Orders for the world’s first wearable system to help people with autism gain self-sufficiency, were placed earlier this year during the most successful autism-related crowdfunding campaign ever ($165,000). Families or schools can now buy Empowered Brain from the company’s website at a limited-time deep discount.
The Google Augmented Reality (AR) glasses teach life skills to people with autism or on IEPs for social-emotional learning or behaviors.
Empowered Brain helps students with autism (or those on IEP’s for social-emotional learning or behaviors) teach themselves crucial life skills.
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The computerized glasses can be worn by children or adults while they interact with a parent or teacher. Artificial intelligence detects things like faces and emotions. Users get points for making eye contact, for instance, or for guessing how the partner is feeling.
The system includes scientifically-validated Google Glass apps, a phone app, and an advanced web portal to view an unprecedented level of data and progress reports (for home use or school IEPs). Other apps in the system focus on managing transitions, self-regulation, and job skills. A number of schools are already using the system.
“While many crowdfunding projects are delayed a year or more, I am thrilled that we have shipped the product to the wonderful families we aim to serve, on time,” said Dr. Ned T. Sahin, CEO and founder of Brain Power. “I am personally commitment to delivering the best experience for them, which is why we’ve done years of rigorous scientific studies and clinical trials with autistic people before offering this product.”
Brain Power’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Arshya Vahabzadeh said as a medical doctor he knows families and schools struggle significantly with autism, but the healthcare system does not have an answer. “Technology levels the playing field and can lower the wall around access to services,” he said.
This AR system was developed in collaboration with Google, Affectiva, Amazon, MIT, Harvard, and Stanford.
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Brain Power has received many awards, and has won several grants including via the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program and several charities including GoFAR and LeslieFangFoundation. Research on the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of Empowered Brain in autism and ADHD has been published in a number of peer-reviewed medical research journals which include Frontiers in Pediatrics, JMIR, Frontiers in Education, and the Journal of Clinical Medicine.
