'Completely and utterly game-changing': visually impaired Tipperary man tests AI glasses in Dublin marathon

Thurles Paralympian and former councillor Peter Ryan was one of 15,000 people with vision impairment to receive a pair of Meta Ray-Ban AI glasses to see how they could improve their lived experience, and recently wore the devices when he competed in the Dublin Marathon on Sunday, October 26th.

The glasses were donated by tech giant Meta to Vision Ireland.

Peter spoke to Dermot on RTE’s Oliver Callan Show to chat about his experience as he calls the new AI glasses a “game-changer”.

Peter suffered the effects of Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy at 19 years old, which caused the deterioration of his eyesight and changed his life forever.

Sport was a big part of Peter’s life and after over three years navigating his new world, he decided to dive back into the sport with a newfound love for cycling.

Peter went on to become a veteran of the 2016 Paralympic Games where he competed in the Tandem Cycling Time Trial and the Road Race.

Ryan began competing as a tandem cyclist going on to win several National Championships before competing at World Championships and ultimately representing Ireland at the Rio 2016 Games.

Peter told Dermot on the Oliver Callan show that although he is not sure whether the visually impaired were the intended audience for Meta glasses, said they have “definitely fallen into the right hands here”.

Peter explained that much like a sports watch, the glasses tell Peter his time, place and distance during a race which is extremely helpful.

“It was giving me all my feedback into my ear. Everyone that's into running these days whether you would be a 2.10 marathon or you've done your first one in five hours, everyone loves talking about their pace. They love talking about the kilometers, they love talking about the heart rate.

“That's just a world where I almost don't feel included, so this is bringing you back into the conversation”.

Instead of Peter asking someone, ‘Hey, what does my watch say?’, his AI glasses tell him exactly what he needs to know right in his ear.

Peter told Dermot that even on the way to the Dublin marathon, the glasses helped him navigate the city and they told him what his race number was.

“I was able to instead of me tapping strangers on the shoulder, which is a really hard thing to do. Like during that three years I used to struggle to say, sorry do you mind giving me a hand; I'm visually impaired.

“I literally wasn't able to use that phrase; it was just this whole vulnerability thing. This just allowed me to navigate the city like a normal person”.

Peter explained on the show that he can ask the AI glasses questions about his surroundings like any AI tool.

He can say, for example, ‘Hey Meta where am I?’ or take a picture of an item and have the glasses explain what the item is.

During the Dublin marathon, Peter used this tool to help him with taking the correct energy gel. He mixed up his caffeinated and de-caffeinated gels so the glasses were able to tell him which one was which.

“In the world of disability,” Peter said “the glasses are completely and utterly game-changing.”

“If you zoom me back 10 years ago when I didn't think I could go to college, I didn't think I could have a job I didn't think I could do all these things.

“I actually think the doors it's going to open for the new kids that are becoming visually impaired and everything that way it's like the pros outweigh the cons completely in my head”.

Peter said that there is an everyday version of the sports ray-banned AI glasses which he will be using as well in his day-to-day life.

This will help him with things like reading a letter or a book or locating items around the house.

“I haven't been able to read a letter in 15 years, and that sounds phenomenally simplistic, but it's profound in its nature, in what it does,” Peter said on the Oliver Callan show.

A message was sent in from a listener named Stephanie who said: “What a wonderful interview. All the positives of AI. I used to counsel young boys who were visually impaired and I have to say I've found tears in my eyes listening to this fabulous interview with Peter”.