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Exclusive: Intamed to distribute OrCam artificial vision devices in South Africa

By , Portals editor
South Africa , 25 Nov 2020

Personal, AI-driven innovations firm OrCam Technologies, and Intamed, an established distributor of healthcare and medical equipment in South Africa, have signed a distribution agreement to bring OrCam MyEye artificial vision devices to South Africa.

OrCam explains that its devices and technologies harnesses AI-driven computer vision to provide increased independence to people who are blind or visually impaired.

In a statement, the company describes OrCam MyEye as a lightweight and wireless device that is magnetically mounted to the eyeglasses of a user. The device uses personal AI to discreetly read aloud printed and digital text from nearly any surface and in real-time.

The OrCam MyEye device can also be configured to recognise faces, colours, currency, consumer products and more, according to OrCam.

“The OrCam MyEye solution is designed for the low vision patients of ophthalmologists and similar practitioners when corrective lenses are no longer able to help amplify their declining vision,” said Bari Hayoun, OrCam’s Regional Director for Africa. “For the blind and visually impaired, newspapers, books, computer and smartphone screens, restaurant menus, labels on supermarket products and street signs become instantly accessible.”

OrCam Technologies and Intamed have signed an agreement to bring the OrCam MyEye artificial vision devices to South Africa. As part of the agreement, Intamed will serve as the local distributor and support agent for OrCam in South Africa.

The company plans to make the devices available through hospitals, private clinics and low vision specialists around the country.

Intamed is a healthcare company and leading distributor of specialised medical devices in South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. The company has its headquarters in Johannesburg with branches in Cape Town and Durban.

Greg Kletz, Managing Director at Intamed, said: “The ethos of our company is to make available the latest medical technologies and healthcare innovations that have the potential to change and improve the lives of people in our country. OrCam's innovative devices, including the wearable MyEye Pro device and its smart reading and orientation features, can vastly improve the livelihoods of the blind and visually impaired.”

According to the South African National Council for the Blind, visual impairments constitute 32% of all disabilities in the South Africa of which 97% are said to be unemployed.

Intamed says it has already begun building relationships with- and engaging the numerous low vision and blind societies throughout South Africa.

The OrCam MyEye device is currently available in over 50 countries around the world in 25 different languages.

“The South African version of OrCam MyEye is currently available in English, although the capabilities to develop support for additional languages can be added based on market demand,” added Hayoun.

OrCam is an Israeli technology company founded by Professor Amnon Shashua and Ziv Aviram.

“In Africa, OrCam is currently only focusing market activities on South Africa. However, we continue to receive interest from other countries in Africa and we are evaluating additional opportunities,” concluded Hayoun.

Demand for ethical AI

In October ITWeb Africa reported that a rising demand for ethical AI is listed among several top trends, according to the Forrester report Top Trends And Emerging Technologies, Q3 2020.

The report says in the past, firms that adopted machine learning and other AI technologies paid little heed to their ethical impact.

Today, however, values-based consumers and employees expect companies to adopt AI in a responsible fashion. Over the next few years, firms will deliberately choose to do business with partners that commit to data ethics and adopt data handling practices that reflect their own values and their customers’ values.

South Africa has increasingly looked to invest in AI, with a view to application within healthcare, education and law enforcement.

In early September South Africa’s Minister of Communications Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams opened the AI Expo Africa 2020 virtual conference and reiterated the country’s position.

The Minister said AI could be applied via robotics to ensure that healthcare services are made available to rural areas, and also applied in equipment and resources mobilised to fight crime.

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