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- Emteq Labs, a wearable technology firm based in the UK, has launched AI-driven emotion-sensing eyewear.
- The Sense glasses evaluate facial expressions while monitoring physical activity and dietary habits.
- According to Emteq CEO Steen Strand, these glasses are not yet available for retail consumers.
The emergence of smart glasses is revolutionizing the tech landscape, enabling users to harness AI and integrated cameras to document their surroundings. However, one company aims to shift this focus inward, providing insights into personal health through advanced technology.
On Tuesday, Emteq Labs announced the creation of what it claims is “the world’s first emotion-sensing eyewear,” aptly named “Sense.”
This innovative product utilizes an AI-powered platform that delivers “lab-quality insights in real time,” as stated in a recent press release from the company. The new CEO of Emteq, Steen Strand—who previously oversaw hardware development at Snap Inc.—is steering the company as it enters a competitive market that includes rivals like Meta and its recently updated Ray-Ban smart glasses alongside their experimental Orion AR models.
Currently focused on establishing commercial partnerships rather than direct consumer sales, Emteq’s emotion-sensing eyewear remains unavailable for individual purchase. Both Strand and Dr. Charles Nduka—the founder and chief science officer at Emteq Labs—expressed their aspirations for Sense’s capabilities to assist individuals grappling with mental health challenges or obesity issues during an interview with Business Insider.
“While most smart glasses are designed with outward-facing sensors, our data collection focuses on the wearer,” explained Dr. Nduka. “If you can’t measure something accurately, you can’t enhance it.”
During a demonstration for Business Insider where he wore the Sense glasses himself, Strand illustrated how these devices employ contactless sensors to interpret facial expressions such as raised eyebrows or smiles instantly. In addition to emotional tracking similar to fitness wearables like smartwatches or rings, these glasses also monitor physical activity levels.
The device features a downward-facing camera designed specifically for capturing images of meals intended for dietary logging purposes. This information is processed by the Sense app while ensuring that photos are deleted post-analysis—a feature aimed at making food logging effortless and significantly enhancing adherence when pursuing specific dietary goals according to Strand’s insights.
Strand also mentioned potential applications beyond diet management; he believes these smart glasses could play a role in supporting individuals with neurological disorders such as autism or Parkinson’s disease.
“Our goal is to identify needs that provide tangible benefits,” he remarked regarding prospective users’ experiences while justifying why they would choose to wear such technology.”
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