Visually impaired athletes preparing for the upcoming London Marathon are increasingly turning to smart glasses equipped with artificial intelligence to enhance their experience and independence. The technology uses a front-facing camera to capture visual information, which is then processed and converted into audio cues delivered through speakers embedded in the frames. This hands-free system allows users to receive real-time updates about their surroundings without needing to handle a mobile device.

One runner, Khan, who lost his sight abruptly, began running in 2022 after encouragement from a volunteer at Guide Dogs UK, a charity providing guide dogs and mobility support for people with vision loss. While training with guide runners, Khan uses voice commands to interact with the smart glasses. “If they say that’s Big Ben ahead of us, I can just say ‘hey meta take a picture,’” he said, emphasizing the convenience of the hands-free design.

Chris Lewis, a technology analyst who is also visually impaired and has experience using smart glasses while skiing, described the system as adding an extra layer of situational awareness. “The AI is taking the images coming in, analyzing it and giving you the information about what’s in front of you, what might be moving and what might be changing,” Lewis explained. He noted that receiving such information in real time without losing awareness of the environment is crucial for activities like running.

However, experts caution that marathons present particular challenges for this technology. Large crowds can strain mobile networks, potentially weakening signals and affecting the reliability of real-time audio feedback from the glasses. Tommy Dean, a technology specialist at Guide Dogs UK, stressed that while smart glasses can enhance independence, they should complement rather than replace established support systems. “These glasses can really support and enhance somebody’s independence but they’re not there to be relied upon or replace core independent skills,” Dean said, highlighting the ongoing importance of guide dogs, mobility training, and human assistance in complex settings.

Ben Hatton, an analyst at CCS Insight who monitors emerging consumer technologies, identified reliability as a major barrier to wider adoption. “If you’re going to allow visually impaired people to walk down the street or cross busy roads with the technology then it has to be perfectly reliable every single time,” Hatton noted. He pointed to factors such as accuracy, connectivity, and cost as key determinants influencing the technology’s future use.

Despite these challenges, advances in artificial intelligence are enabling mainstream devices to play an increasingly significant role in accessibility. “The fact that consumer technology can enhance the experience of someone with a sight problem adds to the potential to be more and more independent,” Lewis said.

This Sunday, more than 59,000 runners, including many using these assistive technologies, are expected to participate in the London Marathon. The 26.2-mile race begins in Greenwich and finishes near Buckingham Palace, showcasing not only athletic endurance but also the growing integration of technology in supporting diverse participants.