ViXion01 developer's voice

ViXion01｜story of development

Flexible thinking that is not bound by common sense
Recovering “visibility” for many people

Toshiharu Uchiumi

Director/Development Manager

Q. At ViXion, we have been developing "ViXion01" as a new eyewear that brings out the "seeing" of many people, following "MW10" developed for people with night blindness. What kind of eyewear is the new device "ViXion01"?

A. We call ViXion01 a glasses-type wearable device that supports the resolution of visual problems associated with overuse of the eyes and aging. The MW10 trial session was the impetus for development in the first place. At that time, we visited associations and organizations for visually impaired people across the country to let them experience the performance of the MW10. At one of the schools for the blind, I saw children using monoculars to learn by looking at the distant blackboard or nearby notebooks. It seemed very inconvenient. Unfortunately, however, there are limits to how much the lenses of today's glasses can support children's vision. So I thought, ``Next, let's create something that people with low vision can use conveniently.''

Q. The most important feature of "ViXion01" is the autofocus function, but what exactly is this function?

A. The autofocus function uses a centrally mounted distance sensor to instantly measure the distance to the object and automatically adjusts the focus by changing the lens bulge accordingly. For people who have difficulty seeing far away, close up, or a combination of these, or who have different vision depending on the time of day, we will provide the optimal way of seeing for each situation. Basically, it is intended to be used as an aid, but it is especially recommended for those who continually perform detailed work, such as assembling models, reading small text, etc. I think you'll be surprised at how it looks when you actually wear it.

Q. I hear that you worked hard to develop the autofocus function, but how long did it take to develop it?

A. It's been about two years since I started thinking about commercializing it. However, I think that out of all of us, we were able to complete those two years quickly. This is because, at first, I thought it would be difficult to add an autofocus function, so I was thinking of operating it only in manual mode. However, after seeing the prototype, we received comments such as "It would be convenient if the focus could be adjusted automatically".As an engineer, I thought we had to make this happen so that more people could use it, so I put a lot of thought into it.

Q. I think this is revolutionary eyewear that is unique in the eyewear industry, but what were the factors that made it possible?

A. As far as we have investigated, there is no product in the world that has the same functionality as ViXion01. It's so groundbreaking, but I don't have any industry common sense in the first place (lol). I've been involved in the design of semiconductor electronic circuits for a long time, but I'm a complete amateur when it comes to eyeglass lens development. The parts that led to the creation of the prototype also happened to be found at an exhibition in a completely different industry than eyeglasses (lol). But on the other hand, I think it was a good thing. In this way, we were able to take on the challenge without being bound by conventional wisdom, and perhaps some people in the industry will realize, "Wow, there was a way to do this".

Q. Continuing from the first product "MW10", the design was handled by the world-renowned design office "nendo". Have you ever made any requests regarding the design?

A. I generally try to keep my mouth shut when it comes to design. However, if there is something that cannot be done due to the structure, we will exchange opinions... I think the basics of a technology developer is to trust the designer's sensibilities, understand the designer's intentions, and then consider whether it can actually be created and whether it will not break, including cost. People around me often said that the prototype looked like a frog (lol), but I think the finished product has a futuristic and cool design.

Q. I'm sure you're relieved now that the development of "ViXion01" is over, but what kind of device do you want to develop next?

A. This story goes back to when I was a child. In my rural area, my grandfather was called "Zuttsu". My "Zuttsu" was handicapped in his right hand, so when he was in elementary school, he used things around him to make something that could easily be used to light a kiseru. When "Zuttsu" saw it, he cried with joy. At that time, even as a child, I was very happy and proud that there were people who were happy with what I had made. That is the origin of my manufacturing. That's why, while analyzing each consultation that comes to me, I will continue to create eyewear that assists people with visual impairments, health management, and the prevention of eye diseases. I would like to continue doing so.