Independence begins with a step and with the right technology: the partnership of Orange Romania and .lumen for the independent mobility of blind people

Have you ever wondered what it's like not to know what the space around you looks like, not to see it, not to measure it with your eyes, but only to “read” it from sounds, slow steps and hesitations? This is what every road looks like for many visually impaired people. Slightly shy, but curious, I agreed to step behind the cane, in an experiment proposed by Orange Romania and the Romanian startup .lumen. An experience that, beyond technology, represents a partnership that offers independence and trust: an integrated mobility solution that combines .lumen smart glasses, a state-of-the-art smartphone and access to voice services and high-speed 5G mobile internet.

Uncertainty and a slight fear. That was the first thing I felt. I wavered between yes and no, whether or not to hide my eyes from the neon light. To walk in the dark or to carefully follow those present in the hall. Curiosity, however, won. My eyes were covered and for a few minutes everything disappeared. Not metaphorically, but real: without contours, without landmarks, without the idea of ​​”one more step”. The cane I held in my hand hit the floor in a slow, light rhythm that didn't belong to me. Every step was a question, and every second, a negotiation with fear and the thought: where am I stepping? This is, in fact, how an absolutely ordinary day begins for many visually impaired people.

Then came the .lumen glasses. I admit, I was scared – not of the technology, but of the unknown. Of the thought of moving forward without seeing, but convinced, however, that something or someone will guide me. I took the challenge in baby steps, literally. Pretty quickly everything became clearer, more certain. .lumen glasses do not tell you where to go, but help you “feel” the surrounding space: obstacles, distances, directions. The pace of movement changes, and you follow the vibrations that indicate your direction: right, left or forward.

The body is no longer on continuous alert. Peace comes, and with it, the courage to move on. To the onlooker, these details may seem minor. For those who don't, they mean the difference between stopping and continuing. This is, in fact, the stake of the partnership between Orange Romania and the Romanian startup .lumen: assisted mobility transformed into the freedom to walk at the pace of the community.

A step towards independence

Among the first people to test these glasses is Silvia Stelea, co-founder of the Dignity for All Association. Her story is as impressive as it is motivational. She travels this path together with her twin sister, Irina. Two young women who were blinded by fate at the age of 24, but not the desire to remain active, independent and an example for those around them. “I didn't depend on anyone until I was 24. After that, I had to depend on someone or something, namely the cane. It was a period of adjustment. Irina, my twin sister, has exactly the same disease as me, pigmentary retinopathy, and we lost our sight at the same time, the same percentage“, says Silvia.

She fondly remembers her first experience with .lumen glasses, because she knew what it was like to be independent. And this is exactly what these glasses offer you: “For us, what's happening right now on the technology side is extremely powerful, because yes, it's a different kind of independence. Because it gives you the opportunity to move, but safely. With the cane, know that you don't feel completely safe. No one protects you at all. That's why it was incredible for me. Even though it may seem trivial, for us it is not. (…) It is not a simple device, but it is very simple to use.“

For users, the impact is not measured in technical specifications, but in small but decisive moments: an exit with more safety, without a companion, or that first time when there is no need to ask for help. Independent mobility means more than getting around. It means confidence, courage and a quality of life felt at every step.

“These glasses bring you much closer to normality, in fact, to a natural walk, that is, without being on guard all the time. When you are on the street, as a blind person, you are tense, you are not relaxed. For me it was a privilege to be able to test and give feedback, to be able to say what should be improved or how the device should be used“, mentions the young woman.

For visually impaired people who are reticent about technology, Silvia gently advises them to be open to experimentation, because it is a real chance to improve their everyday life: “I encourage them to be open-minded and open-minded. Everything that has worked so far with this device is for them. To trust that they will find guidance, explanation and patience when they need it.”

.lumen glasses: vibration, direction and courage

In Romania, according to the data of the National Authority for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (ANPDPD), over 80,000 people live with visual impairments. Of these, more than 35,000 are blind, for whom orientation and mobility remain some of the biggest daily challenges. Beyond the numbers, it's about routes traveled daily with caution, tension and a lot of attention.

The Orange Romania x .lumen partnership responds exactly to this real need. With the support of Orange Romania, .lumen offers a complete mobility and connectivity package dedicated to blind people, designed to be easy to understand, use and integrate into everyday life.

Package Included:

• assistive device .lumen (smart glasses),

• a smartphone state of the art,

• access to voice services and 5G mobile internet,

• eSIMs for a simplified experience,

• dedicated support, through an Orange Call Centerwhere a specially trained team provides step-by-step guidance for setting up and using the package.

The .lumen device aims to provide a function similar to that of a guide dog, but through advanced technology. The glasses use video cameras and artificial intelligence to analyze the environment, avoiding obstacles and guiding the user through discreet vibrations on the forehead, providing an intuitive and safe experience.

“Our system cannot assume that the environment is predictable. It had to be completely independent of infrastructure, but as intelligent as a system that understands a highway and work in real time, offline, secure and intuitive. Because some people's lives depend on it. In five years of R&D, we went through more than 30 prototypes. Now we're at the slimmest, sleekest and most functional version yet”, explains Cornel Amariei, CEO and founder of .lumen.

According to him, people who have used the device say that the experience is more intuitive than they imagined and that the level of trust increases even from the first minutes. And daily use opens the way to a level of independence that, until recently, seemed difficult to achieve.

“I felt a lot of excitement from the community. The first orders have already arrived, and the feedback is very positive. The idea of ​​a complete package, with device, phone and connectivity, inspires confidence and simplicity. In parallel, we are starting discussions in the B2B area, where we want to mobilize companies in the direction of philanthropic or fundraising projects. The objective is to expand access to these bundles for as many blind people as possible“, adds Cornel Amariei.

Thus, the result is a solution designed for daily use, in real spaces: on the way home, at the store or in a completely unknown place. Not in the lab, but where every step counts.

The partnership supporting independent mobility for visually impaired people

For Orange Romania, this partnership is a natural continuation of the mission to use technology where it really matters. 5G connectivity plays an essential role in supporting the .lumen experience, ensuring fast reactions and a smooth use.

To ensure a complete and accessible experience, the beneficiaries will have specialized support through a dedicated Call Center offered by Orange Romania. The guidance received contributes to a safe experience, adapted to the needs of each user. In addition, the package includes eSIMs that simplify the whole process.

“.lumen has been part of the Orange Fab accelerator since an early stage, where the solution was developed, tested and validated. As technology evolved, the partnership developed naturally based on a shared vision. Simply put, we believe that technology reaches its maximum potential when it is put to the service of people and when, for example, it contributes concretely to the improvement of the quality of life of some communities. The .lumen solution is a clear example of Romanian innovation with real social impact, which responds to an essential need: the independent mobility of blind people. The role of the network is to support the complete user experience and provide full independence based on the best network with the most extensive national coverage. Users benefit from the performance, speed, stability and quality of the mobile experience enjoyed by all Orange Romania customers”, states Florin Popa, Business to Business Director, Orange Romania.

The package brings together two essential components: advanced assistive technology and reliable mobile connectivity. An approach that changes not only routes, but also perceptions. A key element of the initiative is fair access. Through the government's Tech Assist program, the first beneficiaries will be able to receive this package for free.

.lumen glasses do not change everything instantly, but they create the context in which blind people regain confidence in the steps taken. After the fear disappears, the journey remains: safer, more constant, freer. It's about independence, the freedom to go it alone and the courage of each step. You can see additional details about the partnership on the .lumen website.

Article supported by Orange Romania