UK — The Register
These smart glasses promise to turn your silent mouth movements into text
Devices1 min read
A startup called Subvocal is building smart glasses that turn silent mouth movements into written text. The glasses are still a early prototype, but the founders say they can already decode speech.
What happened
Subvocal, a startup backed by Y Combinator (a well-known school for new companies), shared working prototype glasses in YouTube videos. In one video, YC partner Dave Lieb tried them and liked them enough to offer funding. The glasses let a person talk to a computer without making any sound.
Key facts
- Preorder early bird price: $499
- Expected release: sometime in Q1 2027 (January to March 2027)
- Speech decoding speed: 200+ words per minute (WPM)
- Lieb needed to read only 20 sentences to set up the headset for his voice
How the glasses work
The glasses send out low-power radio waves toward the wearer's face. When a person moves their muscles to speak or just mouths words, the face shape changes and the waves bend in a special way. The device reads these changes and turns them into text. The founders, Georgia Tech students Aarush Yadav and Arnav Kumar, first tested sticky sensors on the face. They later switched to radio sensing because stick-on sensors would be hard to sell as a product.
Why it matters
Silent speech could become a new way to use computers, without typing or talking out loud. This could help in quiet places or for people who cannot speak easily. But this is still an early proof of concept. The company has not yet shared how accurate the glasses are, how long the battery lasts, or the final price.
What to watch
- Whether the final glasses are released in early 2027
- The full price after the early bird offer
- The accuracy rate and battery life
- Whether the glasses will work with a phone or computer app
Glossary
- Y Combinator
- A startup school that gives early money and help to new small companies.
- Subvocal
- The startup making smart glasses that read silent speech from mouth movements.
- WPM
- Words per minute, a way to measure how fast someone speaks or types.