In March, we uploaded a video titled “Pretending to Be Blind and Using Doubao AI as Eyes – The Results Were Shocking,” which sparked heated discussions online. Opinions varied on Doubao AI’s ability to monitor the physical world in real time. But one thing is certain: everyone hopes AI becomes smarter and gains the ability to assist people with disabilities as soon as possible.

In December 2025, we interviewed Zhang Zhenyu, a blind piano tuner in Shanghai, and gained a detailed understanding of how a blind person views all the AI/AR glasses currently on the market, why most AI products are not designed for blind users, and what functions this group urgently needs.

Earlier, a video by Bilibili creator “AI Research Lab - Fan Ge” (Brother Fan) in which he handmade AI-assisted blind glasses and wore them while going out, ignited widespread discussion online. In the comment section, a father of a visually impaired child had an in-depth discussion with the creator about the needs of this group; some questioned whether glasses are the best form factor; and even a patient with retinitis pigmentosa offered to donate CNY100,000 for development...

It is fair to say that today, the question of whether AI can help people with disabilities is no longer a matter of “if,” but “how.”

Beyond the visually impaired, other groups of people with disabilities also need to be noticed and cared for by technology companies. Take the hearing-impaired community as an example: many AR glasses have voice recognition capabilities and can convert speech into text in real time, displaying it before the user’s eyes. Some glasses also have built-in headphone functionality, and even in-ear headphone accessories. Clearly, these features help the hearing-impaired communicate more effectively.

Text displayed inside AR glasses. Image source: VRAR WORLD

However, in today’s era of AI proliferation, the biggest problem is that most people with disabilities still cannot personally wear and experience the smart functions of AI glasses, nor can they travel across the country to visit optical shops for hands-on trials — especially since most smart glasses are not available in physical optical shops at all. Instead, they need to go to launch events, large-scale domestic or international exhibition venues, or designated stores.

For companies, due to the lack of direct channels to connect with people with disabilities and the absence of opportunities to engage with disabled users face-to-face, they also fail to receive authentic feedback. This leads to products that may fall short of expectations. In the words of that blind teacher: “Even things made specifically for the blind, we still can't use.”

Considering that the ultimate purpose of technology must be social value, and that one of the responsibilities of professional XR media is to drive the industry to serve more social groups, we solemnly announce:

VRAR EXPO CHINA 2026 will launch an XR Innovation Product Accessibility Zone. All disabled visitors and groups who come to the expo to participate and experience the products will be granted free admission (original price: CNY 199). Disabled friends and groups are welcome to scan the QR code to contact the organizing committee for free tickets.

In the XR Innovation Product Accessibility Zone, disabled visitors can experience, all in one place, most of the mainstream smart glasses on the market, covering both near-eye display and non-display types: Quark AI Glasses, Xiaomi AI Glasses, Llvision AR Glasses, INMO Go3, Meizu StarV Snap, Goolton Star 1S, BleeqUp Ranger 4-in-1 sports glasses, Lawaken View AI Glasses, iTour A1 AR Glasses, and more.

In addition, disabled visitors can also experience some movie-watching and gaming glasses in the zone: RayNeo Air4 Pro, XREAL 1S, VITURE Luma Ultra, and others.

Multiple disability groups have already confirmed their participation in this year’s expo. We hope more disability groups will see this article, come to experience these AI products firsthand, and together help manufacturers create high-quality, affordable products that truly meet users’ needs.

We also hope that more XR manufacturers, developers, and technology enthusiasts will see this article and present their accessibility products and services directly to target users, thereby gaining first-hand, authentic feedback. Even if you are a university student with your own creative idea and have “handmade” a prototype, you will have the opportunity to showcase it after registration and allow disabled users to experience it up close. Manufacturers, developers, and enthusiasts interested in participating in the XR Innovation Product Accessibility Zone are invited to scan the QR code below to contact the organizing committee:

About VRAR EXPO CHINA 2026

The VRAR EXPO CHINA is the most professional XR industry event in Asia, having been held three times since 2023. VRAR EXPO CHINA 2026 will take place on May 14-15, 2026, at the Shanghai Convention & Exhibition Center of International Sourcing / International Conference Center of Banma Suhe.

Previous expos have attracted over a hundred companies from six continents, more than a hundred heavyweight XR industry speakers, and thousands of professional visitors and media from dozens of countries.

About VRAR WORLD:

A leading professional media outlet in China's VR/AR industry, and the initiator and organizer of VRAR EXPO CHINA. It is dedicated to providing users with cutting-edge global VR/AR news and valuable insights, building a platform for domestic and international VR/AR companies to showcase, communicate, and collaborate, and creating a global VR/AR interactive community to promote industry development.

May 14th-15th, 2026

We look forward to reuniting with you

at the Shanghai Convention & Exhibition Center of International Sourcing

Join in the grand event

Expo official website: www.vrarexpo.cn

Exhibition consultation phone: 13146398132