Young Nigerian tech innovator Khalifa Aminu has unveiled Glass V2, the second generation of his sensory glasses developed to help visually impaired people detect obstacles and navigate their surroundings more independently.
The new prototype builds on a project that first brought Aminu international attention in 2024, when the Kano-based inventor demonstrated sensory glasses made using relatively inexpensive electronic components. His original device combined ultrasonic and infrared sensors to identify obstacles and alert the wearer through sound.
Now 20, Aminu says Glass V2 takes the project further by incorporating artificial intelligence and improved tracking capabilities intended to give users greater awareness of their surroundings. The latest development comes as he continues experimenting with AI-enabled electronic systems and seeks financial and technical backing to move his inventions beyond prototypes.
Details about Glass V2’s full specifications, independent testing and production cost have not yet been publicly documented by established technology or scientific publications. The original glasses, however, were tested by a visually impaired man in Aminu’s community, whose feedback prompted the young inventor to consider improvements including smaller components, a wireless switch and better user alerts.
Khalifa Aminu began working on the concept around 2023 after observing the mobility challenges faced by visually impaired people in his community in Kano. He initially built the glasses from materials he could obtain locally and without access to formal engineering facilities or substantial institutional funding.
His work soon attracted the attention of Nigeria’s National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, which invited him to Abuja in 2024 to demonstrate the technology and indicated an interest in supporting its assessment and development. The commission has been working to encourage local production of assistive technologies as part of efforts to make such devices more affordable and accessible in Nigeria.
The project also earned Aminu private support. The Kano Patriotic Front provided equipment, a laptop, workspace support and sponsorship for his education and further inventions. Khalifa Aminu also met former Nigerian Communications and Digital Economy Minister Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami to present his work and seek mentorship.
Glass V2 is part of a wider portfolio Aminu has been developing from Kano. He has previously demonstrated a radio transmitter, agricultural spraying technology and other experimental electronic systems. More recently, in July 2026, he showcased what he calls a Smart AI Tracking System, built around GPS, mobile connectivity and AI technology.
For Nigeria, Aminu’s work enters an assistive-technology market where affordability remains a major constraint. Sophisticated electronic navigation aids can be expensive, particularly when imported, while maintenance and replacement components create additional costs. Locally designed devices have the potential to reduce those barriers if they can progress through engineering validation, user testing, certification and commercial manufacturing. That next stage is important for Glass V2. Moving from a working prototype to a product used by visually impaired people will require more than investment. The glasses will need extensive testing across different environments, reliable obstacle detection, comfortable hardware, dependable battery performance and input from visually impaired users themselves.
Aminu is seeking support to continue refining the technology and eventually move towards wider production. Two years after his first sensory glasses attracted attention beyond Nigeria, Glass V2 shows that the original project has not remained a one-off invention. The harder task now is turning that continuing experimentation into an assistive product that can be independently tested, manufactured affordably and used reliably by the people it was designed for.
