Throughout his life, Josh Feldman relied on lip reading to understand what someone was saying – but this week, a new product that provides live transcription allowed him to follow a conversation without even seeing the other person's face.

Born with hearing impairment, Feldman got used to lip reading during social interactions. However, it can be difficult to keep up with a world that often fails to accommodate those who are deaf or hard of hearing, especially during a pandemic when face masks were necessary.

Enter the first pair of glasses to come with its own transcriptions: Nreal smart glasses.

Feldman is considered one of the first to preview the glasses. Sitting on a couch, wearing what looks like thick black sunglasses, he had a conversation with a man sitting to his right.

The glasses use augmented reality (AR) technology, and a phone app provides live transcription. Currently, the app is only supported on Android, but the company is seeking approval to use iPhone as well.

Feldman said, "To have a conversation without looking at the person you are talking to is amazing." He can also read conversations conducted over the phone if the phone is on speaker so the glasses can pick up the sound, and according to the company’s website, it can translate any language.

This concept is particularly useful during the COVID-19 pandemic: those wearing face masks cover their mouths, making lip reading impossible.

Dan Scarf, founder and CEO of XRAI Glass, said, "I think the real breakthrough will be when we get smart contact lenses."

"That will be the thing that revolutionizes the tech world. Their prototypes have just started and will become mainstream within the next two to three years." The glasses will be available to the public starting September.