Oxford University researchers have started developing a set of bionic glasses that contain technology commonly found in game consoles and smartphones. 

Dr. Stephen Hicks, study leader from the Department of Clinical Neurology at Oxford University, and a team of Oxford researchers, are creating glasses packed with technology that could help those with age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. 

According to NHS Choices, macular degeneration affects approximately 30 percent of people over 75, and an additional 7 percent have advanced macular degeneration. In addition, 239,000 people in the UK are expected to have visual impairment due to macular degeneration this year. 

The glasses utilize technology such as video cameras, face recognition, tracking software, depth sensors and position detectors. All of this technology is now available at a reasonable cost, and Oxford researchers see this as an opportunity to combine such helpful mechanisms with a normal pair of glasses. 

"We want to be able to enhance vision in those who've lost it or who have little left or almost none," said Hicks. "The glasses should allow people to be more independent -- finding their own directions and signposts, and spotting warning signal."

At the corners of the glasses are cameras that capture what the person is looking at. While the person is looking in a certain direction with the glasses on, tiny lights hidden in the transparent lenses offer extra information about the person's surroundings such as objects, obstacles and people. These lights are driven by a smartphone-like computer that stays in the person's pocket, relaying information about the surroundings based on the video images from the cameras. 

The lights display different colors to the wearer in order to let them know what is around them. For instance, there are different colors for people and objects when they come into view of the cameras. Also, the brightness could tell the wearer how close something is. 

In addition, optical character recognition could be used in these glasses, which would allow the computer to read a newspaper headline through the cameras and read the headline back to the wearer through a pair of earphones. 

The main idea behind these glasses is to help those with visual impairments see while being discrete. The glasses will have all the necessary technology to help the wearer see, but it's important to make the glasses look normal and not draw attention. 

"The glasses must look discrete, allow eye contact between people and present a simplified image to people with poor vision to help them maintain independence in life," said Hicks. 

Hicks added that it will take people some time to get used to this type of technology, but believes it will be worth it. Once produced, he estimates that the glasses will cost around £500, but mentions that training a guide dog costs around £25-30,000. 

The glasses are only a concept for now, but scientists are in the midst of building prototypes. This technology is being displayed on large screens with video images at this year's Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition. In addition, ski goggles with a small display as well as an early prototype with a transparent LED array will be on display.