A recent controversy surrounding Hearview AI glasses and Inmo Go smart glasses has caught the attention of many in the deaf community. It all began when Rica’s Home, a popular social media account, posted a video criticising Hearview for rebranding Inmo Go glasses, stripping them of features, and hiking up the price to an eye-watering $1,799. Meanwhile, Inmo’s original product was available for just $349 – at least until recently.
Inmo’s website showed the glasses priced at $349 as late as November 26th, 2024. But shortly after Rica’s video went viral, Inmo raised the price of their glasses to $1,799 and marked them as “out of stock.” Coincidence? I doubt it. This kind of swift response feels like damage control and raises a red flag.
Why would Inmo make such a sudden change? It almost seems as though they’re trying to protect Hearview’s pricing strategy or avoid being labelled as competitors. If the companies are truly unrelated, you’d think Inmo would have capitalised on the situation by selling more glasses at their original price. Instead, they chose to act quickly and decisively, which only adds to the suspicion that they have some kind of relationship.
Another troubling aspect is how deaf influencers have been promoting Hearview’s product. Many have shared glowing reviews, yet it turns out some of them are sponsored and earning commissions through affiliate discount codes. The lack of transparency feels manipulative, especially given that this product is being marketed to a vulnerable audience who often have no choice but to rely on expensive assistive technologies. This “Deaf Tax” – where assistive devices and services for deaf individuals come with inflated prices – is a recurring problem. Hearing aids, cochlear implants, and even basic items like vibrating alarm clocks are often sold at a premium. Hearview’s pricing seems to follow this exploitative pattern.
A critical point raised by many in the community is whether these glasses truly serve deaf people. While the glasses might provide live captioning, allowing deaf users to understand spoken conversations, they don’t address the other side of communication. For those who use sign language, the glasses don’t offer any features to help hearing people understand them. So, in an emergency or a complex situation, these glasses are not a comprehensive solution.
Instead of investing in expensive devices like these glasses, there are more practical and affordable solutions. For example, using Zoom captions can be a highly effective way to follow conversations. Simply place a device in front of a hearing person speaking, and the captions can help transcribe what is being said. But honestly, it is even more useful to learn sign language as a means of communication.
For medical emergencies, however, the situation remains incredibly difficult. For example, my local GP is completely incapable of securing a BSL interpreter even when an appointment is booked well in advance. We really need better accessibility and support for deaf individuals in critical situations.
The way Hearview and Inmo have handled this situation is troubling. If these companies are connected, they need to come clean about their relationship. The deaf community deserves better than to be treated as a cash cow. Transparency is especially important when influencers are involved. Sponsored content should be clearly marked, and there needs to be accountability for misleading or overly biased promotions.
As someone watching this unfold, I remain suspicious. This whole thing doesn’t sit well with me. If they’re trying to profit from the deaf community without offering meaningful innovation or support, that’s unacceptable. We need to hold these companies – and the influencers promoting them – to a higher standard. Until then, I’ll be giving both Hearview and Inmo a hard pass.
What do you think? Have you tried these glasses or followed the controversy? Share your thoughts below.
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