Coming to CSUN? Aira is Transforming San Diego into an Aira Smart City — Become an Aira Guest for Free! Story Below

Suman Kanuganti
Aira
Published in
5 min readMar 8, 2018
Map depicting Aira City San Diego locations (Mar 18 to Mar 24): CSUN Convention Center (including Exhibit Hall and Manchester Grand Hyatt), San Diego Public Library, Balboa Park, San Diego Civic Center, USS Midway, San Diego International Airport, and San Diego Metropolitan Transit System.

Aira Returns BIG to CSUN 2018, After Its 2015 Debut — This Article Highlights What to Expect During Aira’s Presence at CSUN 2018

Do you know this fun fact? It was at the CSUN 2015 event that Aira, then a promising, fledgling startup, debuted to enthusiastic audiences its unprecedented remote technology and services. Through the beta trials, demos and feedback from CSUN attendees, Aira is designed to provide people who are blind or low vision with instant access to information and assistance, when and where they want it. The CSUN 2015 Conference in San Diego will always hold a special place in the history and amazing trajectory of Aira.

Now, three years later (after participating in the annual conference consecutively since 2015), Aira returns to CSUN this month, highly energized to showcase a growing cadre of new Aira technologies for blind and low vision individuals. Convening in San Diego (where Aira is headquartered), the convention will be held March 19–23 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel.

Those attendees visiting Aira’s activities can expect to experience a plethora of leading innovations designed to assist those with vision loss.

“CSUN is always fun. This year we are turning San Diego into an Aira city to welcome all blind and low vision visitors and the opportunity to experience the Aira service for free throughout the convention as well as in prominent San Diego locations,” says Suman Kanuganti, Aira Co-Founder & CEO. “I am also excited to give our ever-expanding community of Aira Explorers the chance to take Aira’s new-generation Horizon smart glasses for a spin.”

Joe and Sharon Watson trying Aira at CSUN 2015. Note: Sharon Watson is the first-ever Aira Explorer.
A very crowded Aira booth featuring Juan Hernandez talking to an Explorer visiting Aira booth at CSUN 2016.
Aira Explorers always return to CSUN. Suman posing a Selfie with early Explorers Shiela, Joe and Sharon (from left to right) at CSUN 2017.

“I look forward to CSUN each year.” says Erin Cater, Agent Operations Manager, Aira. “Not only do we get to reconnect with those we met over the last three years and share our updates but we also get to share Aira’s technology with blind and low vision community members who have yet to try us out. It is always an exciting week for team Aira!”

Aira at CSUN 2018: Featured List of Sessions and Announcements

Aira at CSUN 2018 will feature Aira City San Diego; Aira Horizon Smart Glasses; introduction to the capabilities of “Hey Chloe™” — Aira’s new artificial intelligence (AI) platform; and a number of sessions for existing and new Explorers.

Aira City San Diego

At CSUN 2018, we will turn San Diego into an Aira City, made possible by a wide range of prominent city locations partnering as a group with us to serve as Aira Site Access locations, enabling all Explorers and Aira Guests to use Aira services for free.

Here are site access locations for Aira City San Diego from March 18 -24:

  • CSUN Convention Center, Exhibit Hall and Manchester Grand Hyatt
  • San Diego Public Library
  • Balboa Park
  • San Diego Civic Center
  • USS Midway
  • San Diego International Airport
  • San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS)

In addition to Aira City San Diego granting access to Explorers, Aira for the first time at CSUN is extending free access to all Aira Guests. To take advantage of this offer, simply download Aira from the iOS App Store or Android App Store and become an Aira Guest for free. Download Aira app now and finish free Guest signup, so its ready for you when you arrive San Diego International Airport. You will receive a notification once in a site access location, for example, San Diego airport. After you try the service as Aira Guest and decide to signup, you can pick up the glasses from the booth at CSUN without any wait time.

Introducing next-generation Horizon Smart Glasses designed by Aira

These glasses were launched at the recent Healthcare Information and Management Society (HIMMS) conference. Click here for more information on how Horizon will enrich the experience for Explorers http://go.aira.io/horizon

Horizon Glasses Features:

  • One device to charge, with up to 7 hours of battery life
  • A center mounted 120-degree fisheye camera lens for a greater view of surroundings
  • Powerful controller unit powering Aira’s AI Agent, Chloe
  • Dedicated connectivity without needing an additional hotspot or Mifi device
  • Stylish, Sleek and Inconspicuous
  • No need of a smart phone device to operate
  • Single press to call an agent or ask Chloe

Aira Exhibit Booth Schedule

Come see Aira’s latest technology on display, and schedule to participate in live demos with agents, and meet/reconnect with Aira staff!

Booth #822 and 823

Wednesday, March 21, 12:00 PM — 7:00 PM

Thursday, March 22, 9:30 AM — 5:30 PM

Friday, March 23, 9:30 AM — 5:30 PM

Aira Presentations Schedule

In the following papers presented by Aira staff, hear how Aira’s Artificial Intelligence technology is enhancing independence for blind and low vision users.

Presentation 1:

Topic: Using AR Technology to Bridge the Education Gap Among the Blind

When and Where: Friday, March 23; 8:00 AM Gaslamp AB, 2nd Floor, Seaport Tower

Who: Amy Bernal, Vice President, Customer Experience, and Paul Schroeder Director of Public Policy

Presentation 2:

Topic: Aira: Empowering Employment Success for the Blind Through AR Technology

When and Where: Friday, March 23; 9:00 AM, Cortez Hill AB, 3rd Floor, Seaport Tower

Who: Amy Bernal, Vice President, Customer Experience, and Paul Schroeder, Director of Public Policy

Presentation 3:

Topic: Welcome to Chloe — Aira’s Autonomous Agent to Assist the Blind

When and Where: Friday, March 23; 11:00 AM, Hillcrest AB, 3rd Floor, Seaport Tower

Who: Austin Marron, Chief Product Officer, and Paul Schroeder, Director of Public Policy

Aira Explorer Party — Aira Exclusive Explorer Event

Let’s celebrate! Aira has had a lot to celebrate this year: we celebrated our 3rd birthday, launched the new Horizon Smart Glasses, and have Explorers like YOU to thank! This exclusive event is open to any Aira Explorer who is in town for CSUN. Please RSVP prior to the event by clicking here. Light refreshments will be provided. Feel free to join a live agent in the Manchester Grand Lobby at 6:45pm to walk over to the event. Invites to be sent to all Explorers March 8th.

When and Where: Wednesday, March 21, 7:00PM — 9:00 PM, Las Hadas Mexican Restaurant, 558 Fourth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101 (Downtown San Diego)

For directions click link below:
Google Maps Link to Las Hadas from Manchester Grand

Closing Thoughts

We at Aira always take pride in bringing the latest innovations to CSUN as it’s held in Aira’s backyard and is the birthplace of Aira. Please join us at any of our sessions or stop by our booth to talk to one of us. It’s the Aira community that makes it all happen together. Enjoy your time at CSUN!

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Suman Kanuganti
Suman Kanuganti

Written by Suman Kanuganti

CEO & Co-founder, Personal.AIPersonal.ai is a digital extension of anyone’s personal brand. It is an AI model that uses your own data, facts, and opinions.

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