Better Tech™: Advancing Smart Technology for Government

August 7, 2026

Government Applications of Intelligent Wearable Technology

Government organizations are evaluating AI and emerging technologies that can improve accessibility, communication, information access, and service delivery. Intelligent wearable technology represents a developing category within this environment, combining specialized hardware with AI, software, and connected services to deliver capabilities directly within the user's field of view. Smart glasses can provide real-time speech transcription, multilingual translation, accessibility support, AI-enabled assistance, and heads-up information, allowing users to access communication and information without relying exclusively on a separate computer or mobile device. Better Tech evaluates, integrates, and delivers best-in-class AI hardware and software, connecting government organizations with proven technologies that address defined operational requirements.

Department of Veterans Affairs: Demonstrated Accessibility Application

The Department of Veterans Affairs provides a documented example of smart-glass technology being applied to a government accessibility requirement. In February 2026, the Atlanta VA Health Care System completed its first fitting of live-captioning glasses for a Veteran with severe to profound hearing loss. VA reported that the glasses provide real-time speech-to-text captions within the user's field of vision, enabling the Veteran to follow spoken communication during interactions with VA personnel. The documented deployment demonstrates an established application of wearable technology within a U.S. government healthcare environment and provides a relevant reference point for evaluating additional accessibility and communication applications.

Communication Access and Language Support

The capabilities available through current smart-glass platforms extend beyond live captioning. Better Tech's aligned technologies can combine real-time transcription, multilingual translation across 100+ languages, accessibility support, AI capabilities, and heads-up information within wearable hardware. For government environments, these capabilities can support communication access for Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals while also addressing language-access requirements during interactions between personnel and individuals who speak different languages. This expands the application of smart glasses from a dedicated accessibility device into a broader communication technology platform.

Hardware and Infrastructure Considerations

Smart-glass deployments can be configured according to the requirements of the intended environment. Better Tech offers camera-free configurations for applications where wearable communication and display capabilities are required without visual recording. Applicable solutions can also leverage Microsoft government cloud infrastructure for AI-enabled services and supporting data environments. These architectural options allow the technology to be evaluated according to the agency's operational, security, privacy, infrastructure, and deployment requirements rather than as a standalone consumer device.

Operational Integration

The value of intelligent wearable technology depends on how effectively it integrates into the workflow in which it is being used. A government deployment may require coordination among the wearable device, microphones and display, software, AI services, connectivity, cloud infrastructure, device management, accessibility requirements, and existing agency systems. Better Tech evaluates these components in relation to the defined use case and supports integration of the selected technology into the intended operating environment.

Government Use Cases

Smart glasses can support government requirements involving accessibility, language access, healthcare communication, public-facing services, field operations, and other workflows where personnel or members of the public require immediate access to spoken information, translated language, or digital information while remaining engaged with their surroundings. The specific application, hardware configuration, software capabilities, and supporting infrastructure are determined by the agency requirement and operating environment.

Technology Evaluation, Integration, and Delivery

Better Tech provides a structured pathway for bringing qualified commercial technology into government applications. We evaluate available products against the mission, users, technical requirements, and operating environment; integrate the selected hardware, software, AI, and supporting infrastructure; and deliver the resulting technology for its intended application. This model enables government organizations to evaluate emerging wearable technology against defined requirements while providing technology partners with a channel for qualified government applications, pilots, and procurement opportunities.

Verified U.S. Government References

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — Atlanta VA Health Care System, 2026: VA documented its first fitting of live-captioning glasses for a Veteran with severe to profound hearing loss and reported that the glasses provide real-time speech-to-text captions within the user's field of vision. Atlanta VA — Live-Captioning Glasses

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — Artificial Intelligence, 2026: VA's public AI program documents its AI inventory, governance, strategy, and applications across the Department. VA — Artificial Intelligence

U.S. Government Accountability Office — Artificial Intelligence Acquisitions, 2026: GAO reviewed federal AI acquisitions and examined agency approaches to acquiring AI capabilities from commercial technology providers. GAO — Artificial Intelligence Acquisitions

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — Strategy for Adopting High-Impact Artificial Intelligence, 2026: VA's strategy addresses AI adoption, governance, infrastructure, workforce readiness, and the scaling of high-impact applications across the Department. VA — Building the Future: VA's Strategy for Adopting High-Impact AI

Legal & Use Notice

This publication is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal, financial, procurement, cybersecurity, accessibility, safety, or other professional advice. Government statistics, agency results, and documented use cases are attributed to their respective sources and are not claims of results achieved by Better Tech unless expressly stated. Product capabilities may vary by model, software version, configuration, and technology partner. Government organizations should conduct the technical, security, privacy, accessibility, procurement, safety, infrastructure, and operational assessments applicable to their specific deployment requirements. References to potential applications or benefits do not guarantee performance, savings, compliance, or other outcomes.