POPULAR aims at developing the first generic Augmented Reality Eyewear (ARE) platform covering the widest range of users and use cases, in professional context, leisure, or in daily life. The ordinary-looking glasses will provide visual, wearable, vestibular, and social comfort, making them suitable for all-day use, including personal ophthalmic correction. Major innovations are related to compactness and invisible technology, optical quality, ultra-low power consumption and long operation times, integrating cost-efficiency aspects as well. SSH aspects will be considered in all stages of the project by using a dual approach with an interplay between Human Driven Design and multidisciplinary system engineering through iterative prototype testing. POPULAR will develop all critical components, namely ultra-low power microdisplay with related optics and electronics, innovative Holographic Lens Mirror, as well as application software, and perform the integration into eyewear prototypes. Demonstration will be achieved by performing end-user tests with the prototypes in 3 realistic use case scenarios: outdoor sports, healthcare, and logistics. The consortium is a unique combination of cross-functional experts, representing the entire value chain. It consists of 10 partners from 4 EU countries, including 4 RTO/ACA, 3 industrial companies of which 2 SMEs, and 3 use-case partners. In addition, an Advisory Board of stakeholders and ethics experts will guide the POPULAR consortium during the main steps of the project. The innovation provided by the project provides a unique chance to the European industry becoming a leader in a growing market of ARE, building on its worldwide leadership in the Eyewear industry and its strong R&D and Innovation capabilities. Through the project demonstrations and the continuous support of the Advisory Board, guidelines covering user, design, market and societal requirements will be developed, supporting deployment in real scenarios.

Mental, cognitive, vision and hearing health problems in elderly people are amongst the top 10 public health challenges in Europe. They frequently occur co-concurrently and have an additive negative effect on quality of life and mental well-being. To address this negative impact, and promote mental well-being, particularly from a gender and minority community perspective, SENSE-Cog's aim is to: (1) understand the inter-relationship of sensory impairments and cognitive and mental health functioning; (2) identify novel means of screening/detection for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes; and (3) translate this knowledge into clinical applications for the mental well-being of EU citizens. Methods: SENSE-Cog will use a ‘mixed methods’ approach with a trans-EU, UK-led, multidisciplinary collaboration of 7 EU countries with academics, SMEs, city government and ‘patient-public voice’ members. We will deliver linked Work Packages (WPs) reflecting 7 themes: (1) exploration: an epidemiological analysis of 5 large EU longitudinal databases to detect risk profiles for good and poor mental health outcomes; (2) assessment: the adaptation/validation of assessment tools for cognition and sensory impairment for vulnerable populations, including the development of a composite e-screen for sensory, cognitive and mental functioning; (3) intervention: a clinical trial of a newly developed ‘sensory support’ intervention; (4) participation: an EU ‘patient and public voice’ and innovative public engagement network to inform the WPs and communicate findings; (5) valuation: health economic and cost effectiveness analyses; & (6) management, governance/ethics. Impact: SENSE-Cog will promote earlier detection of sensory, cognitive and mental impairments to enable swift interventions, prevent deterioration and limit negative impacts.