Recent developments in technology have brought good news for the blind and the visually impaired. An Israeli device to assist such people is the first on the market — and far more inexpensive than alternative technologies being developed.

The OrCam Artificial Vision Device doesn’t actually restore vision, explained Erez Naaman, vice president of engineering at the Jerusalem-based maker of the device. “We do the next best thing — to help the visually impaired navigate the world with a low-cost device and without invasive procedures.”

The miniaturization of processors — which paved the way for smartphones loaded with GPS chips, Wi-Fi connections, accelerometers, and other sensors — has also led to the development of new health-related devices, from watches that record exercise sessions to monitors that use…