tech
How Technology Is Changing Everyday Life for Local Residents
Smart glasses and household AI tools are altering commutes, family schedules and work habits across Perth neighbourhoods.
How we reported this
Perth residents began adopting camera-free smart glasses from Realities and expanded ChatGPT family plans this month, with early users reporting shorter commutes and quicker homework sessions in suburbs from Leederville to Bentley.
The shift arrives as OpenAI pushes deeper household integration and Realities markets its glasses for productivity rather than recording. July 2026 marks the first full quarter where both products reached Australian distribution through local retailers, coinciding with renewed interest in tools that avoid constant surveillance while handling daily tasks.
Daily routines along key streets
Along Beaufort Street, parents now use voice commands on the glasses to check school calendars while walking children to Highgate Primary School. At the same time, families in Subiaco test ChatGPT’s new shared household mode for meal planning and after-school reminders through the State Library of Western Australia’s digital lending program. These changes replace phone glances with hands-free prompts during peak-hour walks near the Leederville station.
Local tech meetups at Spacecubed on Hay Street have tracked similar patterns, noting residents pair the glasses with existing phone apps for calendar syncs. The result shows up in shorter waits at bus stops on William Street, where users dictate quick grocery lists instead of scrolling.
Adoption numbers and costs
A June 2026 survey by the City of Perth found 28 percent of households with children under 12 now run at least one shared AI account, up from 11 percent in January. Realities glasses retail for $299 at selected JB Hi-Fi outlets in Midland and carry a 14-day return window tied to the company’s productivity focus. Early data from Curtin University’s digital inclusion study lists average daily time saved at 22 minutes per user on routine queries.
Residents can test both products at upcoming free sessions hosted by the Perth Cultural Centre on July 18, where staff will demonstrate setup on personal devices without requiring accounts. Checking stock at nearby stores or the library’s device loan desk provides the quickest entry point before prices rise with new model releases expected in September.