Episode #2722
Episode 2722: David Furukawa ~ Hear2There Assistive Technology Takes People with Disabilities Beyond Vision to Destination & Adventure
The Des Moines Register , T he Columbus Dispatch , Peachtree Corners Magazine: featured this first-of-its-kind citywide rollout in Peachtree Corners, Georgia.. At Hear2There (H2T), their mission is deeply personal. It began with David Furukawa, a dedicated medical professional whose journey took an unexpected turn when he was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa at age 23. Determined not to let vision loss define his future, David built a successful career in medicine, serving thousands of patients and later working at the Emory Eye Center, bridging the gap between doctors and visually impaired individuals. In 2013, as David’s vision loss reached its final stages, tragedy struck. While crossing the street with his 4-year-old son, a car ran a stop sign. His guide dog, Simon Peter, heroically sacrificed himself to protect them. This heartbreaking event became a catalyst for change. Determined to improve safety, confidence, and independence for people with visual impairments, David partnered with his longtime friend Chris Webb, an accomplished engineer and entrepreneur. Together, they founded Foresight Augmented Reality and later created H2T—a company dedicated to revolutionizing accessibility through advanced indoor navigation and orientation technology. David Furukawa was diagnosed at age 14 with a retinal degenerative disease, Retinitis Pigmentosa. David has worked hard to not allow his progressive vision loss to impair his goals and accomplishments. Graduating from Valdosta State University with a B.S. in Biology/Zoology, David studied many ecosystems and how the surrounding animal life is impacted by our environment. He has been able to draw parallels on how animals adapt to the challenges and obstacles in their own environment. His graduate studies at the Medical College of Georgia prepared him for a professional career as a staff physician assistant: first in Internal Medicine at Kaiser Permanente, and then in the field of Ophthalmology for the Emory Eye Center for 17 years. Providing direct support to the many physicians and surgeons at Emory enlightened David in his quest for not only finding a treatment and cure for his own eye disease, but to also develop practical technologies that will enhance and improve activities of daily living. This desire to help others experiencing the same daily struggles as himself, led David to partner and consult with Foresight Augmented Reality. David currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife Kate, a local Realtor, and teenage son William, an airplane enthusiast and aspiring pilot. © 2026 Building Abundant Success!! 2026 All Rights Reserved Join Me on ~ iHeart Media @ https://tinyurl.com/iHeartBAS Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/yxuy23ba
