Tech Check
People who have a visual impairment are often dependent on various forms of technology which assist them in navigating a sighted world. Here, we look at apps and other forms of technology through the eyes of those who acutelly use them.
Apps Worth Checking Out
Be My Eyes
The Be My Eyes app offers remote assistance from a team of sighted volunteers. Using your device’s camera, the app sends a video link of what you are viewing to one of the half million volunteer helpers. You point your camera at an object and then ask whatever question you have about the area displayed on the camera. For example, you could ask "Can you help me set my washing machine to the delicate cycle? or "Can you help me fi” d a box of Frosted Flakes on this grocery aisle? Be My Eyes is available as both an iOS and Android app.
Seeing AI
Microsoft's Seeing AI recognizes and speaks text detected by your device’s camera. The app can read small snippets or full pages of text. at a time. It can also read bar codes on grocery items or other product labels, and tell you the product name, and sometimes information such as nutritional facts. Seeing AI also has limited face recognition capabilities. Snap pictures of your friends and family members, label them, and later you can use the app to tell you who's nearby. One setting on the app can describe the scene around you, saying things such "A dog in front of a blue door.” You can also forward photos found in Email or on a social media sites and and Seeing AI will do its best to describe the action and read any text contained in the image. Seeing AI can read the denominations of your bills, tell you the color of clothing or other objects, and even recognize and read most cursive.
KNFB Reader
The KNFB Reader converts printed text to speech or Braille instantly and accurately. It features outstanding OCR (optical character recognition) technology and uses patented image detection technology to quickly and easily detect and decipher printed text anywhere, anytime. The KNFB reader is available for iOS, Android, and Windows 10 devices. The app usually costs $99, but you can often find it discounted up to half off. The Android version also allows you to "try before you buy" with up to 25 free recognitions before you make your purchase decision. https://knfbreader.com/
NEARBY EXPLORER
Although Apple and Google navigation services will meet many travel needs, Nearby Explorer has features that are designed for the blind traveler. Developed by American Printing House for the Blind. This app will share street maps to your device that will help you study how to navigate a new city before you get there. A free version of the app, Nearby Explorer Online (free) is available and the paid version is $79.99. The paid version downloads the maps to your device so you do not need to have a data connection to use it. Nearby Explorer offers many other blind-friendly features. You can point your phone in any direction and hear what stores, restaurants, and other points of interest are located in that direction. With this app, you can also obtain street numbers as you walk past, hear the streets in the next intersection and find out how far away they are. .
BARD Mobile
The Talking Book Library is the oldest producer of accessible books and magazines. In the past, you called your local NLS library and requested a book. Now you can search the catalog yourself and download a book or magazine anytime you like using the BARD Mobile app, developed for both iOS and Android by the National Library Service of the Library of Congress.