Be My Eyes is a free mobile application that connects blind, low-vision, and visually-impaired users with sighted volunteers and professional support, enabling them to receive immediate visual assistance via live video chat. This simple, easy-to-use app can significantly enhance the daily living of visually-challenged individuals, by helping them overcome various obstacles, such as reading instructions, distinguishing colors, navigating new surroundings, or checking expiry dates. Recently, a new feature has been added, called "Virtual Volunteer" that is powered by OpenAI's GPT-4. It enables users to send images via the app to an AI-powered Virtual Volunteer, which instantly provides identification, interpretation, and conversational visual assistance for a wide variety of tasks. Besides its main purpose, Be My Eyes also supports corporate volunteering and offers a suite of business solutions that can bring inclusivity and accessibility to companies of all sizes, from virtual volunteering for employees to video support tools for CX teams. Also, Be My Eyes is currently running a GoFundMe campaign to develop a wearable device that would provide hands-free video cameras to any low-vision students across the globe for free. Overall, Be My Eyes is a valuable tool that promotes social inclusivity, empowering people with visual impairments to overcome daily challenges, and enhancing their abilities to lead more independent lives.
F.A.Q (20)
Be My Eyes is a free mobile application that enables blind, low-vision, and visually-impaired users to connect with sighted volunteers and professional support for immediate visual assistance through live video chat.
Be My Eyes assists visually impaired users through a network of sighted volunteers. Users can request help for a multitude of tasks, and volunteers provide guidance and visual interpretation via a live video chat. Recently, Be My Eyes introduced the AI-powered 'Virtual Volunteer' feature for instantaneous identification and conversational visual assistance.
The Virtual Volunteer feature is a recently added feature in Be My Eyes. It's an AI-powered tool that allows users to send images, which the AI then analyzes and provides instant interpretation and visual assistance.
The Virtual Volunteer feature is powered by OpenAI's GPT-4. It uses image-to-text generation capabilities to identify and interpret images sent by users. This provides instant visual assistance, making Be My Eyes even more versatile and valuable for visually-impaired users.
The AI-powered Virtual Volunteer can assist with a wide variety of tasks, including but not limited to, identifying and interpreting images, reading instructions, distinguishing colors, and navigating new surroundings.
Yes, sighted individuals can become volunteers on Be My Eyes. By installing the app, you can provide visual assistance to blind or low-vision users. As a volunteer, you may assist with various tasks such as checking expiry dates, distinguishing colors, reading instructions or helping users navigate unfamiliar environments.
Be My Eyes promotes social inclusivity by empowering blind, low-vision, and visually-impaired individuals to overcome daily challenges. By connecting them with sighted volunteers for immediate visual assistance, it helps make the world more accessible, supporting visually-challenged individuals in leading more independent lives.
Be My Eyes' GoFundMe campaign aims to develop a wearable hands-free video camera that they plan to provide free of charge to low-vision students worldwide.
Be My Eyes supports corporate volunteering by offering a platform where employees can volunteer their time to assist blind and visually-impaired users. This unique volunteering opportunity fosters inclusivity, empathy, and global social responsibility.
Be My Eyes offers a suite of business solutions from virtual volunteering for employees to video support tools for Customer Experience (CX) teams. This can foster better customer relationships, improve client support, and promote accessibility and inclusivity within the organization.
Yes, Be My Eyes is available for both Android and iOS devices. Users can download the app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
Be My Eyes offers support globally, extending its services to users and volunteers from more than 150 countries worldwide.
Video support tools for CX teams' implies that Be My Eyes provides tools that assist Customer Experience (CX) teams in delivering remote visual support options, thereby improving their interaction and service for visually-impaired customers.
Yes, the visual assistance provided by Be My Eyes is available day and night, ensuring that visually-impaired users can get help whenever they need it.
Yes, apart from assistance from sighted volunteers, Be My Eyes also facilitates connections to Specialized Help Partners for professional support.
In the Be My Eyes app, volunteers cannot specifically choose the tasks they want to assist with. As a sighted volunteer, you might be asked to help with various issues, from checking expiry dates and distinguishing colors to reading instructions or helping users navigate new environments.
The Be My Eyes Community is a platform that brings together blind, low-vision, and sighted users from across the globe. It features stories, blogs, and podcasts that help inspire and spread awareness about living with visual impairment.
Be My Eyes supports over 180 languages, making the app accessible to a global user base.
Companies like Genesys, National Federation of the Blind, P&G, Salesforce, RNIB, Microsoft, Google, Zendesk, Barilla, Verizon, NHS, and Clearblue are currently partnered with Be My Eyes.
Businesses can benefit from partnering with Be My Eyes in many ways. They can use it as part of their corporate volunteering programs, enabling employees to contribute to a socially responsible initiative. Businesses can also be part of 'Specialized Help' and provide professional support to the users, thereby enhancing their customer service and brand reputation. Furthermore, Be My Eyes can be a valuable tool for businesses to boost their accessibility and inclusivity efforts.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Free mobile application
Connects users with professionals
Full live video chat
Helps with reading instructions
Helps in distinguishing colors
Helps navigating new surroundings
Helps in checking expiry dates
Features Virtual Volunteer powered by GPT-4
Identification
interpretation
conversational assistance
Supports corporate volunteering
Inclusivity and accessibility for companies
Video support tools for CX teams
Plans to develop wearable device
Promotes social inclusivity
Enables more independent lives for visually impaired