Microsoft has taken a significant leap forward in revolutionizing accessibility for the visually impaired through this app.
Through their innovative app called Seeing AI, designed with and for the blind and low-vision community, Microsoft harnesses the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to narrate the world around its users.
This ongoing research project has garnered widespread acclaim for its ability to provide independence, empowerment, and an enhanced quality of life to those with sight loss.
Challenges of Visual Impairment
For individuals living with conditions such as Retinitis Pigmentosa, like Jacq Kelly, basic tasks like reading, cooking, and safely navigating the world become formidable challenges.
Kelly shares in a Metro UK piece that the impact of sight loss is not limited to physical obstacles but also extends to emotional and social hurdles, as embarrassing moments and social faux pas can become all too common.
Seeing AI: Features and Functionality
Seeing AI, an application available for download at the App Store, stands as a beacon of hope and assistance for the visually impaired, offering various tools to facilitate daily tasks.
The app's capabilities are diverse and comprehensive, catering to a wide range of needs.
It utilizes the device's camera to provide real-time audio descriptions, enabling users to navigate their surroundings effectively.
One of the core functionalities of Seeing AI is the ability to read short text and documents. The app speaks the content aloud by simply pointing the camera at the text, preserving the original formatting. This feature is invaluable for reading menus, labels, or essential documents.
Additionally, Seeing AI assists in identifying products through barcode scanning. By using audio beeps, the app guides users in capturing barcodes and provides information about the product, including its name and packaging details. This feature empowers individuals with the ability to shop and identify items independently.
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More Useful Features
Facial recognition technology within Seeing AI allows users to save faces, enabling them to recognize people and even estimate their age, gender, and expression. This aspect enhances social interactions by providing valuable context and fostering familiarity.
Furthermore, the app recognizes currency notes, a crucial feature for financial independence. By simply pointing the camera at a banknote, Seeing AI identifies the denomination, empowering users to handle transactions easily.
Navigating the world becomes more accessible with the Scenes feature, where Seeing AI provides an overall description of captured scenes. By moving a finger over the screen, users can explore different objects' locations within the photo, thus enhancing spatial awareness.
The app also introduces an innovative feature called Indoor Navigation, which enables users to create custom routes through buildings. By following sound cues, individuals can confidently navigate from one specific area to another, ensuring greater independence and safety.
Continuous Innovation from Microsoft
Seeing AI is not a static product; Microsoft actively improves and expands its functionality, along with bug fixes every now and then. The app now includes color identification, allowing users to discern colors in their environment.
Additionally, it can read handwritten text in greeting cards, further enriching personal connections.
Moreover, Seeing AI integrates with other apps, enabling users to describe images from various platforms. By simply selecting "Recognize with Seeing AI," users can access image descriptions from applications such as Mail, Photos, and Twitter.
By harnessing the power of AI and incorporating an extensive range of features, Seeing AI sets a new standard for assistive technology.
"The most important thing to bear in mind is, with so many access or mobility aids, Seeing AI isn't infallible," Kelly writes.
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