How Image Recognition and AI is Transforming the Lives of Blind People

A demo of the Orcam MyEye 2.0 was one of the highlights at the AbilityNet/RNIB TechShare Pro event in November. This small device, an update to the MyEye released in 2013, clips onto any pair of glasses and provides discrete audio feedback about the world around the wearer. It uses state-of-the-art image recognition to read signs and documents as well as recognise people and does not require internet connection. It's just one of many apps and devices that are using the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to transform the lives of people who are blind or have sight loss.

the new Orcam MyEye clips onto a standard pair of glasses and can recognises every day products

Last week, we took a look Microsoft’s updated free app Seeing AI and its amazing new features for people who are blind or have sight loss, including colour recognition and handwriting recognition. The app proved popular with AbilityNet’s head of digital inclusion, Robin Christopherson. 

And it's not the only innovation that is helping blind people. In the last few years we’ve seen popular and loved apps such as TapTapSee powered by Cloudsight.ai image recognition. This app allows users to take a photo and the details of what and who is in the photo are then spoken to the user. Similarly, Aipoly Vision app gives real time image recognition using Deep Learning. 

New smaller Orcam MyEye

Version 2.0 of the MyEye can clip onto a standard pair of glassesAt TechShare Pro, Orcam, the makers of AI vision tech MyEye who've recently launched MyEye 2.0, gave delegates an advance look at the updated tech before launch (6 December). The MyEye 2.0 consists of a very small camera and microphone attached to a pair of glasses linked to a smaller processor that can be clipped onto the body. A user can point to text, for example on a menu or notice board, and will hear a computerised voice read out the information. The device can also recognise faces, money and other objects.

Presenting the technology, Leon Paull, Orcam’s international business development manager, said: “You can teach it to identify certain items and it will find those in a supermarket. It’s ability to find products has been enhanced. The device is being used all around world and the new version understands multiple languages and can read barcodes and has colour recognition." 

He used simple hand gestures to work the technology, such as pointing a finger towards a page to have the text on the page read discreetly into his ear. With a wave of his hand, the system then stopped reading out text. He looked at his wrist to mime that he wanted to know the time, and MyEye 2.0 spoke the time. 

The MyEye 2.0 builds on the previous model for blind people, offering a more discreet and portable device with no wires. It currently costs around £3,000, but the creators say they are hoping funders will come forward so the devices can be provided at a cheaper cost or for free. 

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