Blind assistance apps are another example of how the evolution of technology simplifies the course of life. Are you still surprised by the scope of our digital age today? Undoubtedly, technological advances that are well harnessed produce a positive impact on most everyday tasks.
Why waste the advancement of science and technology to make the condition of those suffering from visual impairments more bearable? This concern inspired Mr. Hans Wiberg to create unprecedented software. Stay with Insiderbits and discover what the app we bring you is all about.
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The blind assistance app you need to know
Is there a blind assistance app? If you are asking yourself this question, we have excellent news—we have it for you! We are talking about Be My Eyes, software capable of connecting the community of patients with visual problems with a group of sighted volunteers willing to help them. This tool is available in the Google Play Store and the Apple Store.
We will focus on explaining how to use the software designed for devices with the Android operating system. We begin by telling you that the app was launched on the market on October 4, 2017, by the eponymous developer By My Eyes. Today, the latest version, 3.0.4, has been available since November 18, 2024.
You must have an Android 7.0 or later device to access the tool. In addition, the app is very popular and accepted among its users. We say this because By My Eyes is rated 4.6 stars and averages over one million downloads. Not bad, right?
Another good point in favor of this blind assistance app is its size: It only takes up to 48 MB. If you are worried about how much a program of this type might cost you, don’t worry—it is 100% free to download and use. Do you want to know how the tool works? Don’t miss the next point to be discussed.
How the blind assistance tool works
The blind assistance app works very simply. It manages contact between a blind person and a volunteer. This interaction begins when the applicant enters the platform and asks for support. The request automatically generates an alert or notification that will be sent to the network of volunteers registered on the platform.
When the first available volunteer accepts the support request, the application puts them in contact with the applicant via video call. Once communication is established with the camera and audio active, the blind or visually impaired person must explain what they need to the volunteer so that the volunteer can provide help.
If you are wondering if the app selects volunteers randomly when a request arises, the answer is no. The tool always seeks to connect applicants and volunteers who speak the same language and are in a similar time zone. What benefits can you get if you are blind? This is our next point to discuss.
Benefits that you can get with the blind assistance app
As the tool’s name indicates, the volunteer becomes the patient’s eyes with limited vision. Both parties agree to resolve any situation through a video call, which is usually an everyday task. Learn about some of the most common situations:
- Support in locating objects that have fallen or been lost.
- Reading labels, recipes, books, digital screens, emails, or other writing.
- Resolving IT issues.
- Describing in detail the colors and shapes of paintings and other works of art.
- Selecting outfits and color combinations for an outing or special event.
- Ordering, paying for, and checking the grocery list.
- Checking the expiration date of some products, especially groceries.
- A detailed description of new spaces in which the blind person must move so they can adapt to a new environment.
- Monitoring the arrival and departure times of public transportation.
- Turning on, using, and turning off appliances such as blenders, irons, and washing machines.
- Exploring the menus of games or televisions.
- Sorting postal mail.
These are some common examples, among many others, of how Be My Eyes can assist blind people. Let’s examine the features of this blind assistance app from the perspectives of the two types of users.
Users with limited visión
The features of the blind assistance app are as follows:
- You can enter the app and request help as many times as you need.
- It lets you access more than a million volunteers who are ready to help you.
- You will receive virtual assistance in almost any language, as the app is available in over 180 languages.
- You do not have to pay for any service within the app; all the attention they will provide you is free.
- You must have a stable internet connection to make your live video calls smoothly.
- Call as many times as you need, regardless of the time. Volunteers offer continuous attention.
- You can call without limits! Talk as much as you need until your problem is solved.
- You will not have to wait hours to get an answer. Each incoming call is answered in less than 1 minute.
How rewarding it is to help those who need it! With this tool, you can see through the eyes of others.
Voluntary user
If you are one of the people on the other end of each call, the blind assistance app works as follows:
- You will receive notifications on your phone whenever you need to assist blind or visually impaired patients.
- If you are the first to answer the video call, the app will refer you to the requester.
- The video call format is one-way. This means you will see what the visually impaired patient shows you with their camera; therefore, you must guide the person to focus correctly.
- You will receive calls between 8:00 am and 9:0 pm, local time.
- The app has many volunteers, so you don’t have to worry if days go by without receiving calls; they are distributed among everyone.
- If you cannot take an order, another available volunteer will take it for you.
- You don’t have to stay in the app all day to receive calls; remember that you will be notified.
Be very patient and dedicated when you receive a call from someone who cannot see as clearly.
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Additional services from Be My Eyes
Do you know the services Be My Eyes offers to assist blind and visually impaired people? We will tell you about a couple of them.
Specialized help
This blind assistance app offers a specialized help platform through which users can access professional assistance. This function is used identically to the one described above. The only change is that calls are answered by someone other than a volunteer or a business services agent.
The customer service agents of the companies registered with Be My Eyes are qualified to provide quick and efficient solutions. Best of all, despite being a specialized service, it is entirely free, just like all the tool features.
Are you interested in accessing the professional help platform? We will explain the step-by-step process to achieve this.
- Enter the Be Me Eyes application.
- Access the home page.
- In the options menu, click on specialized help.
- You will see a list of companies available in your region, their opening hours, available languages, and a description of their services.
- Choose the appropriate company for your case and ask to be contacted. You can also call directly from the company’s website.
The specialized support for this blind assistance platform is currently available in only 12 countries, but the developers are still working on expanding this type of assistance.
Be My AI
This feature assists blind and visually impaired people through an artificial intelligence assistant. The functions of this section are as follows:
- AI assistant integrated into the application, a pioneer in this type of tool.
- Send an image through the Be My AI app and get a detailed description.
- Start conversations with the AI engine.
- Assistance is available at any time.
- Solve tasks and provide timely solutions in 36 different languages.
The application’s AI engine assists blind and visually impaired people in different scenarios, from the most straightforward jobs to tasks requiring more excellent knowledge, such as writing documents, visual descriptions, and translating texts in more than 100 languages.
App awards and accolades
Our App of the Day has received several awards and recognitions over the past few years, which are worth mentioning below.
- Be My Eyes was recognized by Tima Magazine in 2023 as one of the best inventions.
- World Innovative App. Dubai Expo 2020.
- Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award 2018 during the NFB National Convention.
- Accessibility Award according to AbilityNet.
- Google Play Award for the best accessibility experience.
- World Summit Awards 2017, as a representative of inclusion and empowerment.
We celebrate the awards that Be My Eyes has been awarded!
Tool rating
We invite you to review users’ opinions on the Google Play Store. Given that every human being is different, conflicting opinions are not surprising.
Positive comments
Some users are pleased with the app’s performance. Let’s see what they have to say.
- “It’s simply the best. It’s a great visual support option. Easy to use, very complete in its descriptions and readings. The descriptive tone is obvious and completely natural.”
- “From the first moment I saw the app, I thought it was an excellent idea. Today, I received my first call to help configure wifi; it has been an enriching experience to be able to help other people.”
Negative comments
Dissatisfied users also have the right to express their unfavorable points about the blind assistance app.
- “Hello. Unfortunately, since the latest updates with Android 14, the app no longer works to make calls as before. It’s a shame because it was the best tool for this.”
- “It’s an excellent initiative, but there should be the option to rate both the person who needs help and the volunteer who provides the support.”
How much money do you get if you’re legally blind?
Certain countries provide pensions and financial aid to disabled people. In any case, Be My Eyes’ assistance to blind people is invaluable. If you have free time and want to invest it in something productive, you can join the list of volunteers.
If you or one of your relatives, acquaintances, or close friends have a visual disability, they can access the help provided by the blind assistance tool. If you are also looking for support of another kind, we recommend another of our articles entitled BetterMe App Review: A Comprehensive Tool for Mental Wellness.
At Insiderbits, we care about your well-being and those around you.
