AI ignites a ‘transformation' for certain visually impaired individuals
Louise Plunkett is positioned in front of a hedge, grasping her cane.
AI has assisted visually-impaired Louise Plunkett
“AI has transformed my everyday life,” states Louise Plunkett from Norwich.
Ms. Plunkett has a hereditary eye disorder known as Stargardt disease, a rare ailment that leads to gradual vision impairment, which she notes, “affects everything I do.”
“I can't identify individuals, even my own husband or kids. When my children were little, I had to instruct them on how to approach me when I saw them at the school playground.”
Ms. Plunkett is proficient with digital tools – her business consults firms on making their online content accessible for the visually impaired community.
She has utilized services such as Alexa, Google Home, and Siri for years, assisting with tasks like setting alarms and checking the weather.
Currently, she finds an assistant named Be My AI beneficial.
The app utilizes ChatGPT to create and vocalize detailed picture descriptions.
“I’m really a stubborn individual,” states Ms. Plunkett. “I dislike requesting assistance or acknowledging that I require help, so utilizing the AI tool is beneficial for situations when others aren’t present.”
She mentions she may use it to identify which are the women's restrooms, or to read the ingredients on food labels, or to read a letter.
However, she believes that AI can occasionally be hit or miss. “The drawback of AI is that it can sometimes provide too much information. You may just want the essential details of what is in front of you, but it tends to go beyond, offering up mood and emotions.
“For instance, it might state ‘a swirling carpet recalling memories of the past'. It seems like it is a step too far.”
Be My AI was created by the Danish company Be My Eyes. Its initial service connected human volunteers with clients. Through mobile devices, the volunteers would explain what was in front of individuals with visual impairments.
However, a portion of its 600,000 users are turning to their AI tool for assistance, according to Jesper Hvirring Henriksen, chief technology officer.
“We have a woman who was among our initial users a decade ago, and within the first six months [of launching Be My AI], she completed over 600 image descriptions.”
He’s also realizing users are engaging with the app in unexpected ways. “We’re seeing individuals using it to verify images sent to them in WhatsApp groups,” he states.
“Perhaps they won’t reach out to another person every time to inquire about a picture shared in a WhatsApp group, but they utilize AI.”
A woman raises her phone in front of her eyes – the device shows an image of her eyes.
Image credit, By my Eyes
Image description,
Be My Eyes links volunteers with those who are visually impaired
Regarding its potential future, he mentions that live streaming video – with technology narrating buildings and actions nearby – could be a direction they explore. “This is going to be a gamechanger. It’s like having a small assistant in your pocket all day informing you about what is happening.”
Be My Eyes, available at no cost to users, generates revenue by enrolling businesses in its paid directory service, allowing them to offer information and contacts to the blind and low-vision community.
Mr. Henrikson states AI will not eliminate the necessity for human connection.
“At Be My Eyes, individuals still opt to contact a volunteer as well. The visually impaired community in the Western world tends to be older when they begin facing vision loss… it leans more towards the senior demographic, and this [AI] could introduce an additional layer of complexity. Humans are quicker and possibly more precise.”
A woman with a cane navigates a pedestrian crosswalk
WeWalk is a cane enhanced with AI that identifies obstacles and provides navigation
Other companies also offer solutions to assist individuals with visual impairments.
Equipped with a voice assistant, WeWalk is an AI-driven cane that identifies obstacles and provides accessible navigation along with real-time public transport information.
By linking to a smartphone app with integrated mapping, it can inform users about nearby points of interest, such as the closest café in more than 3,000 cities.
“The cane is essential for us; it aids in navigation and serves as a significant symbol reflecting our independence and autonomy,” states Gamze Sofuoğlu, product manager at WeWalk.
“Our newest edition assists users in navigating the cane through voice prompts; for instance, saying ‘take me home' or ‘the nearest café' activates navigation, and it offers details about public transport. There’s no need to touch your phone. It grants independence for individuals with blindness and low vision.”
Ms. Sofuoğlu, who is visually impaired, mentions she has utilized it in cities she recently visited like Lisbon and Rome.
Robin Spinks, director of inclusive design at the RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People), who has low vision, is a strong supporter of AI – he utilizes AI nearly every day.
For instance, he uses ChatGPT to streamline his workflow, providing him with updates on developments in specific areas related to his job, or even to help organize a paddle board trip, and the Google Gemini AI tool to assist him in finding items.
He states that last year focused on conversational AI and Chat GPT. Now, he believes 2024 will be the year of what he refers to as “multimodal AI.”
He adds: “That could involve displaying video and images, while extracting valuable information and aiding you in an engaging manner.”
He references Google Gemini. “For instance, with that you can capture meetings and it helps with voice labels and a summary of a meeting, it’s truly beneficial and it’s aimed at simplifying lives.”
Mr. Spinks states that AI has been revolutionary for individuals who are blind or have low vision.
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