Be My Eyes - Visual assistance app

Individuals who are blind or have low vision can now access three essential tools in one platform known as Be My Eyes.

With the innovative Be My Eyes app, over half a million visually impaired individuals worldwide can utilize their smartphones to receive visual descriptions by connecting with more than 7 million volunteers, accessing the latest AI image recognition technology, or engaging with dedicated company representatives for product assistance - all within a single application. Users can connect with volunteers fluent in 185 languages, providing around-the-clock support at no cost.

A groundbreaking feature, 'Be My AI,' is a cutting-edge AI assistant integrated into the Be My Eyes app. Through this feature, blind or visually impaired users can submit images to receive AI-generated visual descriptions and answers across a wide range of tasks in 36 languages. This AI-powered tool offers assistance for various activities, from assessing makeup appearances to translating texts in multiple languages.

Furthermore, the 'Specialized Help' section allows users to directly communicate with official company representatives for accessible customer support through the Be My Eyes App.

Key Features of Be My Eyes:

- Access assistance through multiple channels: connect with a volunteer, chat with Be My AI, or contact a company representative.

- Volunteers and Be My AI available globally 24/7.

- Services are always provided free of charge.

- Support is offered in 185 languages across 150+ countries.

Various Tasks Be My Eyes Can Help With Include:

- Operating household appliances

- Reading product labels

- Identifying clothing items and matching outfits

- Assisting with reading product expiration dates and cooking instructions

- Navigating digital displays, computer screens, TV menus, or game interfaces

- Using vending machines or kiosks

- Organizing music collections or libraries

- Managing paper mail effectively

Testimonials About Be My Eyes:

"It was just amazing that someone from the other side of the world could be in my kitchen and help me with something." - Julia, Be My Eyes User

"Having access to Be My AI has been like having an AI friend by my side all the time describing things to me, giving me unprecedented access to the visual world and helping me be more independent." - Roberto, Be My Eyes User

“The collaboration between Be My Eyes and Microsoft is fantastic! I don’t know what I would have done to fix my PC issues without their help. Well done!” - Gordon, Be My Eyes User

Notable Awards Received By Be My Eyes:

- Recognition in the 2023 Time Magazine Best Inventions list

- Named 2020 Dubai Expo Global Innovator

- Recipient of the 2018 Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award at the NFB National Convention

- Winner of the 2018 AbilityNet Accessibility Award at the Tech4Good Awards

- Earned the 2018 Google Play Awards for "Best Accessibility Experience"

- Awardee of the 2017 World Summit Awards for Inclusion and Empowerment

FAQ

Can I change my availability hours?

When a blind or visually impaired person requests assistance, we send out a notification to several volunteers (usually 10) - the first one who is available and answers the call will be connected. Thanks to this system, the waiting time for the blind to get connected is currently under 15 seconds.

The app is set in a way that all calls are connected anonymously based on language and timezone. Our sighted volunteers will always receive calls in their native language and only during their day-time - between 8am - 9pm. The app will automatically synchronise with the time zone your phone is set to, so there's no need to choose your time zone if you travel. If you are busy or unable to answer the call, don't worry, it will be automatically redirected to another volunteer.

At this point, it's not possible to customize your availability hours.

Do I need to have the app open to receive calls?

No, you don't need to have the app open or running in the background to receive calls. As long as you're logged in, you can receive calls. Please note that it is not unusual for it to take a while before you receive your first call, because of the high number of volunteers.

Why am I not receiving any calls?

Maybe you have been a member of the Be My Eyes Community for a while, but you're still awaiting your first call. Or maybe you have received calls before but suddenly you didn't receive calls anymore. Both circumstances can make you wonder if something is not right or you're doing something wrong. However, both instances are very common.

Because there are so many volunteers in the Be My Eyes Community compared to blind users, it is quite normal for some time to pass before you receive a call or between calls.

How are volunteers selected?

When a blind or low-vision user requests assistance from a volunteer through Be My Eyes, the app will select a batch of volunteers (usually around 10) to send the notification to. The volunteers are selected randomly, however they have to match two criteria:

- They have to speak the same language as the blind or low-vision user

- They have to be located in a time zone where it is daytime.

The app's algorithm will randomly select a batch of volunteers matching these criteria. If none of these volunteers answer the call, a new batch will be selected until the app can make a connection. Thanks to this system, the waiting time for the blind user to get connected is currently around 15 seconds. Short waiting time is a game-changer for them.

How long will it take before I receive a call?

Because volunteers are selected randomly, it's impossible to say how long it will take before you receive a call. It can take anything from one day to several months. Staying on the platform and being available as a volunteer definitely counts. We can only ask for your patience, hopefully, you will catch a call quite soon!

You might actually have received calls you don't know about

Just because you don't see any calls, it doesn't mean that you're not receiving calls. In fact, most volunteers who think they have never received any calls, have actually received calls - they just didn't notice. As soon as another volunteer answers the call, the notification will disappear from your device. So, unless you see the notification popping up, you'll never know that you received the call. The reason we do this is for volunteers to not feel bad about not answering the call and not try and connect after the call has already been answered.