An eye-opening app produced by a non-profit startup in Copenhagen hopes to change life for people who are visually impaired. Hans Jørgen Wiberg, who is visually impaired himself, came up with the idea for the application. Through his work at “The Danish Association of the Blind” he recognized, that visually impaired often need help to cope with everyday tasks and he believed technology could help.

This apps works by allowing a person with impaired vision to use direct video to reach a volunteer with sight. The app lets volunteers “see” for the blind person with the smartphone’s live video function. Be My Eyes can help tasks, like reading labels or finding the right can on a shelf, become easier.

The virtual-assistance component of Be My Eyes helps people who are blind keep their independence because they are still able to complete tasks on their own while just “borrowing” the eyes of a volunteer with sight. The app focuses more on working together than volunteers doing something completely for someone else. This attitude—that people can work together to solve tasks, and that people who are blind can still do things on their own—is what will make a difference. 

Now, Be My Eyes is available for FREE in the AppStore. It’s currently available for iPhone 4s and newer, but the creators plan to create an Android version. If you are interested in learning more about Be My Eyes check out their website http://bemyeyes.com/.

The FREE Ability Tools Norther California will have an in-person presentation and demo by Be My Eyes on Thursday, June 1st, 2017 at the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers. For registration details, please visit Ability Tools’ Training Registration Web Page at http://abilitytools.org/training/training-registration.php