AI Technology Revolutionising Daily Life for Visually Impaired Individuals
AI technology is revolutionising the daily lives of visually impaired individuals. Be My AI, developed by Be My Eyes, uses ChatGPT to describe images for the visually impaired. Other AI solutions like WeWalk's AI-powered cane are enhancing navigation and independence.
Louise Plunkett, who suffers from Stargardt disease, a genetic eye condition causing progressive vision loss, shares how AI has transformed her daily routines. Plunkett expresses how the condition impacts her ability to recognise people, even her own family members, making everyday tasks challenging.
Plunkett, based in Norwich, is well-versed in digital tools and runs a business advising companies on creating online content accessible to the visually impaired community. She has been using popular services like Alexa, Google Home, and Siri for years, assisting with tasks such as setting alarms and checking the weather. Recently, she has found the Be My AI assistant particularly helpful.
Developed by Danish firm Be My Eyes, Be My AI utilises ChatGPT to generate and read detailed descriptions of images, aiding visually impaired individuals in understanding their surroundings. Plunkett appreciates the independence the AI tool provides, especially in situations where human assistance is not readily available. However, she notes that sometimes AI can provide excessive details, going beyond the basic information needed.
Jesper Hvirring Henriksen, the chief technology officer at Be My Eyes, highlights the shift towards AI tools among their 600,000 users. He mentions instances where users have utilised the app in unexpected ways, such as checking images received on messaging platforms like WhatsApp. Henriksen envisions the future potential of live streaming video, where AI can describe surroundings in real-time, offering a new level of independence to visually impaired individuals.
While AI technology continues to advance, Henriksen emphasises that human connection remains essential. He acknowledges that AI can add complexity, especially for older individuals experiencing vision loss. Despite the benefits of AI, he believes that human volunteers still play a crucial role in providing faster and potentially more accurate assistance.
In addition to Be My AI, other companies are also developing AI-powered solutions to aid the visually impaired. WeWalk, for instance, offers an AI-powered cane that detects obstacles, provides navigation assistance, and updates on public transport. The product manager, Gamze Sofuoğlu, highlights the importance of the cane in promoting independence and autonomy for visually impaired individuals.
Robin Spinks, head of inclusive design at the RNIB, shares his positive experiences with AI tools in his daily life. He mentions using ChatGPT for work-related tasks and the Google Gemini AI tool for locating items. Spinks predicts that 2024 will be the year of "multimodal AI," combining video and image recognition to provide meaningful assistance in various tasks.
AI technology is revolutionising the daily lives of visually impaired individuals.
Be My AI, developed by Be My Eyes, uses ChatGPT to describe images for the visually impaired.
Other AI solutions like WeWalk's AI-powered cane are enhancing navigation and independence.
Source: BBC