People Share Their Experiences With An App That Allows You To Help A Blind Person By ‘Seeing’ For Them
Today, you can get an app for pretty much any need you may have. Whether you want to get some food or groceries to be delivered to you, even if you need advice or you’re looking to find a romantic partner, there’s a variety of apps to help you out with it. But did you know there are also apps that allow you to help somebody else? One of them is called Be My Eyes which allows strangers to help visibly impaired people by being their ‘eyes’.
More info: Instagram | bemyeyes.com | play.google.com | apps.apple.com
There’s an app called Be My Eyes which allows strangers help visibly impaired people by being their ‘eyes’
The app was launched in 2015 with the sole purpose of making the world more accessible to visually impaired people.
Since the app went viral, it now has more than 2 million volunteers who help the 130k visually impaired users
Image credits: Elsmoove_
The app works in a simple way: the visually impaired person makes a video call which is answered by a sighted volunteer from anywhere in the world.
Both the volunteers and visually impaired people shared how this app affected their lives
Since the launch, more than 2,000,000 volunteers have signed up to assist blind and low vision people.
Some of the task blind people need assistance with includes lost or dropped items, reading labels on household products and identifying the expiration date
Currently, there more than 136K visually impaired people seeking help through the app.
With the helpers and helpees ratio being uneven, volunteers only get calls once in a while, however, the people who seek helpers get a response in a matter of seconds.
The idea for an app was conceived by Hans Jørgen Wiberg who is also visually impaired himself.
Be My Eyes unites one of the biggest networks of volunteers who help visually impaired people.
After his blind friend told him that he used video calls to get his family and friends to help him out with mundane tasks, Wiberg thought of this excellent app idea.
He presented it at a Danish startup event which eventually led to the creation of Be My Eyes.
“It’s my hope that by helping each other as an online community, Be My Eyes will make a big difference in the everyday lives of blind people all over the world,” the founder said. Within the first day of the launch, 10,000 users joined. Today, Be My Eyes unites one of the biggest networks of volunteers who help visually impaired people.
According to Be My Eyes website, here are the most common way people use the app:
1. Finding lost or dropped items
For example: Where is the earring back I dropped on the bathroom floor? Where did I put that sports cap?
2. Describing pictures, paintings or other pieces of artwork
For example: What does this sculpture depict? What are the colors or mood of this painting?
3. Matching or explaining colors
For example: Does this shirt match my jacket? Which pair of shoes are the black ones?
4. Reading labels on household products
For example: Is this window or bathroom cleaner? Shampoo or conditioner?
5. Reading on computer screens if websites are inaccessible or screen readers are not available
For example: My laptop restarted unexpectedly – can you walk me through the login screen?
6. Shopping in supermarkets
For example: Which kind of crackers am I buying?
7. Identifying the expiration date on perishable food packages
For example: Is this milk still good? What is the expiration date of my bread?
8. Familiarizing yourself with new places
For example: Is this the street I’m looking for? Where is the power outlet in this hotel room?
9. Distinguishing between food items
For example: Black beans or green beans? Paprika or Cayenne?
10. Finding out when public transportation (busses, trains, etc.) are departing or arriving
For example: How many minutes does the screen say I have until the next train arrives?
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I have just downloaded it, i will sign up shortly, more than happy to help out.
It's an absolutely fantastic idea. 100% want to sign up, but then i read the terms and conditions where they keep the recordings of all the calls and can do with the videos what they want including using any personal information that might be said like names etc. They even have a clause stating that you can only take certain types of legal action against them in the case of a dispute (is that even possible?). I just dont understand why they would have terms and conditions like that when it's such a great idea, based on people helping people, and not harvesting people for data. (Sorry for rant, just thought some people would want to know)
I guess maybe there are mean people who would direct a blind person off the stairs or make the buy the wrong product as a joke?
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Warms my heart to know that there are so many people out there willing to take time out of their busy lives to help someone.. simply for the sake of helping someone. Most people want (or require) some kind of compensation to help anyone, so this was really cool to read.
I took a call from a gentleman standing on the sidewalk trying to find an address. He pointed the phone at a duplex and I advised him to keep walking a few more steps. It was a great feeling to be helpful. So easy!
Is there liability to the App maker if someone lies, for instance, about the expiration date on medication and then the person has an adverse reaction?
I understand your concern - it could be something that horrible people think is funny. Can only hope not. With medication the expiration date is usually to do with reduced efficacy, though obviously that could be just as dangerous in some instances. Isn't it awful that we end up being so cynical?
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This app is wonderful. I’ve only had one call as I was never quick enough to catch the others!
I can't think of a better use of this technology. I'm sure tons of people develop lots more empathy after helping people with the most basic of tasks, like which cd out of a monster stack is the one they want, or which bathroom is men's and which is women's (if the signs are just computer printed).
What an incredible app! We need more apps like this to consume our time vs. games and social media. Imagine if more were made to help others? I love this hard
I don’t think much of humanity, but this is bringing back my faith in people. Not even that someone developed that app per se, but that so many people volunteer as helpers. This is wonderful.
Man, I really hope people dont abuse this app! Like give the people wrong information or something. This is such a good idea. I've said for years that I wish there was more we could do for blind people and this is it! Awesome idea
Yeah that’s my same thought if there isn’t a way to check out who they are
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No, I'm a volunteer in Germany since years. You are asked which languages you speak when you sign up.
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What a terrific idea. It's the little things we take for granted sometimes
Sounds great, it must be so annoying when you just need someone for a moment and it would be solved but there is noone around. My mum gets stuck like that using internet and than she calls me but I cannot always answer. Great idea to help like that through volunteer work. All these people got something back from helping - a very good feeling!
I know I'm cynical, but how long before some idiots think its hilarious to sign up and make blind people pick up buttermilk instead of semi-skim?
They record the calls, according to some of the other posters here .
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don't know how much it is diffused in my home country but I've promptly downloaded
I was going to sign up to this months ago but their privacy policies were really terrible. Hands over access to pretty much anything and everything you do with or store on your phone and allows them to divulge any of that to a third party. When I checked the reviews to see what other people thought about that and if they’d had problems with it and saw lots of reviews from people who received gross calls from pervs exposing themselves. The creepiness of that plus the creepiness of their privacy (or lack of it) policy changed my mind.
Where did you see these? I was just trying to find some feedback on people's experience and didn't find much that wasn't positive.
Load More Replies...
I downloaded the app now :) I am speaking english , polish and german. Hope I can help maybe someday someone .
I've answered three or four, the last one being a lady asking me what a box was that she;d bought at the grocery store. When I answered, "It's a box of cat food," the lady exasperatedly exclaimed that she didn't HAVE a cat. :-) and :-(
I volunteered a few years ago, but the only time I got a call, was when I was unavailable to take it :( I felt like I was letting them down, so de-registered myself. It's such an amazing service though.
I wish there was an Android version! I just cannot justify the cost of an iPhone for what I tend to use it for.
Great idea. I just signed up for it. I have a blind cousin, so I've posted it on FB as well, maybe she can find out about it too. I'm assuming it's mainly US, don't know how many people in the UK know about it yet
I have received my very first call this morning just a couple of days after my subscription. I helped a man walking about 200 meters towards his house, warning him about obstacles like parked cars and such. It was amazing
Question: if i sign up, will i get calls only in my country or worldwide? For instance, i wouldn't know what temperature to set if i got a call from a four-season country. My country only has raining and dry season.
Love this idea but I feel like cruel individuals would sign up and well be jerks
I have just downloaded it, i will sign up shortly, more than happy to help out.
It's an absolutely fantastic idea. 100% want to sign up, but then i read the terms and conditions where they keep the recordings of all the calls and can do with the videos what they want including using any personal information that might be said like names etc. They even have a clause stating that you can only take certain types of legal action against them in the case of a dispute (is that even possible?). I just dont understand why they would have terms and conditions like that when it's such a great idea, based on people helping people, and not harvesting people for data. (Sorry for rant, just thought some people would want to know)
I guess maybe there are mean people who would direct a blind person off the stairs or make the buy the wrong product as a joke?
Load More Replies... Warms my heart to know that there are so many people out there willing to take time out of their busy lives to help someone.. simply for the sake of helping someone. Most people want (or require) some kind of compensation to help anyone, so this was really cool to read.
I took a call from a gentleman standing on the sidewalk trying to find an address. He pointed the phone at a duplex and I advised him to keep walking a few more steps. It was a great feeling to be helpful. So easy!
Is there liability to the App maker if someone lies, for instance, about the expiration date on medication and then the person has an adverse reaction?
I understand your concern - it could be something that horrible people think is funny. Can only hope not. With medication the expiration date is usually to do with reduced efficacy, though obviously that could be just as dangerous in some instances. Isn't it awful that we end up being so cynical?
Load More Replies... This app is wonderful. I’ve only had one call as I was never quick enough to catch the others!
I can't think of a better use of this technology. I'm sure tons of people develop lots more empathy after helping people with the most basic of tasks, like which cd out of a monster stack is the one they want, or which bathroom is men's and which is women's (if the signs are just computer printed).
What an incredible app! We need more apps like this to consume our time vs. games and social media. Imagine if more were made to help others? I love this hard
I don’t think much of humanity, but this is bringing back my faith in people. Not even that someone developed that app per se, but that so many people volunteer as helpers. This is wonderful.
Man, I really hope people dont abuse this app! Like give the people wrong information or something. This is such a good idea. I've said for years that I wish there was more we could do for blind people and this is it! Awesome idea
Yeah that’s my same thought if there isn’t a way to check out who they are
Load More Replies... No, I'm a volunteer in Germany since years. You are asked which languages you speak when you sign up.
Load More Replies... What a terrific idea. It's the little things we take for granted sometimes
Sounds great, it must be so annoying when you just need someone for a moment and it would be solved but there is noone around. My mum gets stuck like that using internet and than she calls me but I cannot always answer. Great idea to help like that through volunteer work. All these people got something back from helping - a very good feeling!
I know I'm cynical, but how long before some idiots think its hilarious to sign up and make blind people pick up buttermilk instead of semi-skim?
They record the calls, according to some of the other posters here .
Load More Replies... don't know how much it is diffused in my home country but I've promptly downloaded
I was going to sign up to this months ago but their privacy policies were really terrible. Hands over access to pretty much anything and everything you do with or store on your phone and allows them to divulge any of that to a third party. When I checked the reviews to see what other people thought about that and if they’d had problems with it and saw lots of reviews from people who received gross calls from pervs exposing themselves. The creepiness of that plus the creepiness of their privacy (or lack of it) policy changed my mind.
Where did you see these? I was just trying to find some feedback on people's experience and didn't find much that wasn't positive.
Load More Replies... I downloaded the app now :) I am speaking english , polish and german. Hope I can help maybe someday someone .
I've answered three or four, the last one being a lady asking me what a box was that she;d bought at the grocery store. When I answered, "It's a box of cat food," the lady exasperatedly exclaimed that she didn't HAVE a cat. :-) and :-(
I volunteered a few years ago, but the only time I got a call, was when I was unavailable to take it :( I felt like I was letting them down, so de-registered myself. It's such an amazing service though.
I wish there was an Android version! I just cannot justify the cost of an iPhone for what I tend to use it for.
Great idea. I just signed up for it. I have a blind cousin, so I've posted it on FB as well, maybe she can find out about it too. I'm assuming it's mainly US, don't know how many people in the UK know about it yet
I have received my very first call this morning just a couple of days after my subscription. I helped a man walking about 200 meters towards his house, warning him about obstacles like parked cars and such. It was amazing
Question: if i sign up, will i get calls only in my country or worldwide? For instance, i wouldn't know what temperature to set if i got a call from a four-season country. My country only has raining and dry season.
Love this idea but I feel like cruel individuals would sign up and well be jerks
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