The Rise of Be My Eyes, The App Changing the Game for Blind People

Be My Eye is a beacon of hope for the visually impaired community, improving the way they interact with their environment. This app has become a lifeline for millions of people by connecting them to a community of sighted volunteers and AI-powered assistance, making daily tasks easier for the blind.

Here’s how it works: the online community of sighted volunteers receives photos or videos from randomly assigned affected individuals. Their role is to assist them in carrying out each of these tasks through live chat and voice recordings. 

Be My Eye is revolutionizing the lives of blind and visually impaired people worldwide. With over 8.3 million volunteers and 750,000 users across 150 countries, the app has become a lifeline for those seeking visual assistance.  These sighted community members aid the blind and visually impaired in reading labels, navigating unfamiliar environments, identifying objects, and describing a person. 

The Origin Of Be My Eye

Founded in 2015 by Hans Jorgen Wiberg, Be My Eye was born out of sheer desire for inclusion between the visually impaired community and the sighted community. Wilberg, driven by this passion for accessibility, teamed up with the Danish Association of the Blind and other organizations to create an app that would provide real-time visual assistance. This revolutionary innovation is on the watch list of ideas bold enough to shape the world in 2026.

In early 2016, the app gained traction, and its user base spread across several countries. By 2021, Be My Eyes had received Apple’s Best Social Impact App award. In 2023, they launched Be My AI, integrating OpenAI’s GPT-4 for image descriptions and context-specific help. In the same year, Time’s Best Inventions of 2023 recognized Be My Eyes for its impact. 

Navigating the Be My Eyes App

Using the Be My Eyes app is simple. This is the step-by-step guide on how to navigate through the app with such ease.

• Allow the app to access your location, microphone, camera, and Gallery. 
• You will be asked to select your preference: blind, visually impaired, or sighted volunteer.
• Download the app to your phone or computer. Next, set up an account based on your specific needs.
• On the main screen, you’ll see options like “Ask for Help” for blind and visually impaired users and “Be a Volunteer” for sighted users.

To connect with a sighted volunteer, click the “Ask for Help” icon. A volunteer will reach out to you via live video call.

• To volunteer, tap “Be a Volunteer” to connect with someone in need. As a sighted volunteer, you have the option to accept or decline based on your availability.

Some additional tips:

• To use the Be My Eye app, ensure stable connectivity for a smooth video call experience
• Use headphones or an earpiece for clearer audio
• Explore the app’s features and customize it to your experience

The major advantages of the Be My Eyes app

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My Eye app offers several benefits like:

• Virtual assistance: Be My AI serves as an AI-powered assistant tailored to work-based needs.
• Human-based assistance offers live video calls with sighted volunteers who can help with tasks like reading labels, identifying objects, and navigating unfamiliar environments.
• Service directory: This feature connects a user to partner companies like Microsoft, Meta, and Hilton for more specialized support.

The Power of Community-Driven Innovation

Be My Eyes goes beyond being just an app, it’s a movement. It is part of the innovation stories shaping the continent. It stands out among other accessibility apps by offering real human assistance, AI-powered features, and a broad range of partnerships, all within a user-centric design that empowers independence and confidence for blind and visually impaired individuals. 

Imagine being able to navigate the world independently, without relying on others for help. For millions of blind and visually impaired individuals, this is now a reality thanks to Be My Eyes, a groundbreaking app that’s changing the game of accessibility.

Breaking Down Barriers 

Be My Eyes has broken down barriers and empowered blind and visually impaired individuals to lead more independent lives. Measuring impact in assistive technology involves evaluating how effectively a solution improves the lives of individuals with disabilities. Over 1 million hours of volunteer assistance provided, equivalent to over 114 years of support. It is a shining example of how community-driven products can drive social impact and scale globally.

The Be My Eyes success story offers valuable lessons for:

• Accessibility advocates: They drive change and promote inclusion by building community engagement and partnerships, which are essential keys to driving change and promoting inclusion.
• Social impact founders: By building strong communities and using technology to amplify their impact, founders can create more sustainable and scalable solutions.
• Investors: For any investor, it is important to look for products that address pressing social issues and have a clear path to scale, ensuring maximum impact and return on investment. And this is one important factor an investors consider.

As learners, it’s important to follow practices and protocols that professionals have tested and refined over the years. With a clear track record for excellence and success. 

Measuring the impact of Be My Eyes

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Measuring impact in assistive technology involves evaluating how effectively a solution improves the lives of individuals with disabilities. Key impact of assistive technology are as follows:

• User Outcomes: The technology focuses on metrics like increased independence, improved quality of life, and enhanced participation in daily activities.
• Adoption Rates: The user interface is tracked widely by how it’s used by the targeted audience.
• Feedback and Iteration: It is a step used by Be My Eyes where they collect user feedback to refine and improve their technology.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Evaluating the cost of technology relative to its benefits and impact.

Common metrics used by Be My Eyes include:

• User satisfaction surveys help to gather feedback on usability and effectiveness.
• Usage analytics that tracks engagement and usage frequency.
• Independence metrics measure tasks each user can perform independently within the technology.

Many accessibility tools struggle with adoption, cost, and reach. Be Your Eyes scaled through these different stages to offer the blind and visually impaired a sense of inclusion. No matter how groundbreaking your idea may be, without the proper funding and projection to scale that idea into a full-blown reality, it can be as good as offering nothing.

Be My Eyes offers a wide range of features, including multilingual support, which expands its language capabilities to serve a more diverse user base.