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Be My Eyes

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Be My Eyes is a Danish mobile app that aims to help blind and visually impaired people to recognize objects and cope with everyday situations. An online community of sighted volunteers receive photos or videos from randomly assigned affected individuals and assist via live chat. The app is currently available for Android and iOS.[1][2]

Be My Eyes
Original author(s)Hans Jørgen Wiberg, Christian Erfurt
Initial release15/01/2015
Operating systemiOS
Android
Available in180 languages
Websitehttps://www.bemyeyes.com/

How it works

A visually impaired person starts a live stream showing their view from their cellphone camera. They are assigned, through a phone call or chat, a random volunteer who speaks the same language and who is in the same time zone. This allows the volunteer to describe an object and assist the visually impaired person, such as guiding the person to move their camera, read instructions, or clean up a spill. Through speech synthesis, content can be read out loud. This process encourages a more independent life for blind and visually impaired people.[3][4][5][6][7][8]

User base

Over 5.7 million volunteers and 400,000 blind or visually impaired people use the app. Over 180 languages and 150 countries are represented.[9]

Development and release

The app was developed and marketed by Hans Jørgen Wiberg. He had demonstrated that although there are video chat software such as Skype and Facetime, none is tailored for the visually impaired. For development, he joined forces with the Danish Association of the Blind, and other organizations.

The app was first presented at an event for start-up companies in 2012 and first released in 2015.[10] A version for Android was released in 2017, in addition to the iOS version.[11]

The company has raised over $650,000, including funding from Silicon Valley, Microsoft, and other angel investors.[12]

In October 2019, Be My Eyes Deep Link was integrated into the Right Hear mobile application for the blind and visually impaired.

In February 2020, $2.8 million in Series A funding was raised, allowing the company to further develop its business model while keeping visual support services free for visually impaired users. New , according to a company news release. The investment allows the company to further develop its unique “purpose and profit” business model while keeping the visual support service free and unlimited for all visually impaired users.[13]

Users statistics

  • 68% native English speakers *
  • 175+ countries represented *
  • 22% between age 35-44 **
  • 58% lives in the United States, Brazil and the UK (top 3 countries) *
  • 25% over age 44+ **
  • 61% female-identifying **
  • 180+ different languages spoken *
  • 3M volunteers onboard *
  • 175K blind or visually impaired *
  • 39% between age 25-34 **
  • 38% male-identifying **
  • 37% lives in the United States *

Data is based on analytics from the *app and **website.[14]

Partners and collabs

Be My Eyes work with some big companies  fors ensure that Be My Eyes can remain free for all users, worldwide. For exemple, Microsoft offering video tech support with Be My Eyes[15]

Partners: Microsoft, Herbal Essences, Clearblue, Halifax Bank, Procter & Gamble, The National Federation of the Blind, Bank of Scotland, Pantene, Google, Llyods Banking Group...

Brand and blind organization collabs: Zendesk, Verizon, Moovit, RNIB and many more.

Reception

Praise was given for easy use of the app. The lack of sufficient data protection, which makes it possible to pass on data to third parties, was criticized.[16]

"...but perhaps a better description for this experience is charitable reciprocation." - The Guardian[17]

"I support anything that decreases social isolation and this app seems genius to me in facilitating a social as well as a problem-solving connection." - Forbes[18]

"Herbal Essences and P&G’s exciting partnership with Be My Eyes step-changes the way we communicate with our blind and low vision customers. Our customers can learn about our products and make more informed choices both in store or at home. It also allows Herbal Essences and P&G to learn from our customers to design even more accessible products for everyone." - Sam Latif Company Accessibility Leader, Procter & Gamble (Partner)

"Clearblue’s partnership with Be My Eyes allows our customers that are blind or have low vision to connect to an expert advisor quickly, confidentially and from the comfort of their own home. Together, Clearblue and Be My Eyes are the indispensable partner to blind and low vision women when managing their reproductive health." - Sally Haworth Careline Manager, Clearblue (Partner)

Awards

  • Nordic Startup Awards for "Best Social Entrepreneurial Tech Startup" in Denmark[19]

References

  1. ^ "Be My Eyes: Blinden Menschen per App zum Sehen verhelfen". Archived from the original on 2018-07-12.
  2. ^ "Press Resources". www.bemyeyes.com. Retrieved 2021-11-02.
  3. ^ "I tried Be My Eyes, the popular app that pairs blind people with helpers". the Guardian. 2019-07-12. Retrieved 2021-11-02.
  4. ^ 'Be My Eyes' app helps blind people do everyday things, retrieved 2021-11-02
  5. ^ Levy, Ari (2016-03-21). "How iPhones help fix unemployment for the blind". CNBC. Retrieved 2021-11-02.
  6. ^ "BBC World Service - People Fixing The World, Lend Me Your Eyes". BBC. Retrieved 2021-11-02.
  7. ^ 'Be My Eyes' app helps blind people do everyday things, retrieved 2021-11-02
  8. ^ "Video Tech Breakthrough Helps The Blind See". ABC News. Retrieved 2021-11-02.
  9. ^ "Be My Eyes - See the world together". www.bemyeyes.com. Retrieved 2022-05-11.
  10. ^ Lindsay, Jessica (2018-06-28). "This app lets you be a blind person's eyes from anywhere in the world". Metro. Retrieved 2021-11-02.
  11. ^ "The long-awaited Android version of Be My Eyes has arrived". www.bemyeyes.com. Retrieved 2021-11-02.
  12. ^ Weimer, Marco (2017-10-23). "Wie dieses Startup Blinden zum Sehen verhilft". Business Insider (in German). Retrieved 2021-11-02.
  13. ^ "Be My Eyes Raises $2.8 Million in Funding for Platform to Support Blind and Visually Impaired Worldwide". Eyewire+. Retrieved 2021-11-02.
  14. ^ "Media Kit 2020.docx". Google Docs. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  15. ^ Be My Eyes + Microsoft Disability Answer Desk, retrieved 2022-07-05
  16. ^ Bunz, Karsten. "Damit Blinde wieder sehen können: Kostenlose App hilft". CHIP Online (in German). Retrieved 2021-11-02.
  17. ^ "I tried Be My Eyes, the popular app that pairs blind people with helpers". the Guardian. 2019-07-12. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  18. ^ Rosenblatt, Carolyn. "An Innovative Way You Can Help Visually Impaired Aging Parents". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  19. ^ "Press Resources". www.bemyeyes.com. Retrieved 2021-11-02.
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