Heriot-Watt and the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) have teamed up to support blind and partially sighted people in the UK Using AI technology called Alana.
What is Alana?
Alana is artificial intelligence (AI) software that can understand and respond to users in a human-like, conversational way, carry out human-like conversation, and can be used as a new tool for people with sight loss.
How does Alana work?
The tech delivers conversation based on context, device, and location, learning who the user is and remembering previous conversations. It then adapts to provide a personal experience for each person.
How will Alana be integrated with the RNIB?
Alana will initially be used to enhance the existing support offered by RNIB. Through its Sight Loss Advice Service, the charity currently offers support over the phone, in eye clinics and digitally.
It also provides information on eye conditions, legal rights, education, technology, and employment alongside emotional well-being services and signposting to services and resources offered by local societies.
AI has the potential to transform the way blind and partially sighted people access information. For example, the spin-out is developing a tool which will identify objects and find further information about one’s physical environment, automating the BeMyEyes App, which connects those who have sight loss with fully sighted volunteers.
The Heriot-Watt spin-out has already seen previous success with its innovative AI technology. In March, the team saw a huge jump in demand as the national lockdown came into effect.
Alana’s ‘touch-free’ interface allowed many users unable to converse with others as they would normally due to the coronavirus to remain connected.
The plan for the project is to support more than two million people with sight loss in the UK.
