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Be My Eyes

Barilla partners with Be My Eyes to share Pasta Knowledge across the U.S

Barilla, a leading pasta producer has announced a new partnership with Be My Eyes, an innovative app that provides real-time video assistance for individuals who are blind and visually impaired.

What information will representatives provide?

A team of Barilla “Pasta Professionals” will field calls from the Specialized Help section of Be My Eyes’ iOS and Android apps to support those who are cooking delicious pasta at home. Whether you are wondering how long to cook Barilla Bucatini to ensure it is al dente for a Carbonara recipe or picking the perfect Barilla sauce to make a Bolognese, the pasta experts can answer queries around package labels, basic cooking instructions, product availability and more on weekdays from noon to 4 p.m. Central time. read more

This Device Lets Blind Women Take Pregnancy Tests in Privacy

RNIB has published the research methods and industrial design of its prototype device in the hope that health-care corporations will take notice.

A British charity has developed a prototype pregnancy test that displays results by raising tactile silicone bumps, rather than displaying text or lines on a screen.

How does the prototype pregnancy test differ from what is already on the market?
The Royal National Institute of Blind People, or RNIB, this week introduced the reimagined urine-stick test, which features an absorbent pad that is 50% larger than the average and a contrasting yellow-and-pink color scheme to help the user distinguish between the top and bottom of the device. read more

New Partnership Between Herbal Essences and Be My Eyes Makes Hair Care More Accessible

Herbal Essences is already front runners within accessible hair care, by making their shampoo and conditioner bottles distinguishable by touch. Now, they are taking the next step by offering Be My Eyes users free, live video support from their hair care experts.

Have you accidentally washed your hair with conditioner? It’s something we’ve all done once or twice. With so many shampoo and conditioner bottles being completely identical, distinguishing them from each other is not easy for everyone, whether you’re in the shower or at the store. This problem gave rise to a simple solution, which Herbal Essences announced in 2018: tactile markings on shampoo and conditioner bottles. read more

Be My Eyes app Working with Big Tech Companies that Pay for Referrals

Since 2015, when the Denmark-based platform Be My Eyes launched, more than 2 million volunteers have signed up to assist some 120,000 blind and low-vision users, according to the company.

That rapid expansion has forced the startup, which has until now been subsisting on grants and private investment, to figure out how to pay for the infrastructure to maintain the increasing volume of video-call traffic.

CEO Christian Erfurt said he never wanted to resort to the kind of advertising based on user data that has become standard in the tech world. read more

Be My Eyes Now Offers Customer Service from Google Disability Support

Be My Eyes, an app that offers visual assistance for people who are blind or have sight loss, now offers live customer support from Google through the Specialized Help platform.

Through the Specialized Help menu, blind and low-vision users can now contact the Google Disability Support team through a live video connection for questions on assistive tools and accessibility features within Google’s products.‍

“We are very proud to add Google to Specialized Help. This is a big step for accessibility and we are honored to have the support of Google to help blind and low vision individuals lead more independent lives,” said Alexander Hauerslev Jensen, CCO at Be My Eyes. read more

Microsoft’s Disability Answer Desk Now Available 24/7

Microsoft just announced that they are expanding technical support to blind or visually impaired users through Disability Answer Desk by offering Be My Eyes customers technical help 24/7.

The Microsoft Disability Answer Desk is available in English for people in Canada, United States, Ireland,Australia, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, United Kingdom, and Hong Kong.

“We are honored to join the thousands of volunteers in Be My Eyes’ global community that help empower people who are blind or have low vision lead more independent lives. That is why we are thrilled to expand this support offering from Microsoft’s Disability Answer Desk to 24 hours, 7 days a week, for their users. Specialized Help is a great example of bringing new services to people that can make the world more accessible and inclusive,” said Neil Barnett, Director of Inclusive Hiring and Accessibility, Microsoft. read more

App That Calls Sighted Volunteers Wins a Technology Award

Be My Eyes, a Danish company that allows some 87,000 people who have downloaded the free app to request assistance in situations where vision is needed from 1.5 million volunteers, won the accessibility prize at the Tech4Good awards.

“A lot of judges are biased toward social enterprise because of the sustainability component,” awards organizer Mark Walker said, referring to firms that seek to achieve social change while also making a profit.

“Charities are always dependent on the next grant” added Walker of AbilityNet, which works to make the digital world more accessible to people with disabilities to improve their lives. read more

Google Picks Be My Eyes as the Best App for Accessibility

Every year at Google’s I/O developer conference, the Internet giant hosts the Google Play Awards to recognize the best Android apps from the Play Store.

From accessibility apps, to start-ups, and augmented and virtual reality experiences, Google picks some of their favourite apps from the Play Store every year to find the gems you need on your smartphone.

For accessibility, Google awarded this prize to Be My Eyes.

The app works by allowing people to lend their eyes to a blind person through a live video connection, bringing together a network of sighted users. read more

Be My Eyes Joining Moovit to Make Public Transit More Accessible for Blind and Low Vision Travelers

Blind and low vision Moovit users can now access Be My Eyes directly from the Moovit app, to ensure a smooth journey with public transportation.

Moovit is the world’s largest transit data and analytics company and the number one transit app. Moovit simplifies urban mobility all around the world; getting around town via transit easier and more convenient.

Be My Eyes’ goal is to make the world more accessible for people with blindness or vision loss, including public transportation. With Be My Eyes, blind and low vision users are connected to sighted volunteers with a tap of a button, who are ready to help them navigate to work, find their way through a new environment or choose the best transit route. read more

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