- Seeing AI, a game-changing app for the visually impaired, uses artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance vision. Originally available only on iOS, it was recently expanded to Android and supports 18 languages with plans to expand to 36 in the coming year.
- Key features of the app include detailed photo descriptions, interactive document scanning, object, people, and scene recognition, and color, and light detection.
- While aimed at helping those who are blind or have low vision, Seeing AI can also be used by others to improve their visual perception in different scenarios.
“Seeing AI” is a remarkable application that utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to assist users in augmenting their vision. Developed by Microsoft, the app was initially just built for iOS but has recently been made compatible with Android. It is currently available on the Google Play Store and supports 18 languages. There are plans to expand this to 36 languages in the next year.
The application offers a host of features that make it a game-changer for the visually impaired. Users can reap the benefits of detailed photo descriptions which provide a rich narrative about what is captured in an image and can also use interactive document scanning to query further information about scanned text or images, which is particularly useful for understanding menus, receipts, or articles.
Other impressive features include “Scenes” that provide a summary of a captured scene that can be further detailed by tapping ‘more info’. The “People” feature efficiently recognizes friends and people around the user and the “Products” option helps identify product details by scanning barcodes. Other notable features include “Currency” for the identification of different currency notes, “Colours” to identify the color of objects or clothes, and “Light” that changes tone based on the brightness of the environment.
While Seeing AI is especially beneficial for users who are visually impaired or blind, it can also augment the visual perception of non-visually impaired users. Reading books, shopping for groceries, navigating new places or even general entertainment can be enhanced with this AI-powered tool. The application is free to download from the Google Play Store and can certainly be a smart companion to improve visual perception across varied scenarios.
Seeing AI is a brilliant example of the profound ways in which AI can augment human capability and enhance lives. The application also bears testament to Microsoft’s steadfast commitment to fostering accessibility and inclusion for all across their product ecosystem.