by Daniel Parker, RDPFS Contributor:
The accessibility provider Be My Eyes, which allows blind smartphone users the ability to get help solving problems via sighted volunteers and artificial intelligence (AI), has announced that its technology will be included in Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses. This wearable, sold by Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram among others, “blends cutting edge technology with iconic design.” The move will allow blind people for the first time an accessibility option that does not require them to hold their smartphone, leaving their hands free to do tasks, with the user activating the feature by saying “Hey Meta, call a volunteer on Be My Eyes.” Their Smart Glasses then use Be My Eyes’ existing network to connect to one of 7.7 million volunteers via a one-way video, two-way audio call, where the volunteer sees the blind user’s view through the glasses’ lens. Maxine Williams, Chief Diversity Officer at Meta, said of the partnership: “‘At Meta… We’re working to build technologies that are truly reflective of the diversity of our nearly 4 billion global users, and our partnership with Be My Eyes is a significant step towards making the world more inclusive and accessible for people who are blind or have low vision.’” Be My Eyes’ CEO Mike Buckley added: “‘Our collaboration with Meta launches an experience that addresses something that our community of blind and low-vision users has been requesting for a long time, namely hands-free access to our services. …with our integration we have now opened a gateway to unprecedented levels of accessibility, unlocking new opportunities for those navigating their daily lives.’” Blind technology advocate and educator Chancey Fleet, assistive technology coordinator with The New York Public Library, tested the feature before release and commented on an instance where she used the product: “‘Last week, for example, I used the integration to find my way through a busy airport, from curbside through security to my gate. Sharing my view from the glasses with a volunteer freed my hands up to manage my bags, react to my guide dog’s cues, and use my phone to show my boarding pass. This partnership gives Be My Eyes users a powerful new way to actively explore the world.’” More information can be found in this press release from Be My Eyes and this video presentation by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
