Tech Tips: Be My Eyes

Contributed by Jerry Price, Assistive Technology Specialist

Be My Eyes is an app that you can add to your smart phone which will allow you to call someone sighted, for assistance.  The back camera is used to give your volunteer a streaming video of your surroundings.  You can ask questions such as “Do these socks match?”, “How many calories per serving?”, “What color is this shirt?”  Now you can get specialize help from multiple departments such as assistive technology, beauty and grooming, blindness organizations, careers, civic engagements, food and beverage, home and cleaning, personal health, and technical.  Each category has several options to choose from; for example, personal health includes accessible pharmacy services for the blind, Clearview, Crest, Oral-B, and Rite Aid.  Technical connects you to Google, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Spotify, and Verizon.  The best part about the Be My Eyes app is that it is free and available 24 hours a day.  The app is available from your smart phone’s app store.