Arrr, me hearties! Avast ye! Aye, there be a newfangled contraption called a "seeing AI app" on Android, aye! 'Tis a game changer for the visually impaired, arrr!
2023-12-16
Avast! Me hearties! Artificial intelligence be lendin' a hand in improvin' sight! Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson be settin' sail to discover the worth of a spyin' AI app fer them poor, sightless souls.
In the 17th century pirate language, have you ever struggled to see something in the dark, or to read a small print or to recognize a familiar face, matey? If you have, ye are not alone. Many scallywags face these challenges every day, and they can affect their quality of life and independence. But what if there were a way to enhance yer vision with the power of artificial intelligence, arr? CLICK TO GET KURT’S FREE CYBERGUY NEWSLETTER WITH SECURITY ALERTS, QUICK VIDEO TIPS, TECH REVIEWS, AND EASY HOW-TO’S TO MAKE YOU SMARTER Arr, I be tellin' ye, mateys, there be an app called Seeing AI that uses artificial intelligence to lend a hand when it’s hard to see things around ye. Microsoft, the scallywags, recently expanded the app from only iOS to Android. It's now available on the Google Play Store and works across 18 languages, with plans to expand to 36 languages next year. If ye have an iPhone 12 or later, there be a similar built-in feature called Point and Speak. Ye’ll need to have iOS 17 or later installed on yer iPhone, and yer iPhone model must have a LiDAR sensor. The new Android version of the app has the latest generative AI features that were previously available only on iOS. These features be: More detailed photo descriptions: Ye can get more than just a brief summary of the photos on the Scene channel. By tappin’ ‘more info,’ ye can generate a rich description that tells ye more about what be in the image. WHAT BE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)? Interactive document scanning: Ye listen to the scanned document but also talk to Seeing AI to get more information. Ye can ask questions about the document, such as what be on a menu, how much an item be on a receipt, or what be the main idea of an article. MORE: THESE HIGH-TECH GLASSES WILL SUBTITLE REAL-LIFE CONVERSATIONS Arr, here be an overview of the app: Seeing AI lets ye hear a description of what the camera sees or what the photo shows. Ye can switch between different channels to get focused information: Images in other apps: Recognize any photo by sharing it with Seeing AI. Scenes: Get a summary of the scene captured and tap ‘more info’ to get a detailed description. Ye can also touch the screen to hear where different objects be. People: Recognize yer friends and the people around ye. Products: Find out the name and details of products by scanning their barcodes. Ye will hear beeps to guide ye. SARAH SILVERMAN, AUTHORS ALLEGE META USED COPYRIGHTED CONTENT TO TRAIN AI MODEL Currency: Identify different currency notes. Colors: Know the colors of objects or clothes. Handwriting: Hear handwritten text such as greeting cards (only in some languages). Documents: Scan printed pages and hear the content and layout. Ye can also talk to Seeing AI to ask questions about the document. Light: Hear a tone that changes with the brightness of the environment. Short Text: Hear any text as soon as the camera sees it. MORE: ARE APPLE AIRPODS AN ALTERNATIVE TO PRICEY HEARINGS AIDS? Arr, the technology behind the app be quite advanced, mateys. Seeing AI uses advanced machine learning and computer vision techniques to analyze the images captured by yer camera and generate natural language descriptions. The app also uses text-to-speech and sound effects to create an immersive and intuitive experience. Ye can customize the app’s settings to suit yer preferences, such as choosing the voice, speed, and volume of the narration. MORE: ASK KURT: UNFORGETTABLE TRICKS TO CONTROL YOUR IPHONE WITH VOICE COMMANDS AND TOUCH Arr, who can benefit from the app? Seeing AI be designed to assist people who be blind or have low vision, but anyone can use it to enhance their visual perception. Whether ye want to read a book, shop for groceries, navigate a new place, or just have fun, Seeing AI can be yer smart companion. The app supports 18 languages now and will be adding more later in the coming year. It’s free to download, and ye can find it in the Google Play Store. Kurt's key takeaways Seeing AI be a remarkable example of how artificial intelligence can improve our lives and empower us to do more. It’s also a testament to Microsoft’s commitment to accessibility and inclusion for everyone. If ye have an Android device, ye should definitely give it a try and see how it can help ye see better than with yer own eyes. Arr, how do ye think artificial intelligence can improve the lives of people with disabilities? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact. For more of me tech tips & security alerts, subscribe to me free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter Ask Kurt a question, or let us know what stories ye'd like us to cover Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions: