Be My Eyes App

Be My Eyes goal is to make the world more accessible to people who are blind or have a low level of vision. It is a free app that connects blind and low-vision people with sighted volunteers and company representatives for visual assistance through a live video call. The app is available for iOS and Android. Download at https://www.bemyeyes.com/. 

Using the app is easy. A user who has low vision, is an older adult with failing vision, or who is blind,  who runs across something they can’t see but need to see (e.g., a prescription label or expiration date, a graphic the users screen reader couldn’t identify, text in an improperly converted document, or even help in matching a pair of socks) can make a call on the app and be connected to the first available volunteer.

The user positions their phone so that the volunteer can see what it is that needs to be seen, and the volunteer can tell them what they  are looking at.  A volunteer does not  have to take the call if they are busy — the app will move on to call the next available person.

Be My Eyes is also available for business, improving customer support for people who are blind and low-vision. “Specialized Help” is a new and better way for companies or organizations to connect with blind and low-vision customers and provide them with improved, more accessible support.

Apple Products and Accessibility Features

Apple has a history of building accessibility features into its products.   Though promotional in nature,  the link below provides a useful overview of the accessible features built into  Apple products, including the iPad, iPhone,  Mac,  and the Apple Watch.  Check it out, you may discover a feature you want to test out!

Technology is most powerful when it empowers everyone  (https://www.apple.com/accessibility/)

Inspiration Maps

Stuck on how to tackle a complex  assignment?  Consider brainstorming by mindmapping  using Inspiration Maps. Inspiration Maps is an iPad app that allows you to visually organize information. Inspiration Maps makes it easy to create clear mind maps that can help organize information for an essay or  for working through a multi-step experiment or project. The app is particularly useful  for writing about complicated or complex topics  requiring a well planned and well-organized essay.

The app comes with number of great looking templates for all different subject areas. If none of the templates meet your needs you can create your own. Finished maps can be downloaded as a PDF’ or as PNG for use in other apps.

Initially only for the iPad, the app is now also available for the iPhone.

To learn more about the  Inspiration Map app, Brian Meersma of the Assistive Technology Blog, has written two informative posts about the app.

Inspiration Maps for iPad: Mind Mapping on the iPad

Inspiration Maps Updated with iPhone Support and More