Coming: An app that serves as eyes for the blind

Washington

AS computers get better at navigating the world around them, they are also helping humans better navigate that world as well. Thanks to advances in artificial intelligence and robotics, scientists from IBM Research and Carnegie Mellon University are working on new types of real-world accessibility solutions for the visually impaired.

The goal is as audacious as it is inspiring: coming up with a technological platform that can help the visually impaired navigate the world around them as effortlessly as everyone else. The first pilot in the programme is a smartphone app for Apple products and Android called NavCog, which helps blind people navigate their surroundings by whispering into their ears through earbuds or by creating subtle vibrations on their smartphones. (Users have the option of setting the app to either "voice mode" or "vibration mode.")