Microsoft, Google Have Both Updated Their Mobile Apps for the Blind

Microsoft and Google have both issued updates to their mobile apps that help those who are blind or have low vision to navigate the world around them.

Microsoft’s app, called Seeing AI, is available only on iOS and was first released back in 2017 but it was updated today with new capabilities. These include the ability to explore photos by touch, native iPad support, and the ability to customize which channels are shown in the app.

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday — and get free copies of Paul Thurrott's Windows 11 and Windows 10 Field Guides (normally $9.99) as a special welcome gift!

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

“Seeing AI helps users read printed text in books, restaurant menus, street signs, and handwritten notes, as well as identify banknotes and products via their barcode,” the Microsoft Accessibility Blog explains. “Leveraging on-device facial-recognition technology, the app can even describe the physical appearance of people and predict their mood.”

Google’s called Lookout, was first announced last year. It helps those who are blind or have low vision identify information about their surroundings. It is currently available only on Pixel phones running Android 8.0 or newer, and in the US only. Google says it will bring the app to more devices, countries, and platforms soon.

“Lookout draws upon similar underlying technology as Google Lens, which lets you search and take action on the objects around you, simply by pointing your phone,” Google’s Patrick Clary explains. “Since we announced Lookout at Google I/O last year, we’ve been working on testing and improving the quality of the app’s results.”

Both apps target the over 250 million worldwide with serious vision problems.

Tagged with

Share post

Please check our Community Guidelines before commenting

Conversation 5 comments

  • Atoqir

    12 March, 2019 - 5:16 pm

    <p>Google also issued an update to make everybody else blind with they all white with grey text everywhere.</p><p><br></p><p>Just got an iOS Drive update and it's even more white white white.</p>

  • dontbe evil

    13 March, 2019 - 2:26 am

    <p>google one is pixel only … google "open" style</p>

  • kaisekaren

    16 March, 2019 - 10:43 pm

    <p>Thank you for important information about update. Go to <a href="https://www.kaisekaren.online/?m=1&quot; target="_blank"><em>more info about apps</em></a></p>

  • nagaphanit

    21 March, 2019 - 12:56 am

    <p>Wow…<a href="https://www.jyotirvidya.in/&quot; target="_blank">Good information</a>! Very helpful for the Blind </p>

  • isela74

    30 March, 2019 - 2:53 am

    <p>No other way than starting a beautiful morning with a beautiful article..Thank you so much for this informatory post.I feel like i m in love with the forums of thurrott.Will be upgrading to premium soon <a href="https://www.mybkexperience.reviews/&quot; target="_blank" style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69);">MYBKEXPERIENCE</a><a href="https://www.mybkexperience.reviews/&quot; target="_blank"> </a></p>

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Thurrott © 2024 Thurrott LLC