Microsoft Expands Seeing AI to 5 New Languages

Microsoft announced that its Seeing AI mobile app for those with blindness and low vision now supports five new languages.

“Seeing AI is a free iOS app that was designed to empower the millions of people around the world who are blind or have low vision by using computer vision to describe the world around them,” a Microsoft representative told me. “Developed by and with the disability community via regional nonprofit organizations, Seeing AI’s new language support reflects Microsoft’s commitment to enhancing assistive technology and dedication to weaving inclusive design into everything we create.”

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In tandem with the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Seeing AI has been updated today to support Dutch, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish. Microsoft says that the update will make the app accessible to millions of additional people.

“Now I will be able to read in Japanese,” a user named Akiko Ishii says in a Microsoft feature story about the technology. “And I can also read my mail and other communication and correspondence on paper, so that will be super exciting. [Previously,] If any communication was on paper, I would have to have somebody read it to me. But now I’ll be able to read it myself.”

You can learn more about Seeing AI from the Microsoft website. The mobile app is available for free from the Apple App Store.

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Conversation 5 comments

  • Passinttd

    03 December, 2019 - 9:39 am

    <p>Any word on this coming to Android? My Grandmother had one eye and is losing her vision in it even. Would be neat to test this out with her.</p>

    • tzinlynn

      Premium Member
      03 December, 2019 - 11:29 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#494225">In reply to Passinttd:</a></em></blockquote><p>When I last asked a couple of years ago, there were no plans, short or long term so it's iOS only, essentially. I'm in a similar position to your grandmother, though likely decades younger but also have problems with my hearing and can no longer speak more than a whisper. There are some apps for Android but they didn't work well for my needs (even standard Android accessibility settings were better for me), especially as I have a guide dog in one hand but need both hands and to be stationary so I can use my phone.</p><p><br></p><p>I could go buy an iPhone but I really don't want to at this point in time.</p>

      • Passinttd

        06 December, 2019 - 4:07 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#494255">In reply to tzinlynn:</a></em></blockquote><p>I'm not going to try to teach my almost blind grandmother a completely different system at this point. It would annoy her way to much.</p>

  • Pierre Masse

    03 December, 2019 - 9:46 am

    <p>I'm pretty sure most persons with a vision problem don't have the money to buy Apple products. They need to port it to Android too.</p>

    • starkover

      03 December, 2019 - 8:08 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#494227">In reply to Pierre Masse:</a></em></blockquote><p>What do you base that on? While I agree that they should port it to Android, the statement that most people with vision problems can't afford Apple products is at best speculative. At best.</p>

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