Be My Eyes - Helping the blind logo

Be My Eyes - Helping the blind for Android

By Be My Eyes Free Editors' Rating

Editors' Review

shelbybrown May 23, 2018

Promoting a message of "Small acts of kindness with global impact," the five-star, top-selling Be My Eyes app for Android pairs, at the time of this review 1,176,901 volunteers with 76, 813 visually impaired or blind people around the world to make a big difference in the latter's lives.

Pros

Easy to set up: After accepting the privacy policy and terms of use, you'll select one of two options depending on your circumstance: I am blind or visually impaired, or I am a sighted volunteer. Then tap I am new, or Sign in, if you have an existing account. Enter your first name, last name, email, and password, and tap Sign Up, or you can sign up via Facebook. After confirming your email address, pick the language you're available to help in. To allow audio-video calls between you and the person you're assisting, just provide the app with microphone access and permit notifications.

Easy to navigate: There are only two tabs -- Home and Stories -- both on the bottom rail. Home shares the ever-expanding number of blind people and volunteers registered and teaches you how to answer calls. The Stories section brings poignant community stories to you, so you see how amazing this app is, both for visually impaired users and volunteers. You can either read the stories or hear them spoken if you can't see.

Easy to use: Users in need can request help and sighted users will get notified one person at a time that they're needed. Once the first sighted user accepts the request, a live A/V connection begins and the sighted volunteer can now help via the video connection from the blind or visually impaired user's rear-facing camera. Developers say that it's an easy experience for those in need, too, since most calls are responded to in around half a minute in the language of their choice.

Only receive call notifications when you're logged in: This feature ensures that you're not disturbed by requests when you're unavailable.

Helps the visually impaired or blind: With the app, visually impaired and blind users can get visual help on demand, so they're able to lead more independent lives. And even if you're someone with little time for charity, this app is great because contributing can take just seconds. Some requests, according to developers, include telling someone when the milk is going to expire or whether their clothes match. You may also get a question asking how the low vision or blind person's edited photo looks on their computer. But, as you may imagine, the types of questions you might receive are limitless.

Cons

Unnecessary instruction: While you wait to receive your first call, the app teaches you how to answer a call notification, whether it comes on a locked or unlocked screen. This seems a little obvious to us since most people already know how to tap or swipe a home screen notification to open.

Bottom Line

Be My Eyes for Android is a great example of how technology can help bring people together. If you're hard of seeing or can't see at all, downloading this app can help you lead a more independent life. If you're a charitable sort of person, filled with a spirit of volunteerism, the app enables you to do a solid for someone in need -- without investing a lot of time or any money.

Full Specifications

What's new in version 1.3.0

Google sign in option

General

Release November 15, 2018
Date Added November 15, 2018
Version 1.3.0

Operating Systems

Operating Systems Android
Additional Requirements None

Popularity

Total Downloads 5,161
Downloads Last Week 0
Report Software

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Developer's Description

Lend your eyes to a blind person in need through a live video connection or be assisted by the network of sighted users.

Be My Eyes is all about contributing and benefiting from small acts of kindness, so hop on board and get involved!

Blind or visually impaired users can request help from a sighted volunteer, who will be notified on their phone. As soon as the first sighted user accepts the request for help, a live audio-video connection will be set up between the two parts. The sighted helper can now assist the blind or visually impaired, through the video connection from the blind or visually impaired user's rear-facing camera.

As a sighted user, you are part of the big Be My Eyes volunteer-network, so don't worry about leaving a blind person hanging, if you are not able to answer a request. We will simply forward the request and find the next available volunteer.

The blind or visually impaired person can need help with anything from knowing the expiry date on the milk, to making sure that their clothes match.

Note: We encourage blind or visually impaired users to be patient, when making a request, because we rely on real people to help you. Most calls are answered within 60 seconds.

- Live audio-video connection between blind or visually impaired and sighted users

- Add the languages you speak in settings

- An easy way to make a difference for blind or visually impaired people

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