AI in Assistive Technologies for People with Visual Impairments
Published: (January 12, 2026 at 12:07 PM EST)
1 min read
Source: Dev.to
Source: Dev.to
Overview
The Eye Navi app helps people with visual impairments see and navigate their surroundings. It uses a smartphone camera to capture environmental information, processes it with AI, and provides audio descriptions such as:
“The system provides audible notification of the presence or absence of pedestrians, car stops, and other obstacles to walking, as well as the color of pedestrian signals.”
The app is currently available only in Japan.
Similar Apps
- Be My Eyes – a free app that connects blind or low‑vision users with volunteers and companies worldwide through live video and AI assistance.
- Lookout by Google – uses the phone’s camera to give information about the environment, helping with tasks like reading text, sorting mail, and more. Available only on Android devices.
- Seeing AI by Microsoft – a free app that describes the world around you, assisting with reading, photo description, product identification, and other everyday tasks.
Image credit: Eye Navi website.