(image courtesy Digit-eyes)
Smartphones really can change people’s lives. I’ve written before about the resources available if you are visually impaired and use a smartphone, but this is a constantly evolving experience. One of the newest resources is an app called “Digit-Eyes”.
Essentially this app lets you scan your food and create large scannable labels for it. Then you can use your iPhone to scan the special label and have your phone “read” to you what the item is. An app like this can make you a great deal more independent and really give someone a boost in cooking and shopping for themselves!
If you don’t have a smartphone, or if you need the next level for something like this, you’d end up spending somewhere around $130 for a standalone label reader! Suddenly the $29.99 asking price for this app looks like a bargain!
Check out the full press release, and share below if you have any thoughts on smartphones and accessibility!
DIGIT-EYES AUDIO LABELING SYSTEM ADVANCES INDEPENDENCE FOR VISUALLY
IMPAIRED Digital Miracles, LLC, is pleased to announce a major
advancement in assistive technology for people who are blind and
visually impaired. The Digit-Eyes Audio Labeling System has been
approved for sale on the Apple Apps Store. As of June 23rd, the millions
of people worldwide with substantial vision loss can begin downloading
the iPhone application to recognize and label the important items in
their lives.
Reasonably priced at $29.99, the Digit-Eyes phone app is a powerful tool
that fits into any budget and life- style, turning challenging tasks
into easy, safe activities.
The Digit-Eyes system gives users a simple way to make custom labels for
everyday items and it identifies packaged goods-joining advanced
software with the iPhone, the Internet, home computers, printers, and
inexpensive off-the-shelf labels. People of almost any visual ability
can now put groceries away and grab the right prescription bottle
independently.
“This is the most exciting product I’ve worked on,” says Nancy Miracle,
president of Digital Miracles and software engineer with 40 years
experience. “The limited functions and high cost of existing assistive
devices just seemed wrong, so our objective was to develop a product
that performed better than any comparable technology and offer it at
about 10% of the price. Combining the need for identification with a
natural, powerful and robust tool like the iPhone made the project
irresistible.”
With Digit-Eyes, users can print custom text labels or record audio
labels that they make by scanning specially coded labels and speaking
into their phones. They attach the labels to household items, and the
messages are played back whenever the codes are rescanned with their
iPhones. This Digit-Eyes app can also scan manufacturer codes (UPC, EAN,
ISBN) and say what’s inside the package after checking the vast
Digit-Eyes product database. Each iPhone stores over five hundred hours
of information and can be used just about anywhere.
“This product is amazing! By labeling leftovers with their contents and
date refrigerated, I can determine if my dinner will be edible or not.
Next, I’ll be labeling my jungle of AC adapters so I’ll never again have
to guess what they all go to. The ease of use and flexibility of the
process make it an invaluable tool!”
Randy Builder, Seattle, Washington.
The first public display of Digit-Eyes is at the National Federation of
the Blind convention in Dallas, Texas, July 4 – 7, booth B113. The
exhibit then moves to the American Council of the Blind convention July
10 – 15 in Phoenix, Arizona, booth #41. Attendees can experience the use
and capability of the system with hands-on demonstrations. Details,
explanations, and examples will be available at both conventions, or
immediately on-line at www.DIGIT-EYES.com.
Digital Miracles, LLC, the parent company of Digit-Eyes, is a
Texas-based corporation that develops customized software solutions. The
Digit-Eyes Audio Labeling System was created by a team of engineers,
software designers and members of the visually impaired community.
Product Reviewers can get a review copy at:
reviewcopy@digitalmiracles.com
or by calling: (817) 571-3083.
Pingback: Digit-Eyes in the Blogosphere | DigitEyes