[blindkid] Volunteers Needed for Useful New Blindness App

[Jody Ianuzzi]

The app VisWiz provides a similar service. 

JODY 🐺

"There's no point in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes."  DOCTOR WHO (Tom Baker)

> On Jan 26, 2015, at 6:03 PM, Chris Nusbaum via blindkid <blindkid at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hello All,
> 
> 
> 
> I am writing to spread the word about Be My Eyes, a newly-released iOS app
> designed to connect blind users with a network of sighted volunteers who are
> willing to assist us with tasks which require sighted assistance, e.g.
> object identification and reading information such as that provided on
> prescription labels. This free app uses a video chat software with which a
> blind person can enter a request for help, a sighted user can respond to the
> request, and a video chat can be initiated which allows both users to
> interact to ensure that the best information possible is obtained. In the
> short time this app has been on the App Store, its network has spread beyond
> its native Denmark to a worldwide community with over 7000 blind users and
> 80,000 sighted volunteers. However, as more blind Americans learn about the
> app and download it, the lack of American volunteers often leaves blind
> users without someone with whom to connect.
> 
> 
> 
> For this reason, I am asking those receiving this message who are sighted to
> give back to the blind community by downloading the app and becoming a
> volunteer. There is no commitment involved and nothing which binds you to a
> certain responsibility. You need only sign up as a sighted user after
> downloading the free app from the iOS App Store. When a request is submitted
> by a blind user, you will get a notification asking if you are available to
> accept it. If you have time, you can accept; if not, you are welcome to
> reject it. The request will then move on to the next volunteer. Please also
> encourage your friends and family to download the app and build the network.
> More information about the app and how to get involved can be found at:
> http://www.bemyeyes.org.
> 
> 
> 
> As a blind person, I can personally attest to the occasional need for
> sighted help, blindness skills notwithstanding. It can be frustrating at
> times when a pair of eyes is needed for something but none is available.
> This is a free, easy and non-time-consuming way to provide very useful help
> to the blind when we need it. If enough sighted people from around the world
> become a part of the Be My Eyes network, we could forever eradicate the
> inconvenience which comes when needed sighted assistance is unavailable.
> Please consider becoming a part of this growing community by downloading the
> app to your iPhone and following the simple steps required to create an
> account. If you have any questions about this app and your involvement in
> it, please feel free to contact me. Thank you in advance for your support.
> 
> 
> 
> Chris
> 
> 
> 
> Chris Nusbaum, Vice President
> 
> Maryland Association of Blind Students
> 
> A Division of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland
> 
> Phone: (443) 547-2409
> 
> Email: dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com
> 
> Twitter: @Chrisn98 and @NFBMD
> 
> 
> 
> The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
> characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
> expectations for blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
> between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
> blindness is not what holds you back.
> 
> 
> 
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