[Nd-talk] FW: Be My Eyes Newsletter - December 2017

Thu Dec 7 16:32:06 UTC 2017

Greetings friends and federationists

I receive this newsletter and find some of the articles interesting and wanted to share. You can sign up(see bottom of message) 

Happy reading!!! 

Sherry 

Sherry Shirek

Secretary – Social Events Committee Chair

National Federation of the Blind of North Dakota

Website www.nfbnd.org

Voice/text 701-781-3055

Email sherrybeth7 at gmail.com <mailto:sherrybeth7 at gmail.com> 

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 of 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

From: Alexander from Be My Eyes [mailto:info at bemyeyes.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, December 6, 2017 8:05 AM
To: sherrybeth7 at gmail.com
Subject: Be My Eyes Newsletter - December 2017

This month at Be My Eyes 
December 2017

Welcome to the December edition of our newsletter. We are closing this year with a longer email than usual because 2017 has been quite a year for Be My Eyes! We have some interesting things to share with you before we jump into the holiday season. Starting with our featured story of the month, Julia will share her experience using the app at the stove and in the garden. To follow, we have a couple of announcements regarding the Holman Prize competition, statistics to share and even some opportunities to get involved.

Sit back, relax and enjoy the read.

Featured story of the month

 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoUYqBZPYGs> 

With Be My Eyes at the stove or in the garden

Florida resident, Julia, has a visual impairment. She had been hesitant about using Be My Eyes, until a friend explained how the app works. Even in the short amount of time that Julia has been using the app, Be My Eyes has already made a world of difference to her.

Julia had known about Be My Eyes for a while and even had the app on her phone for nearly a year before using it, until a friend of hers, who was very involved with the blind community and familiar with the app, showed her how it all works. From that point on, Julia started considering using it in her daily life.

The first time Julia used Be My Eyes on her own was in the kitchen. Unsure of whether the chicken she was cooking was still pink inside, she pulled out Be My Eyes. A woman in France answered the call and helped Julia through the process. Even cooking tasks as small as this made simpler can mean a world of difference to users.

“It was just amazing that someone from the other side of the world could be in my kitchen and help me with something. It really brings on my independence, because I do live by myself, and my [guide] dog can’t tell me if the chicken’s ready. This app has really changed my life.”

Beyond the kitchen, Be My Eyes has also proved to be a very useful tool in the garden, where Julia spends a lot of her time. One day she noticed something on her plants. It felt like bugs but she wasn’t positive, so she called a Be My Eyes volunteer. The volunteer who answered detected that it was only dirt. Relieved, Julia carried on gardening with ease.

More independence and efficiency aren’t the only results of using Be My Eyes; Julia’s social life has also experienced a change.

“Usually I would wait until someone comes over, and I would have this task and that task for them to help me with. Now, I can use Be My Eyes, when I need help - any time of the day or night, and I get assistance. So when a friend comes over, I don’t have all these tasks to get help with, for which I’m very grateful.”

Julia is now able to tackle things on her own, leaving her time more to enjoy the company of her friends’ visits.

Julia’s story is part of our Community Stories series <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIcvZZGOkyE&list=PLeY7n8eI135A2n4d18Ntv1hNZb7FSbJIc> . People all over the world use Be My Eyes in their everyday lives. Many of them write us about their experience with the app. Through Community Stories we can share these good vibes with the whole community. If you’d like to tell us about your experience or give a testimonial, send us an email at info at bemyeyes.com <mailto:info at bemyeyes.com> .

News & Updates

Announcing Holman Prize for Blind Ambition 2018

We’re thrilled to announce the return of the Holman Prize for Blind Ambition <http://www.holmanprize.org/> , an annual $25,000 award for blind or low vision adventurers and creators put on by the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired in San Francisco. Named after the 19th century blind world traveler, James Holman <https://www.holmanprize.org/jamesholman/> , the Holman Prize empowers blind and low vision folks from around the world to complete the journeys and projects of their dreams. 2017 was the first year for the prize garnering applications from nearly two dozen countries, full of inspiring, daring and compelling project ideas. After lengthy deliberation, three finalists were selected.

Ahmet Ustunel, one of the first Holman Prize winners, uses Be My Eyes while paddling through kayak on a lake in California.

 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDI9K5o3598> 

The top three finalists encompass a wide range of ambition, creativity and passion: Ahmet Ustunel <http://lighthouse-sf.org/blog/meet-ahmet-ustunel-blind-kayaker-and-holman-prizewinner/> , is training to kayak across Turkey’s Bosphorus Strait completely solo, Penny Melville-Brown <http://lighthouse-sf.org/blog/meet-penny-melville-brown-blind-baker-and-holman-prizewinner/>  is taking her YouTube baking show to six continents; Ojok Simon <http://lighthouse-sf.org/blog/meet-ojok-simon-blind-beekeeper-and-holman-prizewinner/>  is teaching his fellow Ugandans to become self-sustaining beekeepers.

What would you do as a Holman Prizewinner?

We encourage you to start planning ahead! The initial application is a quirky one: LightHouse asks that you send in a 90-second YouTube video explaining what you would accomplish as a Holman Prize winner (as well as a brief written questionnaire). Once applications close, a selected group of semifinalists will be chosen to submit in-depth written proposals, and later, finalists will be interviewed by the LightHouse’s Holman Team.

Check out last year’s finalists’ video proposals <https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBgTkRMP5uayUh22CViOjMWudaPxXScCh>  to get acquainted with the types of projects you can pitch. To learn more about the prize, and whether your idea qualifies, please visit the Holman Prize website <http://holmanprize.org/> . Applications for the prize open on January 16, 2018. For more info, contact mlevenson at lighthouse-sf.org <mailto:mlevenson at lighthouse-sf.org> .

Google Play Best of 2017 Award

Be My Eyes is honored to be selected as one of Google Play’s best apps of 2017 in the categories: Most Innovative, Best Daily Helper, and Best Hidden Gem. We’ve been selected among other great apps such as Google Earth <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.earth> , Pinterest <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pinterest> , Qapital <https://www.qapital.com/> , and Snapchat <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.snapchat.android> .

The Be My Eyes Community

This Year at a Glance

With 2017 coming to an end, we thought a summary of the past year with a nod towards what’s to come in 2018 would be a great way to round out this month’s newsletter. The past year was quite a milestone for Be My Eyes! We have met challenges with optimism, forged new paths in innovation and made big plans for the future.

Technology

In October we launched the Android version of our app and welcomed new members to the Be My Eyes community. The launch means a great step in accessibility and inclusion, but also a new design for the app. Along with enhancing VoiceOver optimization, we improved contrast and added dynamic font size for the low-vision users.

We’ve also improved the security of the app and implemented a new rating system to prevent inappropriate use or misconduct and make it easier to report technical problems. Oftentimes, we receive inquiries about waiting times or how people using the app get matched together. Improvements have been made to the algorithm and the connection time has been significantly reduced to 20-45 seconds (on average in English).

Community

In 2017 we’ve introduced Be My Eyes Newsletters to keep you in the loop and up to date with what’s happening behind the scenes, what’s new in the blind and low vision community and what’s to come! We’ve also got a YouTube channel <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPz1J3Vl6ZZ_eMG5TK3YFwQ>  up and running, stocked with interviews and story features to listen or watch.

Human to human connection is the fuel behind this app. We like to keep a dialogue going in the Be My Eyes community and keep everyone engaged and interconnected. This year, in efforts to build the community, we’ve started interviewing long-time members as well as newcomers from all over the world, to share with you. Every Wednesday, expect a new story to be featured on our YouTube channel <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPz1J3Vl6ZZ_eMG5TK3YFwQ> . Links will also be posted to our Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/bemyeyes.org> , Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/bemyeyesapp/>  and Twitter <https://twitter.com/BeMyEyes> .

Selected quotes from this month

“I have been amazed on how helpful and understanding the volunteers have been. It is so refreshing to know that there are so many caring people out there in today’s world … Thanks so much for all they do.” 
– Bob, blind user from New York

“Be My Eyes is a good way to decrease the gap between the blind and ‘ordinary-seeing’ community … people who are voluntarily working for Be My Eyes get a really good understanding of how it is not to see.” 
– Yngve, blind user from Norway

“Helping through Be My Eyes never fails to make my day a little better. Knowing that I contributed in someone else’s daily life in a positive way brings me great joy.” 
– Faye, volunteer from Saudi Arabia

End Note

It’s Christmas time at the Be My Eyes headquarters in Denmark. Are you celebrating any holidays this season? We would love to hear how you use Be My Eyes to prepare, decorate, shop, send packages, bake or open gifts - everything. Join us in kicking off 2018 with more community stories from all over the world, for all kinds celebrations.

It’s been an eventful year and we can't wait for what’s to come! Big plans are in store for 2018, stay tuned!

Until next year,
The Be My Eyes Team

Keep in touch, find us on:

 <https://www.facebook.com/bemyeyes.org>  <https://twitter.com/bemyeyes>  <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPz1J3Vl6ZZ_eMG5TK3YFwQ>  <https://www.instagram.com/bemyeyesapp/> 

Be My Eyes Newsletter is sent to our users once a month. 
This month issue is carefully curated by  <https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-rignot-937b74132> Julia Rignot,  <https://www.linkedin.com/in/cecilie-skou-andersen/> Cecilie Skou Andersen. 
Questions or concerns?  <http://bemyeyes.com/what-is-be-my-eyes/> Try our FAQ or contact our  <mailto:info at bemyeyes.com> support team. 
If you’d rather not get these updates anymore, please  <http://mixpanel.com/engage/unsubscribe/796533/553d94a066fdfa6636000014/2439252/> unsubscribe here.

“Small acts of kindess with global impact” 
Be My Eyes

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