Note from Day Undefined:
This product describes itself in the following way: "Seeing AI is a free app that narrates the world around you. Designed with and for the blind and low vision community, this ongoing research project harnesses the power of AI to open up the visual world. Seeing AI assists with daily tasks from reading, to describing photos, to identifying products, and more." (Seeing AI Website)
Our reviewer, Hannah, finds that Seeing AI is better for reading documents and the app Be My Eyes is better for describing the world around you - from products and places to food and images.
Where to find this product:
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Product Review by Hannah H.: (meet our team)
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How long I've been using this product: 1+ year
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How often I use this product: A couple times a week
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My gut feeling: I love this app, because it helps me read labels on beauty products and food packages, without having to worry about a sighted person helping me read them.
- Why this product? Seeing AI is like another set of eyes; it sees for me. When I was at a training center in Massachusetts, I put Seeing AI in document mode to read directions on how to make fries and onion rings. I also used it to make cakes, brownies, and frozen dinners, and to read documents like receipts, vaccine cards, and cards from family members. I'm a really curious person; I like to read the things around me. So I put Seeing AI in product mode to read labels on beauty products like hand lotion, hair masks, shampoo, conditioner, and face mists. To read labels, Seeing AI will take a picture first. Then, you can scroll through the app to get to the more info button. Once you press that button, Seeing AI will list the ingredients in that product, (if applicable), how to use it, and any safety warnings. Not only can you scan documents and anything with a label on it. You can also take pictures yourself, and Seeing AI will give you an AI-GENERATED description of someone's age, gender, and facial expression. For example, it told me that I was a 23-year-old woman with brown hair looking happy.
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Pros: Seeing AI reads packing slips, receipts, letters, and anything made of paper. It reads labels on beauty products, packaged foods, or anything with a bar code.
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Cons: The color identifier is not very accurate. For example, if you only want to know what color your shirt is, Seeing AI won't tell you that. Instead, the app will get confused, and pick up the colors of multiple things around you, like a chair or a bag. The phone has to be at a certain angle in order to read a document. You can only get Seeing AI on the Apps Store, which means that you won't be able to find it on Android devices like cell phones, tablets, or Chromebooks (as of March 2024).
- This product might be relevant for: I think Seeing AI is good for people who are blind or losing their vision. If you want to read an important document, and you don't want someone to help you, you can always use this app. The only problem is that if you're reading a document, you have to hold the camera at a certain angle over the paper to capture all of the edges, including the top, bottom, and sides. And the app doesn't always let you know if a certain portion of the document is out of the camera's view.
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Video Demonstration:
Hannah demonstrates scanning a barcode on body scrub using Seeing AI and discusses its many features.