Browsing web pages overloaded and crammed with content, is unpleasant for many shoppers, and can even be impossible to navigate for people with vision loss. Despite all that, I often find myself, on Amazon, in a navigation nightmare, and wonder why would anyone design a page like this? Sometimes I give up the hunt, and sometimes I fight my way through, thinking there must be a better way. And then, a more accessible option shows up.
Innosearch.ai is a shopping platform created with the needs of low vision and blind users in mind. Their attention to accessibility for screen readers, also benefits all visual users with a clean and clear interface. The design embodies the KISS principle, keeping it simple and uncomplicated. So easy, in fact, that I made my first ever purchase on a mobile phone with a screen reader, using VoiceOver on iPhone.
The first product I purchased on InnoSearch.ai, through a link on my phone, was an Oral B rechargeable toothbrush. A simple search delivered options from online retailers including Walmart, Amazon, Oral B and eBay. I found, and selected, the toothbrush I wanted at the right price, reviewed the product details, and clicked the “Buy Now” button. Finding ApplePay, at the top of payment options sealed the deal because it meant there was no need to create (yet another) online account and password. The order was placed. The package arrived at my door in less than 24 hours…and the shipping was free.
As the name indicates, InnoSearch.ai is an innovative approach to resolving accessibility issues, for every online store and billions of products. The customer does not pay a premium for this service, InnoSearch makes a commission on every sale, paid by the store. The customer does not pay for shipping and has a 30-day window for free returns. It’s all powered by AI, of course, including the “Ask InnoSearch” and the Shop By Phone chatbots. , you can search and Book Flights here too. See the videos below for video demos, by Sam Seavey, The Blind Life, for shopping online and shopping by phone.
One beautiful, early spring day in New York, I exited Grand Central an crossed 42nd Street walking downtown on Park Avenue. In the midst of the morning rush, several blocks in, I hear an enthusiastic voice calling out to me, “Well hello there, it’s nice to meet up with a fellow white cane traveler!” I smile and turn to reply, “Hello to you, it is lovely to meet you, and your cane.” I introduce myself and Edward Hirsch does the same. As a point of reference, he mentions the guest essay he wrote for The New York Times, in 2023. I say, “Of course, I know it well.” The title of the piece, “I Am Going Blind, and I Now Find It Strangely Exhilarating,” is a hook. It compels you to find out, what does that mean?
Ed’s vision loss is caused by retinitis pigmentosa (RP) an inherited retinal disease. His eyesight was changing at what seemed a relatively slow and manageable pace, until a couple of unfortunate incidents indicated it was time to consider a new approach. His first step is to reach out to Lighthouse Guild, in New York for help. The confirmation of legal blindness opens a whole world of programs and services, including an advocate, low vision specialist, ophthalmologist, computer specialist, cane training and home visits. Ed says “Daily life has a renewed delight and vigor,” and “Now that I signal my disability with a white cane, I find that I have tapped a well of visible kindness.” And he enjoys stopping other cane users (like me) on the street to say hello.
So you see, it’s learning to live better with vision loss that Ed finds exhilarating. Two years later, he follows with, “How I Learned to Be Blind,” for the Wall Street Journal, confirming that his exuberance is holding.
Edward Hirsch was born in Chicago in 1950. He is a renowned poet and critic who wrote a national bestseller How to Read a Poem and Fall In Love With Poetry.. He has published nine books of poems, including The Living Fire: New and Selected Poems, which brings together thirty-five years of work, and Gabriel: A Poem, a book-length elegy for his son that The New Yorker called “a masterpiece of sorrow.” He has also published five prose books about poetry. His newly published memoir My Childhood In Pieces, a stand up comedy and Skokie elegy. Since 2003, he has served as the president of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation.
They mean well, of course they do, but when it comes to asking a family member for technical support or help learning a new skill, things can quickly go sideways. What starts as a loving gesture, often turns into a test of your patience, and theirs. There is no need to blame age or ability for what seems to be an emotionally charged exchange with the geek you love. It’s all about family dynamics, which is why tech support is best delivered by a qualified non-relative.
Here are some tech support and training resources specifically helpful for older adults.
Senior Planet from AARP – call hotline at 888-713-3495 for answers to troubleshoot tech related questions. Learn about their free, online and in-person classes for older adults. Topics covered include computer basics, internet navigation, social media, using smartphones and tablets. They also offer classes on specific apps, online safety, and using technology to manage health and finances. SeniorPlanet.org
Public Library – More and more libraries are offering free tech support and training programs. They may have regularly scheduled classes and even individualized help administered by qualified volunteers. Contact your local library today and inquire.
Apple – The Apple Stores offer free personal setup, numerous workshops scheduled daily, Genius Bar to help you solve issues or fix problems, and Accessibility Support 24/7 by phone at 877.204.3930 for people with visual, hearing, learning and physical impairments.
HadleyHelps.org offers an impressive series of video tutorials, for adults with vision loss, on Android, Apple, Computer Skills, Books & TV, Alexa and Zoom. If you have questions, reach out to Hadley by phone at 800-323-4238, or email [email protected].
Microsoft’s Disability Answer Desk at 800.936.5900 provides free technical support to customers with vision or hearing impairments and other disabilities, on Microsoft products and accessibility features. This includes assistance with Windows, Office, Xbox, and adaptive accessories.
Community and Senior Centers – are offering more in the way of technology support and training, as well. Contact your local center and ask about their programs. In this setting, you’ll be learning from and with your peers.
Before you begin to expand your horizons, here are a few tips that can help you ease into the learning process with realistic expectations.
Focus on learning one thing at a time. Classes and workshops may cover more elements than you can absorb in one session. Be happy to learn a couple of new things each time and come back for the rest later.
Know the key to successful learning is rooted in repetition. You don’t learn to do something on the first try. Repeat it 20 times and suddenly you are the master. Learning to navigate a touch screen is mostly about how many times you touch that screen every day. After a while, it’s just second nature — ingrained in your sense memory.
A learning curve causes discomfort across the entire spectrum of age, whether your eyesight is good, or not. Keep things in perspective by allowing yourself credit for your successes.
Post originally published September 1, 2017 and updated June 13, 2025
Apple did announce significant updates to Siri at their WWDC 2024 conference, emphasizing a smarter and more capable Siri powered by their new Apple Intelligence platform. New Siri was presented as the central component of the advancing Intelligence, designed to better understand natural language, relevance and context personal to you. It was about time, Siri was getting a major update.
Even the first Siri announcement, in June 2024, made clear it was not actually ready to roll out, and would not be available with the release of iPhone 16 and iOS 18 in September, as would be expected. But the first small delay to December 2024, was pushed to Spring 2025, then Fall 2025, then to sometime in 2026.
Apple has released other Apple Intelligence features, including a version of ChatGPT connected to Siri, however they did not make up for the undelivered promises. In addition, the iPhone 16 and iOS 18 roll out was marred by glitches and bugs. Some of the issues have been resolved in software updates, but others persist for some users, including unresponsive touch screens, slow refresh, finicky Face ID, AirPods keep disconnecting. Accessibility issues include VoiceOver muting, cursor jumping and Speak Screen not speaking. Some problems are fixed with a reboot, temporarily, In some cases Apple Accessibility Support suggested turning off all Apple Intelligence in settings, for now.
On June 20, 2024 a class action lawsuit was filed against Apple by shareholders who allege the company misled them about the progress of its AI integration, particularly with Siri, resulting in financial losses. The lawsuit claims Apple exaggerated its AI developments, specifically related to Siri’s advancement, ultimately reducing iPhone sales and Apple’s stock price.
The post below was published following the original WWDC 2024 with a video preview of AI features to come. Apple has since removed that video from public access. Here’s a new video that highlights the Apple Intelligence features available now.
Siri, Accessibility & Apple Intelligence
Publish Date: June 27, 2024
Rumors of Siri’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. At the 2024 World Wide Developers Conference, Apple extended a golden life preserver to the iconic voice assistant, finally saving it from years of embarrassment and pledging to grant it a new respectable position. A mea culpa of sorts, if not to Siri, to loyal Siri users everywhere. The Siri reboot is empowered by Apple Intelligence, including a partnership with ChatGPT. So yes there is a possibility Siri will go rogue, but let’s hope Apple has figured out how to keep it friendly.
Siri has been a primary accessibility tool, for people with vision loss, since its 2011 launch on Apple iOS. The conventional wisdom was that iPhone users with vision loss would adopt the VoiceOver screen reader, many did, but many more did not. While on staff at the Lighthouse in New York, I encountered a steady stream of inquiries from visually impaired people, and their families, asking for “talking computers.” It took some time before I realized they were not looking for technology that would talk “to” them, they wanted technology they could talk to. We may be finally getting closer to a truly conversational and universally accessible solution.
Maybe, having not rushed into the frenzy, Apple can avoid the pitfalls of competitors, including Google, Microsoft and Open AI itself. Still that is no guarantee of success, but we can wish them well. At his conference keynote, Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook said, “I’m excited that we’ll introduce profound new intelligence capabilities that will inspire developers, delight users and make our platforms more useful than ever.”
According to Apple, the next generation Siri has a new design and is even more capable and integrated.
With a more extensive knowledge of your device settings, Siri will help you learn new features with step by step directions
Richer language understanding, will help Siri be better able to decipher what it is your trying to say
Siri will be able to update Contacts
Describe a photo or message you’re looking for and Siri will find it
The official website says, Apple Intelligence is “Built into your iPhone, iPad and Mac to help you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly.”
Writing tools will proofread, edit and summarize
Prioritize time sensitive emails and summarize long messages
Record audio from Phone or Notes app and get summary of transcript
Smart Reply generates suggested response to emails
Create custom Genmoji images
A work in progress, Apple Intelligence is free for users, and will be available in beta as part of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia this fall in U.S. English.
Since it’s initial launch in 2017, the Seeing AI app from Microsoft is the gift that keeps giving to visually impaired people. We embraced the intelligent camera for it’s ability to translate text, images, objects and environments into spoken words. Even as it inspired many competitors, Seeing AI has maintained it’s prominent position. As the software continued to improve, the app’s interface did not change much…until now.
The Seeing AI interface has been consolidated into 3 main tabs labeled: Read, Describe and More. The idea was to streamline what was previously a dedicated “channel” for each feature. The result does not seem simplified, at first, and it takes some getting used to. Here’s how the reshuffled tabs lay out.
Seeing AI graphic image with app icon overlay. Image credit: Microsoft
READ Tab
The first tab combines three channels, from previous versions, for reading Short Text, Documents and Handwriting. Point the camera at any text, or handwritten words, and it will read instantly. Taking a picture of the text may improve accuracy and will allow you to ask for more information.
DESCRIBE Tab
In the second tab, take a photo of an environment and it will be described to you in detail, including recognition of objects and people. This feature offers option to have photos in your library described, and to ask for more information or explore image by touch.
MORE Tab
The third tab is home to all the remaining channels, seven in all, each standing on it’s own.
PRODUCT – Reads barcodes and accessible QR codes. Audio guidance helps you find the code, then scans it. In the grocery store, for example, the code might identify the brand and flavor on the ice cream container, or the fat content of the milk, or if the bread is wheat or white.
PERSON – Use the camera to scan and tell you about the people nearby. Facial descriptions include an estimate of age and expression. Set face recognition to announce the name of someone you know when they come into view.
CURRENCY – Select the paper currency you wish to identify (choose from 17 currency options) and hold the camera over a single note to hear the value.
WORLD — An experimental combination of artificial intelligence and augmented reality helps you navigate unfamiliar indoor spaces in 3D guided by spatial audio using headphones. Caution is advised and feedback is appreciated.
FIND MY THINGS — Teach Seeing AI to recognize the items you often find yourself searching for, like keys, wallet, AirPods, sunglasses, etc. Follow the prompts to take videos of the item and save it to your list. Once set up, the camera can scan the environment to help you locate the selected item through audible beeps that quicken as you get closer to it.
COLOR – Point the camera at an item and it will identify the color.
LIGHT – For users with no light perception, this channel indicates intensity and direction of light through audible tone and pitch changes.
The Seeing AI app is available for iOS on the App Store, and for Android on Google Play.
Get quick help at the upper right corner on every channel.
Feedback helps improve the app, so do share your thoughts through the app menu or by email to [email protected].
Post originally published on Jan 19, 2018 and most recently updated Apr 16, 2025
Many variations on the concept of smart glasses followed a lack-luster launch for Google Glass in 2014. Only recently has one, of the numerous attempts at smart glasses actually gained traction, and it’s not a clunky headset with a hefty price tag. This product developed in a partnership combining technology from Meta with classic sunglass designs from Ray-Ban.
With 2 million already sold, and another 10 million being produced, it’s fair to say these glasses are the popular choice. The price starts at $300, the frames are easy to wear in public, and the technology has benefits to a wide audience, including visually impaired and blind users.
Meta’s AI powered glasses don’t enhance your vision, but they do read text, identify objects, and describe your surroundings. A compatible smartphone is required. The glasses are activated by voice commands, making the interactions conveniently hands-free. You can take photos or video, listen to music or audiobooks, and send or receive calls. When all else fails, Meta has also partnered with Be My Eyes to enable a call for help to one of it’s millions of human volunteers.
Improvements are expected as we await the release of the 3rd generation Meta glasses. The AI should see a significant reduction in the rate of erroneous responses. Information that cannot be trusted is unacceptable, and potentially detrimental to people who are blind. The battery life is fleeting, particularly in AI mode, and it too is expected to get a boost.
Watch Sam Seavey’s video review of Meta glasses for blind and visually impaired users…
Embarking on a trip, with vision loss, is a challenge. Awareness and planning will serve to elevate your confidence, comfort and safety. It always helps to learn about services and utilize them when possible. Start here with a review of some of the travel advice and accommodations we’ve shared on OE.
Research and preparation is pivotal, when traveling near and far, with a visual impairment. Don’t leave the house without a plan for how you’ll deal with obstacles you’ll encounter.
Help getting through the airport is widely available. It can be arranged when booking flights, and some airlines even have dedicated accessibility phone lines for your convenience.
Transportation to and from airports, as well as rides during your visit, can be arranged by app. Here are some helpful tips for managing the process with vision loss.
Live assistance is available, through this app on your smartphone, at many airports free of charge. The Aira visual interpreting service is also accessible for a fee, and can be very useful at travel hubs, hotels, etc.
Hilton hotels has partnered with the Be My Eyes app to provide accessibility support, to guests, who are blind or visually impaired, in the United States and Canada. We also discuss how to utilize apps and services at any hotel.
This airline has improved the travel experience for people with vision loss with an accessible flight map and a dedicated disabilities support phone line.
Planning is pivotal to successfully navigating many of life’s experiences and particularly important when traveling with a visual impairment. A bit of minor organizing will alleviate worries about getting around airports, terminals, and hotels.
Learning to ask for assistance is a very good skill to develop when living with vision loss, so go ahead and embrace this opportunity to practice. Don’t be too self-conscious, you’re not asking for anything extraordinary, just requesting information, most likely directional in nature.
Seeking help while moving through an airport or train terminal, isn’t at all unusual. It may not be obvious to others that you are not able to see a sign or location they are pointing to, in which case it is appropriate to say so and ask for a more detailed description.
Arrange for Meet and Assist
Greatly reduce the stress of navigating a busy travel hub by asking for assistance at the time of booking. Your need for accommodation will be registered in the system and may also be indicated on the ticket or boarding pass.
Meet and Assist are airport accommodations that provide a sighted trained escort who is able to accelerate the journey through security and to the gate. They will show you the location of the restroom and snack bar before alerting the gate staff of your arrival. For ease of transport, a wheelchair may be offered, which you can accept or decline.
Assistance can be arranged from arrival through destination, including connecting flights, depending on your needs.
Airport terminal attendants checking in people.
Priority Boarding
At the gate, help is available for boarding and locating your assigned seat. It’s always a good idea to take advantage of priority boarding and get settled before the plane fills up. Early boarding and assistance are also available at railway terminals.
Luggage Identification
We recommend traveling light and with carrying-on luggage instead of checking. These days, it’s the smarter and more economical choice for all travelers. It’s always best to carry a bag you can easily identify. If the bag is basic black, mark it with a bright ribbon or unique luggage tag.
Hotel Accessibility
At the time of booking and at check-in, request help and get acquainted with the hotel. Request a room near the elevator. Ask for assistance getting to the room. Get familiar with elevator and buttons for your floor and lobby. It’s also good to review how to turn on/off the TV, AC, etc.
Don’t hesitate to request assistance if you need it. Concierge and hotel staff are eager to make you comfortable. Gratuities are always appreciated.
Even if you’re not traveling alone, do these things anyway, it makes the trip easier to deal with for everyone.
An earlier version of this post was published Apr 7, 2022 and updated Mar 13, 2025.
Almost any degree of vision loss makes reading a challenge. It doesn’t take much to realize just how much is dependent on our ability to see. The reading of books requires significant adjustment. I can vividly recall the last few print books I was able to consume with my eyes, more than twenty years ago. The words were slowly fading away and there were no corrective lenses, magnifiers or reading machines that provided a reasonable replacement. Over time I embraced audiobooks and more reading options became possible through mobile technologies.
Considering the many ways I’d learned to compensate over the years, it seemed my reading was covered. That is until my partner, Neil, said he would like to read books to me. There wasn’t actually a day that went by when he wasn’t already reading something to me, like news articles, restaurant menus, movie reviews and cooking directions. But now we were reading best selling novels together. It is the sweetest, most loving gift, and you don’t have to be visually impaired to appreciate it. He happens to be a skilled reader and approaches the task with enthusiasm and ease. I can ask him to pause, repeat, or search a definition. There is no set schedule, we fit in a chapter or two, here and there, on an almost daily basis. A book club built for two, we summarize, question, laugh and cry together as the story unfolds. We love to predict what is coming and how the book will end.
Currently immersed in the fifteenth title of our successful reading venture, I wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone. A beautiful experience, which can be as good for the reader as it is for the listener. Reading aloud together can bring you closer, improve memory, and elevate your overall perspective. As it turns out, Neil and I are not the only two enjoying the practice of reading together. Articles discussing the benefits of reading to someone you love, include: A Simple Way to Build Intimacy in The New York Times, Read Me A Story in The Guardian, and Try This In Bed Tonight on Oprah Daily.
Consider creating your own Book Club for Two. Ease into the process with a quick read, an essay or a short story. Read the summaries and discuss your reading list together.
Post originally published May 31, 2023 and update Mar 12, 2025
Getting acclimated to a hotel room will present challenges to anyone. The difficulty increases with the progression of vision loss. Figuring out how to turn on the lights, locating and regulating the thermostat, opening or closing the blinds and deciphering how to get the shower on and which shower products are in what container, are some of the questions that need answers. It can be a hellish experience, if you are not prepared to accept some assistance.
Hilton Be My Eyes Services
Perhaps the best way to get the assistance you need as a traveler who has low vision or is blind, would be to give the Hilton and Be My Eyes partnership a try. In an industry first, the hotel chain now offers accessibility assistance through the BME mobile app. Connect with dedicated and specially trained Hilton customer care agents, and access both live and AI generated, visual assistance, on select Hilton properties.
The enhanced accessibility services at Hilton, for visually impaired guests, are currently available in the United States and Canada, through the Be My Eyes app, at Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, Curio Collection, DoubleTree, Embassy Suites, Hampton by Hilton, and True by Hilton, through the Be My Eyes app.
Hand with keycard opening hotel room door
Access Assistance at Any Hotel
If one of these Hilton hotels is not in your plans, no matter where you stay, communicating your needs goes a long way. Hotels are, after all, in the hospitality business, which is all about making their guest comfortable. Request the assistance you want and don’t be surprised when you get it.
Ask for Assistance. Inform the hotel staff about your vision impairment when booking the reservation and again upon arrival, so they can show you to the room, open the door and point out things like light switches, electrical outlets, temperature controls, TV remote, and anything else you want to know.
Location of Room. Request a room that is close to the elevator, and on a lower floor, for easier access.
Arriving & Departing. Ask for assistance with check-in and check-out procedures.
Mobile Technology. Utilize accessibility apps like Seeing AI and Be My AI to read signs, menus, identify objects and describe your surroundings.
Mobility & ID. Using a white cane will help you navigate unfamiliar places safely and it also indicates your visual impairment to others.
Gaining a level of familiarity with the hotel provides a greater sense of comfort and security. Remember, hotels are in the hospitality business, and that’s what this is all about.
Ride-hailing apps offer a cash-less convenience, that is often quicker and cheaper than the taxis and car services we once depended on. They also add a most welcome element of freedom to the non-driving population.
While we were patiently awaiting the self-driving car, the transportation concept, formerly known as “taxicab,” was disrupted by technology. The driver is still completely necessary, but the method of getting a ride, where and when you want it, is now transacted primarily on mobile apps. Uber and Lyft are the dominant services, and there are others to choose from depending on your location. Finding a service / app that works for you will help to keep the process within your comfort zone. If ride-hailing apps are just not your thing, there are options for ordering the cars by phone.
Making transportation more accessible, naturally has many upsides, and of course, there a few downsides as well. Here are some tips for getting yourself the smoothest ride.
Silver car with a Lyft sticker on the windshield.
Ordering A Car
With app downloaded and account created, set pickup location, select destination, choose ride type, confirm pickup, review driver details and head to pickup location.
Cars can be ordered for immediate pickup or scheduled in advance.
Uber rides can also be ordered alternatively, without the app, from a mobile phone, by calling 1-833-USE-UBER (1-833-873-8237). Car and driver details are confirmed to you by text message.
Cars from Uber and Lyft can also be ordered by phone through GoGo Grandparent, a service that manages the process and the ride for an added fee.
Hand holding up smartphone to display yellow screen for Uber Spotlight. Image credit: Uber
Finding the Car
The apps provide the license plate, make and model of the car, the name and a photo of the driver, and an alert when the car has arrived. None of these details are helpful if you are unable to identify those elements visually. In a quiet location or at a private home, the car will be obvious. On a busy city street, finding the car is usually a challenge for anyone, particularly when you are blind or have low vision.
Speak directly with the driver, through the app, and let them know you are visually impaired, and tell them exactly where you are waiting, so they can get to where you are or let you know exactly where they are.
Ask the driver to honk twice to help you identify the car.
Use Uber’s Spotlight feature, in crowded locations and at night, by tapping the Spotlight button on the bottom right corner of the app. Your phone screen lights up with an assigned color, the driver sees the same color on their screen. Holding up the light helps them find you.
To confirm you have the right car, ask the driver “Who are you picking up?,” or “What is your name?”
Order an Uber Assist or Lyft Assist, in areas where it is available, and the driver will meet you at your front door and see you to the door of your destination.
Safety Measures
Communicate your trip details to family or friends through sharing options in the apps.
There is an emergency button in most apps, but even quicker to call 911.
Give Feedback
We always recommend providing feedback. If there are ways your experience could be improved, say so. Your suggestions can ultimately benefit all ride-sharers.
Post originally published Apr 19, 2019 and updated Feb 6, 2025
Shopping with vision loss is like a treasure hunt, minus the fun. If you are able to locate the appropriate aisle for an item, then you still have to hunt for the spot that item is hidden in. Counting on memory is useful to a point, until the store gets rearranged or the product package is redesigned. It can help to use magnifiers or apps, to identify products, however, these tools do not exactly streamline the process. Finding human help is usually easier said than done.
It just so happens, Walmart, has a solution for visually impaired and blind customers. The retail juggernaut now offers live visual assistance, through the Aira app, in all it’s US stores and online. The beauty of this arrangement is it brings you directly to a highly trained agent, who can see what you may not be seeing yourself. The shopping assistance is paid for by Walmart, not the customer, and there’s no time limit on your shopping. So, go ahead, shop to your heart’s content.
If the Aira Explorer app is not already loaded on your phone, get it on Google Play or the App Store. Open the app and instantly connect with a live visual interpreter for professional assistance navigating the store or the website, locating products, price checking, exploring in-store promotions, and getting checked out. There is much to be said for trained shopping assistants, available when you need it. You will find it incredibly refreshing to interact with a real person, not a chatbot. And, by the way, live beings easily beat artificial brains, when it comes to finding, reading and identifying all kinds of stuff.
Give it a try at a Walmart near you. (and Target for that matter) and elevate your belief in humanity. The video that follows combines technology, AI and human interaction, for a most productive outcome, featuring Aira and Meta Ray-Ban Glasses.
Accessible Shopping at Walmart for people who are blind or low vision
