EyeGuide Vision: An App that helps the visually impaired move around using just their phone

Since you mentioned the app uses LIDAR, does that mean it will only work on the Pro models? It sounds interesting and I'd love to give it a go, but I have a 16E.

Hi. A couple of things here. Firstly, I've been in many situations where, if I'd had my phone in my hand, it would probably have been knocked out of my hand. Also, a blind person must have a mobility aid too, technology cannot safely replace a cane or a dog, so that means no spare hands for anything else, like operating crossings, sorting bus tickets and passes or whatever. I've also heard of plenty of situations where people, including blind people, have had phones stolen from their hands in public places, particularly when it's crowded like at bus stops. Also, most journeys, for me at least, involve public transport, and so many of these apps are based around walking only, or walking or driving. Rather than a purely on device app, what I need is something that more accurately does what Wewalk tries to do, as in be a ble to give me turn by turn instructions, plus feedback on my bus or train arrival time and when to get off, all while in my pocket, not using the camera. I need it to be able to tell me what bus is approaching my stop too, and be inteligent enough to recalculate the journey if a different bus than scheduled turns up, that still gets me to the stop I need. Honestly, Google Maps is more help than any of the specialist apps for journeys at this point. I know laniards are a thing, but they are of limited use when it's pouring with rain. I'm saying this to say, I hope you can bring something different to this very crowded field, something that goes beyond the sighted thought that technology can do everything, because, honestly, it can't, I'll always need physical feedback about my environment, whatever technology can add.

One thing I have noticed about many apps and devices is they assume hearing (sound) is the optimal medium. This is not always true: some of us are hard of hearing; and for others the environment can still be noisy. Very few apps maximize, or even use, haptics effectively. HapticNav is one I have read about that is exploring this more; though I do not know if it lives up to its hype as I've not had an opportunity to get a route programmed into it via its inaccessible map. An app that is able to combine haptics of the phone, and even better a wearable such as the Apple Watch would be welcome.
One thing I have wondered is if there is a way, perhaps via a machine learning model, to combine GPS or other location info with images from a camera to get more accuracy on points of interest. Many GPS apps have POI features where you can drop a pin. However GPS is often accurate to only about 20 feet (6-7 meters). And of course GPS is useless indoors. As a cane traveller for me this distance can still be a huge problem especially if what I really want is a series of POI to navigate through a largely open area that has no landmarks for the cane. This is a big challenge, but a possible differentiator for the app that can do it. I think Seeing AI and Clue? both have explored images/video for indoor navigation in recalling routes but I do not know if either mastered it. And I do not know of one that has tried outdoors.

I have to say I completely agree with David here. There’s plenty of times we’re traveling with our phone in our hand would not be safe. I’ve been totally blind since birth and I use a cane and there’s really no technology that can replace your awareness in your skills of your orientation and mobility really can’t be replaced by any technology no matter how good it gets. I also think there’s like almost an overcrowding of these types of apps in charge to differentiate how much better one than the other without having multiple apps on your phone to try to achieve something simple complicated traveling.

I agree with David. There’s really no way that technology can replace mobility skills. I have been totally blind since both and I’m a traveler. I would definitely not be walking around holding my phone in my hand. Totally not safe as far as I’m concerned. There’s also kind of an overcrowding of all these types of apps. Every one of them claims to be so good with navigating people and it’s just hard to know which one to do cause it’s just too many of them. I think I’m not interested in any wearables so that’s another aspect of things. I don’t wear glasses so I wouldn’t wear glasses either.

Hello. Will this app detect objects that are above the waist? Also, if I am standing in a line, and the person in front of me moves, will this app detect this? Will it be able to provide me directions for a route that I might want to take? And, would it be possible for it to tell me when the Pedestrian signal has changed? Thanks.

horizontal and vertical detection should be adjustable, right now, they appear to be identical. horizontal detection range is ideal for now, i.e., maneuver through narrow pathway, vertical detection is obviously too narrow, obstacle placed higher or lower is missed. example, you won't see a bench or yellow police tape.

about the haptic feedback, as far as i can tell, it uses different intensity but the same frequency. intensity can be harder to discern, maybe adding different frequencies would be more helpful.

in settings, i suggest increase the adjustable range for obstacle sensitivity and beep threshold, super helpful for fast movers.

also, "stay awake" should be applied to scene description as well, sometimes you listen to the description and the phone just locked up in the middle, in fact, why not why not stay awake when the app is open?

As the play store link to the app was posted here by the developer, I am here to share my thanks.

It's working nicely on my S23 Plus. Also enjoing the interface.

Lidar Android phones have seenm to be experimental, considering many do not exist now (if at all.)

I'm not expecting an app like this to replace something. It's meant to be an extension. for example, gps app alongside this one. works quite well outside by the way.

First, I wouldn't try using the app in my hand in crowded locations, but there are many settings where it would be helpful and safe.

Second, the more user programmable apps like this become, the better for the user. For example, having a list of items in app settings with checkboxes to indicate whether the user wants certain things spoken would be good, and the same for haptics.

Third, user defined haptic patterns would be great, since the user knows best what works for that user and what doesn't, such as safety related information in noisy situations.

Fourth, yes, a chest strap works, and so do short pockets with the phone positioned so the camera is exposed. I use polo shirts for this

Fifth, I forgot to check, does the app include a compass that gives information while walking through those large spaces someone mentioned?

Sixth, I also vote for programmable POI. Why not?

Seventh, glasses are definitely a great way to go, especially if the information they report is also programmable.

Ninth, what comes after seventh? I'm not very good in math.

First of all, thank you for this excellent application! It's very helpful to me. Could you consider adding a road detection feature? As a blind person, walking on the road can be very difficult. If possible, please add this feature to the application.

I've installed EyeGuide on my iPhone 14+. Can you direct me to precise instructions if I want to go for a walk and use EyeGuide to identify overhanging branches or Street level obstacles?