LookTel's New Recognizer App Promises Fast and Accurate Object Recognition for Blind iPhone Users

By David Goodwin, 25 February, 2012

LookTel have just released a new app that promises fast and accurate recognition of everyday items, such as cans, packages, ID or credit cards and DVDs.

LookTel Recognizer enables you to store images of objects in a library or database. You then simply point your iPhone's camera at an object and the phone will instantly recognize and describe the item. A barcode scanner is also included to provide additional labeling help.

LookTel stress that users with severe vision impairments or blindness will require sighted assistance to create the initial image library. The image library must be setup before LookTel Recognizer can be used to identify objects. Once the library exists, less and less time is required of a sighted person, as you will find Recognizer can already identify most items that are used daily.

One neat feature of Recognizer is that it allows you to backup and export your image library via E-Mail. This can be used to restore your library to a new device, but it also makes it possible to share image libraries with other users of the app.

It's been suggested that AppleVis could provide a mechanism for people to upload and share LookTel Recognizer image libraries. This certainly sounds like a great idea, and something that we will add to the site if there is enough interest. So, please add a comment if you think this is a good idea and something that you might make use of.

If you're already using this app, also be sure to add a comment to let us all know what you think of it.

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By Dave-D on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 - 22:22