Introducing Envision AI, a new iOS app to help the blind identify text, objects, and what's around them

As well as being able to read things like food items and things like that through The barcode on the item, I think it would be a good idea to add such a feature that could read the barcode on a prescription label on medicine to tell you what the item is and the instructions on how you might use it.

Seems like the app only supports English text. It would be awesome if it either changes the language to wherever I am located or recognizes the different languages when it has detected text.

Also I am wondering where the data is processed as I'd not really like banking information, PINs etc to wind up on the Internet. Maybe the text detection part could remain on the device instead of being uploaded?

Hi again Karthik,

I just wanted to ask when you plan to update the Invision AI app? During the life of this thread you promise that updates will occur on a regular basis but I have seen nothing since the app was launched and this thread began some three to four weeks ago.

I understand the difficulties that designers have with the complexities of programming, testing and getting Apple to accept app updates but I am at least waiting in anticipation for updates to occur so that I can test the results and any new features that come along.

This app shows so much potential but if updates dry-up or even fail to happen at all then users will get fed-up with waiting, find an alternative or forget you exist at all.

Here's to an update soon,

Steve.

Hi Karthik,

Sorry to be so hard on you - I didn't really mean it but we have seen so many great apps begin a process of design and improvement only to fizzle out before the real potential has been reached. At least Invision AI is back at the top of the forum now and people might again begin adding comments. I look forward to the update with anticipation.

Steve.

I've still to mess with this app, but it sounds a lot like Seeing AI, which is a great thing btw! One great use for apps of this nature is actually to scan monitors and tv screens for updating content when playing video games. Tons of blind gamers do this, and it works really well. a great thing would be if you added a specific gaming channel that could be used to facilitate things like, reading menus, determining which text was highlighted on screen etc. These apps usually just scan the entire screen at once, which is great, but when you're trying to figure out the status of a button or checkbox, or figure out which option has focus, it can be rather difficult. I'm not sure if something like this is even possible, but it'd be amazing if you tackled this problem. It would make us mainstream blind gamers very happy. Keep up the great work!

Hi Marthik! This sounds like an outstanding app!!! But I have a curiosity question.
What are its differences with Microsoft's app called Seeing AI?

Hey Karthik. This latest update of Envision AI shows a whole lot of promise. I like how the live mode feature is layed out with beeps that, as i understand it, guides you toward the text and then reads it instantly. Unfortunately when i tried it on both my microwave oven and the stove, it had very big dificulties distinguishing between numbers and other characters, this could, however be user error and not the application that is at fault. Have you had success reading LCD displays or the like using the live mode of the app?
Anyways keep up the great work!
/Krister

Hi again Karthik,
Thank you for the notices concerning the new update. I've just downloaded the new version and I must say I'm a little confused.
So, here are my observations after a couple of minutes of using the app:

1. I am confused when I investigate the screen as the actions appear to be rather random over the bottom half of the screen.

2. I clicked the new button for live mode (said off before I double tapped) and I got a ticking sound. My son says that the camera is showing the camera in live mode but I do not get anything spoken aloud although some text is at the bottom of the screen. However, it is gibberish.

3. I cannot seem to turn off the clicking sound in live mode so I've closed the app because it is annoying.

4. I cannot seem to find settings anymore. My son said that there is a settings button but the face learning button seems to be on top of it as I only get that spoken and not settings.

5. I have not tried the document reading action yet as I cannot stand the ticking noise.

So, could you post some instructions about what is in the new update and describe what we have to do?

Thanks,

Steve.

Hi Krister,
I also made that assumption but I cannot find how to stop live mode. I've tried double tapping on the live mode button again but that doesn't stop it and even if I go into another mode like the learning mode for faces, the app still clicks.

Also, what about the voice when you actually find something to read? As I said, the app did not speak at all but I found some text (I don't know from where it came, maybe from a digital pael whilst I was moving the camera around my living room) but the voice did not read it until I placed my finger in the text area and moved it down.

Steve.

Hi there, so I tried to use the latest update and the live Text mode isn’t working. I have an iPhone 7 with I believe it’s 11 one update. What happens is I pointed toward the text and it doesn’t do anything but beeps at me. I do want to say thank you for developing an app like this, it’s a really neat idea. Thank you

Just a few things that I have observed in the recent update.

1. There is an element that is not labeled just past the "Read Document" button. Just swipe to the right and you should hear a click but nothing is spoken.

2. If i trained the EnvisionAi with an object. I can't seem to figure out how to remove it from the Library. So go to the "Train Faces and Objects" -> "Open Library". I am presented of the items that I've trained. How does one go about to remove something from here?

Thanks!

I have been experimenting with this app for a couple of days now and I have to say I am impressed. I look forward to future developments. I would like to congratulate you on making this app available to all of us rather than to a few countries as some have done in the past. Keep up the good work.

Hi Karthik,
Thank yu for confirming the presence of a bug and I look forward to the latest version coming out, perhaps today or tomorrow.
The only thing I thought about the layout is that it does not look like that of a standard IOS app and thus it is a little unfamiliar. I am a stickler for standardisation and therefore expect <back> on the top left, <settings> on the top right and the actions such as the face teaching and document reading features to be along the bottom. This will then leave the whole screen for text apart from the taking picture button which could be moved from the middle to just above the row of actions at the bottom, in the middle just above them. Only a personal preference but I'd like to know what others preferences are?

As others are aware now the Seeing AI app is available in the UK. However, I am not a fan of the selection area where you slide your finger up and down the box to select actions. I much prefer the Invision method. However, I still like the standard layout of buttons along the bottom of the screen.

Steve.

Hi
I contacted the developer and have not received a reply yet. The app is crashing on my part and I need troubleshooting for the issue. The app has not been updated for a while!

Hi Carthik,

Overall I'm really enjoying this app. I love that it has a bit of everything, including magnification. I actually find it recognizes scanning text on screens a bit better than Seeing AI, which is really helpful for me. I know you will continue to make the app better, and I appreciate the frequent updates. I look forward to seeing what you have coming next. One request I would like to make if I may: Will you please optimize for Ipads as well? It still works pretty good on them, but you only really get a phone-sized image to work with, which is unfortunate.

Also I'm wondering about some form of image stabilization? It seems like if you have shaky hands even a little bit, scanning isn't as accurate. That's true no matter which OCR app a person works with, but I wonder if image stabilizing might help eleviate that problem. Either way, great app.