Announced at the 2018 I/O conference, the upcoming Google Lookout app aims to help the blind and visually impaired in daily life. Built using Google's existing AI Lens identification tools, the new app offers spoken notifications to users about their environment. This extends past simple item identification, as the app can even provide the location of the item in relation to the user. The Google Lookout app will also be capable of reading text, such as exit signs over doors and street signs.
In its current state, the app is split into four modes: Home, Work & Play, Scan and Experimental. These four modes allow the app to better focus on a single space and help in identifying the surrounding area in a way that is better suited for the user's purposes. The Google Lookout app is currently only planned for the Google Pixel phone, though it may expand to other platforms as Google brings its Lens feature to iOS and other Android devices.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- AI-powered Visual Recognition
- The development of AI-powered visual recognition technology presents opportunities for creating innovative apps that can assist visually impaired individuals in their daily lives.
- Contextual Spoken Notifications
- The use of contextual spoken notifications provides a disruptive innovation opportunity to enhance daily navigation and accessibility for visually impaired individuals.
- Expandable to Other Platforms
- Expanding the Google Lookout app to other platforms, such as iOS and other Android devices, opens up new possibilities for assisting a larger population of visually impaired individuals.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Mobile App Development
- The mobile app development industry can leverage AI-powered visual recognition technology to create new solutions that cater to the needs of visually impaired individuals.
- Assistive Technology
- The assistive technology industry can explore the integration of contextual spoken notifications into their products to enhance the accessibility and functionality for visually impaired individuals.
- Smartphone Manufacturing
- Smartphone manufacturers can seize the opportunity to collaborate with AI and accessibility experts to create inclusive devices that integrate visual impairment-aiding apps like Google Lookout.
