Microsoft gives ‘sight’ to the blind
Tech heavyweight, local firms develop artificial intelligence-equipped glasses
The voice is clear like crystal: “In front of you are two persons. The 25-year-old girl looks surprised, while the 40-year-old man looks indifferent.”
The voice isn’t that of a human being. Nor is it of a conventional robot. It’s emanating from, wait for it, a pair of eyeglasses, specially made for the blind and the visually impaired by a collaboration between Microsoft and Adjacent Technologies, a Chinese tech company.
Their aim is to help the blind and the visually impaired recognize the surrounding environment.
Embedded with image recognition technology, it can tell the blind and the visually impaired what is going on in their ambient space, including information on environment, figures, words and even some famous people.
The blind and the visually impaired can also take pictures of restaurant menus using a smartphone and the handset can be paired with (or linked to) the tech spectacles for information about the dishes on the menu.
It’s an innovative application of artificial intelligence or AI technology.
“AI has enormous potential to empower and accelerate the forces of good in the world. We believe AI technology has the power to amplify human ingenuity and extend our capabilities so that we can achieve more,” said Alain Crozier, chairman and CEO of Microsoft Greater China, in a recent AI for Good event for nonprofit partners.
“It is the technology that helps everyone to be ... equal ... Donation is not the only thing that will make a difference. Instead, Microsoft hopes to integrate AI with humanity to really help individuals.”
He said this is only one of Microsoft’s collaborative programs and the company is working with many non profit organizations to do good for society through technology.
Microsoft’s facial recognition technology has also been used to help NGOs find missing children and has helped many children to find their way home.
“Technology drives us to develop a well-rounded system for the blind and the visually impaired,” said Zeng Zhemin, product manager of Guangzhou Huatu Information Technology, which develops products for groups with visual difficulties.
Microsoft has joined hands with Huatu to launch Bus Listening, a collaborative program to help the blind and the visually impaired take public transportation including bus and subway.
To take a bus, the blind and the visually impaired only need to install Huatu’s app on their smartphones, which will remind them of the bus arrival a minute in advance.
According to a recent media report, there are 140 million people with visual difficulties in China.
Thanks to such technologies, the blind and the visually impaired in Guangzhou can enjoy the information service covering 10,000 buses on numerous routes.
Wei Qing, chief technology officer of Microsoft China, said, “When working with partners, we not only help them in the project itself but open our resources and tools for them. It’s our opening of platforms that help a great many companies to develop their own products.”
Microsoft follows a similar policy with regard to its own charitable activities: it shares its resources with companies to help the latter develop products for public good.
“AI for Good’ means that AI, this great means of technology, can’t be owned only by a minority of people but should be enjoyed by all,” Wei said.