As of 2021, 13.5% of the U.S. population has some type of disability. This includes disabilities related to walking, speaking, hearing, cognitive function, etc. Over the years, there have been slow improvements and enactments in favor of those with disabilities. Today, there has been a huge influx in competition and AI use across the globe. While the increase in AI use has scared many, one positive is improvements to the lives of many people with disabilities. Below, we will discuss how AI is improving the lives of people who are visually impaired, speech impaired, and walking impaired.
With 8% of Americans being visually impaired, it’s time for some accessible technology to be made! Luckily, a new innovation is here that can help visually impaired individuals in their everyday lives. Be My Eyes is a groundbreaking app that connects users with volunteers through a live video call. The app allows the blind individual to show the volunteer objects or texts in which they can describe to them what it is. Any time, day or night, you can request video support or just simply take a picture! Be My AI stems from Be My Eyes and ChatGPT, as it is an app that allows users to submit an image of an item or text that they are unable to see, and AI will describe it to them or read it to them aloud.
18.5 million individuals have a speech, voice, or language disorder. There are a couple of apps designed for children who have delayed speech, one of them being Card Talk. Card Talk reads the names of images out loud. Children can use this app to indicate their emotions or intentions. This app constantly undergoes updates to improve. There are a variety of languages, and you can create your own personalized card. Another great resource is Huni, a speech recognition-powered speech training app. You can listen to the pronunciation of difficult words and the app will pick up your responses. This is more of an app for those who need help to train their voice. Yet another more popular app is Voicett, which is used to communicate with other individuals.
Finally, 13.7% of Americans have a motor impairment. To combat this issue, a newly developed app, Wheelmap, is available! With this app, you can find wheelchair-accessible places in your area, such as restaurants, bathrooms, shops, and more! There are ratings next to these places as well to see if you really want to go there. Wheelmap allows the individual to plan their route in advance, which can save time and prevent confusion. Besides being in an app, AI has been utilized in physical creations as well. DROVE uses a wheelchair-mounted digital camera system, the NeuroNode interface, and sensors throughout your home to achieve centimeter-accuracy. This wheelchair can navigate doorways and tight hallways, reverse and detect unexpected obstacles. The system can also make tasks easier by ensuring the wheelchair is always in the correct position.
Most of these AI innovations are apps, but this is the world that we live in today. The majority of Americans carry around a cellular device, so it makes sense that a lot of AI technology can be used at the push of a button. The advances in technology and AI are quickly coming, and I am excited to see what is in store for this next generation!
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.