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NewsUC&C7 Feb 2020 · 2 min read

Twilio Aids Collaboration for People with Visual Impairments

Twilio’s programmable video powers Be My Eyes, cutting connectivity time by 50% and helping workplace buyers follow WebRTC video accessibility advances. Publish

Twilio, one of the market leaders in cloud communication solutions, recently announced its partnership with the Be My Eyes brand. Twilio will be powering Be My Eyes’ mobile app, offering programmable video to help connect sighted volunteers with low-vision and blind users over chat.

With millions of people around the world having some manner of visual impairment affecting their daily activities, the demand for this new solution is crucial. The Be My Eyes brand wants to ensure that visual assistance is available to available to people with visual problems, through the power of programmable video, available through Twilio’s solution for real-time video and HD audio via WebRTC cloud technology. In just a few seconds, users on the app can connect with a volunteer in one of the companies listed on the Be My Eyes Platform. All the user needs to do is point their phone camera towards an object, and the volunteer can accurately describe the situation and offer help.

An Incredible App for Visually Impaired Users

Throughout the world, companies have used Twilio’s programmable video tools to deliver sensational new opportunities in the medical and healthcare space. Doctor on Demand uses Twilio video to seamlessly connect patients and doctors, for instance. The Be My Eyes mobile app was originally launched for Android and iPhone devices in 2015. However, the addition of Twilio technology will help to take this application to the next level.

The Be My Eyes app can deliver assistance to a user within 30 seconds 90% of the time. The customer support platform within Be My Eyes, Specialized Help, connects users to partner companies to help them reach an official company representative when necessary too. The app was an immediate success when launched, originally sourcing video connectivity from various providers. However, the company eventually determined that Twilio Programmable video would offer higher quality video, with better stability and faster connections.

A Successful Migration to Twilio

Twilio’s programmable video solution provides Be My Eyes with the building blocks they need to create a flexible, reliable, and high-quality video experience for all users. After migrating to Twilio, the Be My Eyes Company has reduced connectivity times by more than 50%, resulting in a much more positive user experience.

According to the Chief Commercial Officer of Be My Eyes, Alexander Hauersley Jensen, relying on family and friends for everyday tasks can be a taxing experience for people with visual impairments. The Be My Eyes Twilio-powered platform will help to solve problems for visually impaired people in a fraction of the time that it would take to get audio assistance. The Be My Eyes application now connects over 178,000 low-vision and blind people with over 3 million sighted individuals around the world today.

 

 

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