Be My Eyes

Be My Eyes
Name	Be My Eyes
Type	Nonprofit (originally), Technology startup
Founded	2015
Founders	Hans Jørgen Wiberg, Will Butler, Christian Erfurt
Headquarters	Copenhagen, Denmark
Services	Mobile app, video assistance, accessibility platform
Languages	Multiple

Be My Eyes is a mobile application that connects people who are blind or have low vision with sighted volunteers and company representatives through live video calls to assist with visual tasks. Launched in 2015, the service integrates crowdsourced volunteer support with corporate accessibility offerings, combining elements of peer-to-peer networking, assistive technology, and customer service. The platform has intersected with prominent organizations and initiatives across technology, non‑profit, and corporate sectors.

History

The project began after cofounders with ties to Copenhagen and Danish entrepreneurship networks developed a prototype informed by interactions with organizations such as Danish Association of the Blind and humanitarian groups operating in Scandinavia. Early growth occurred alongside programs from Apple Inc. and Google accessibility teams, which amplified visibility through developer conferences like WWDC and Google I/O. Adoption accelerated as partnerships were announced with agencies operating in Europe and North America, including collaborations with entities linked to European Union accessibility directives and United Nations disability advocacy efforts such as those tied to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Subsequent expansions involved translation into dozens of languages with engagement from regional disability organizations in countries like United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Brazil, India, and Japan.

Features and Technology

The application combines mobile video streaming, push notifications, and language routing, integrating open frameworks that echo implementations from platforms like WebRTC, iOS frameworks publicized at WWDC, and Android networking patterns showcased at Google I/O. Core features include one‑tap volunteer requests, specialized company channels that route calls to corporate representatives, and in‑call tools such as image capture and object highlighting inspired by work from research labs affiliated with MIT Media Lab, Stanford HCI Group, and accessibility teams at Microsoft Research. The platform has incorporated machine learning experiments drawing on models similar to those announced by OpenAI and research from institutions like Carnegie Mellon University and University of Cambridge to augment volunteer assistance with automated scene description prototypes. Backend infrastructure leverages cloud services comparable to offerings from Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud Platform to scale signaling and media relays, while internationalization pipelines mirror practices used by companies such as Facebook and Twitter (now X).

User Base and Accessibility Impact

The user community includes volunteers recruited via channels like Reddit, Twitter, and university outreach programs at institutions including Harvard University, University of Oxford, and National University of Singapore. Blind and low‑vision users often learn about the service through outreach by organizations such as Royal National Institute of Blind People, American Foundation for the Blind, and rehabilitation centers connected with World Health Organization guidance on assistive devices. Empirical assessments reference accessibility research from journals associated with ACM and conferences like CHI, comparing outcomes with other assistive products from vendors such as OrCam and Seeing AI; studies highlight improvements in autonomy for tasks ranging from label reading to navigation in retail settings used by retailers like Walmart and Tesco. The platform’s multilingual support enabled adoption in regions where local disability NGOs coordinate volunteer networks, including collaborations observed in Kenya, Brazil, and Philippines.

Partnerships and Funding

Initial funding included angel investments and grants from Nordic accelerators and impact investors with ties to organizations like Novo Nordisk Foundation and regional startup incubators in Copenhagen. Strategic partnerships extended to corporate accessibility programs at Microsoft, Google, and Meta Platforms, Inc. for joint initiatives and pilot projects; commercial offerings introduced company channels via agreements with firms such as Aldi, IKEA, and insurance providers operating across Europe and North America. Nonprofit funding and programmatic alliances involved entities like Lions Clubs International and disability advocacy groups that facilitated volunteer recruitment and outreach. Subsequent fundraising rounds and philanthropic support drew attention from foundations and venture funds active in social impact technology.

Privacy and Security

Operational privacy practices reflect tensions common to assistive platforms: managing live video streams implicates standards discussed in contexts like General Data Protection Regulation enforcement in the European Union and privacy frameworks debated in the United States Congress. The service implemented features for consent, optional image capture, and data retention policies aligned with guidance from privacy regulators and nongovernmental organizations such as Electronic Frontier Foundation. Security architectures use encrypted transport akin to recommendations from IETF protocols and threat models taught in courses at institutions like ETH Zurich and University of California, Berkeley, with ongoing audits informed by best practices from cybersecurity firms and standards bodies.

Reception and Criticism

Reception among disability communities and technology commentators has been broadly positive: outlets including Wired (magazine), The New York Times, and The Guardian have highlighted practical benefits, while academic evaluations presented at CHI and publications in ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing have discussed efficacy. Criticisms center on risks of overreliance on crowdsourced assistance versus professional services, highlighted by advocacy groups such as National Federation of the Blind and debates in policy forums like European Disability Forum meetings. Privacy advocates from organizations including Privacy International and Electronic Frontier Foundation have raised concerns about live video handling and corporate channel integration. Ethical discussions reference technology assessments by researchers at Harvard Kennedy School and debates over labor and voluntarism in the platform economy as examined in studies from Stanford University and London School of Economics.

Category:Assistive technology