Microsoft's AI app for the blind can identify Indian currency
Microsoft research project, Seeing AI - an app designed for the blind and for people with low vision - has been upgraded and can now identify Indian currency, using Artificial Intelligence. The app, which is currently available only on the iOS, can detect all Indian currency in circulation, including the new notes, and can narrate the denominations to visually-impaired users. Here's more about it.
Microsoft's media statement about the Seeing AI upgrade
"Designed for users with visual impairment, Seeing AI combines AI and rich computer vision to narrate the world around users in real-time. Seeing AI serves as an example of how inclusive technology empowers people of all abilities," said Microsoft in a media statement.
It's fairly simple to use the Seeing AI app
Indian currency is the latest addition to the app after British Pounds, Euros, US Dollars, and Canadian Dollars. The app has a simple UI with the currency feature located at the left-end of the user tab. Users can simply tap on it and hover the camera over a note for the app to recognize and describe it. But that's not all it does.
Empowering the visually-impaired through technology
"Currency bills are particularly challenging to identify...People who are blind or have low vision are known to fold these notes up in different shapes to be able to recognize and use them. Seeing AI brings this power to the users' fingertips," explained Microsoft.
What else Microsoft's Seeing AI app is capable of
Microsoft officially launched Seeing AI in July 2017 as an app to help the visually impaired and the blind complete multifarious tasks. The app, using a camera and AI technology, can detect and read out text in front of the camera, can recognize friends and their emotions, can describe landscape, currency, colors, handwriting, and many other things.
