Could your Smartphone be your eyes?

It’s pretty much a fact that modern technology plays a huge role in almost every aspect of our lives these days. For the blind and visually impaired community however, this technology has the potential to be truly life changing.

Progressively more and more, people with visual impairments are using smart phones to access the internet for a number of services - to talk to friends, make travel plans, read mail etc. However a new app that actually claims to ‘be your eyes’, could make a real difference in helping people to see some of the things they struggle with.

You may have heard of or used an app called ‘TapTapSee’ - which allows visually impaired people to take photos of things they need reading or describing, like signs and menus and send it to call centre where it is viewed by a sighted person, who texts back a description of the object in the photo.

However good this app is, TapTapSee is a paid service, which can make it expensive. Some people also find it hard to position the camera on their phones to take a picture of the object, wasting photos, for which they’re still charged.

This is where new app called Be My Eyes comes in, ironing out some of these issues. Be My Eyes brings visually impaired users and sighted volunteers together for a conversation it is totally free. The app uses video not photos, making it easier for visually impaired users to pan around the object they want reading or describing. Volunteers can also support people to take a clear video of the object, helping to reduce error. 

How does it work? A sighted volunteer helper signs up to the service. They then receive a notification for help and a live video connection is established with the visually impaired individual. From the live video the volunteer can help the blind person by answering the question they need answered. Simple!

Be My Eyes is a free download from the Apple App Store, so if  you would like to learn more about it and other new technology for your phone, tablet or desktop computer contact us on 0114 272 275

“It's my hope that by helping each other as an online community, Be My Eyes will make a big difference in the everyday lives of blind people all over the world” 

– Hans Jørgen Wiberg, Founder of Be My Eyes

Interesting Marathons you can run to raise money

Running a marathon or a half marathon is no mean feat. Pushing yourself mentally and physically to exhaustion deserves an awful lot of credit! For this reason, people really respect and admire marathon runners, and are more than happy to support and sponsor them.

If you’re planning on, or are interested in, running a half or a full marathon this year, you should consider running it for charity. It’s a great way to raise much needed and valued funds for good causes while you achieve something on a personal level. We’ve put together this list of a few popular and interesting marathons you can partake in –

The Plusnet Yorkshire Half Marathon-Sheffield

The all-new Plusnet Yorkshire Half Marathon will burst onto the streets of Sheffield on Sunday 12th April. Set to be hugely-popular with runners of all abilities, this exciting new event will boast a field of thousands. The major new charity road race - organised by Run For All in partnership with Sheffield City Council - will attract thousands of runners of all abilities and spectators to the city's streets and raise many thousands of pounds for good causes. All profits from The Yorkshire Half Marathon-Sheffield go to charity. You can sign up today and start your fundraising for any cause you wish. Find out more about it here - http://www.theyorkshiremarathon.com/events/-events-plusnet-yorkshire-half-marathon-sheffield-/

The London Marathon

Since the first London Marathon in 1981, runners in the race have raised more than £600 million for charity, making it the largest annual one-day fundraising event in the world! Running the London Marathon and fundraising for charity has never been more popular – at the 2014 race 77 per cent of participants raised money for causes close to their hearts. If you’re a runner who’s looking to get a place in the 2015 race via a guaranteed charity entry, visit the ‘I Need a Charity Place’ page here to find out more - https://www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com/en-gb/charity/run-charity/listings/UK/

The Edinburgh Marathon

The Edinburgh Marathon is Scotland's most popular marathon. It began in 2003 and has continually grown in popularity and stature, having just received a 97% satisfaction rating in a recent Runner's World poll. Since 2003, Edinburgh Marathon Festival runners have raised over £30 million for hundreds of amazing charities. Find out more here - http://www.edinburgh-marathon.com/?why_run_for_charity

The Bournemouth Marathon

Stunning sea views, fresh crisp clean air and the very best of Bournemouth and Poole is on show as the South Coast is home to an international marathon. This is the perfect natural environment for “running as it should be”. There are 3 different ways to become a charity runner at Bournemouth Marathon Festival.  Find our more - http://www.run-bmf.com/?pages_id=6044

If you are running one of these, please consider raising money for us here at the Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind. We are one of Sheffield’s oldest independent local charities, originally formed in 1860. We provide opportunity, support, friendship and services to blind and partially sighted people in Sheffield, helping them to achieve whatever they wish to do and whatever they aspire to be.