By Venkatesh chandrasekaran

Millions of people worldwide live with varying degrees of blindness, whether from birth or due to illness or injury. If you have a family member or friend who is visually impaired (VI), you’ve likely seen firsthand the challenges they face in daily life. But with the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, could AI offer new hope for individuals with visual impairments?

Let’s explore some potential ways AI-driven devices can empower VI individuals to live more independently.

Enhancing Personal Hygiene

One of the major challenges for VI individuals, particularly children, is learning to navigate restrooms and maintain hygiene. AI-powered devices that provide real-time audio cues can help them use toilets, sinks, and public washrooms more confidently. Such technology would be especially beneficial in workplaces and public spaces, ensuring greater independence and dignity.

Improving Mobility

Navigating the world without sight is an immense challenge. Many VI individuals rely on canes, guide dogs, or assistance from others, making independent travel daunting. Current advancements in AI promise a future where smart devices can map surroundings, detect obstacles like potholes and ditches, and provide guidance in real time.

Although smart glasses and AI-powered canes exist, they often overwhelm users with excessive information, making them impractical for daily travel. A more intuitive AI solution that filters relevant data and provides clear, simple instructions could revolutionize mobility for VI individuals.

Access to Technology and Services

With the advent of mobile phones equipped with accessibility features like TalkBack, VI individuals can now use apps to book cabs, shop online, or make payments. Interestingly, for VI users, traditional visual interfaces (UIs) are unnecessary. AI-driven voice agents could enable seamless interaction with digital services, bypassing the need for standard UI elements altogether.

Education and Skill Development

Special educators face unique challenges when teaching VI children, particularly in subjects like science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). While teaching language and auditory-based subjects is relatively manageable, conveying spatial and functional concepts is far more complex.

AI can play a crucial role in developing specialized curricula and interactive learning tools that make abstract concepts more tangible. AI-driven experience centers could allow VI students to perceive shapes, sizes, and structures, significantly enhancing their learning experience and closing the education gap.

Employment and Independent Living

Can a VI individual hold a job or even run a business? While there are inspiring stories of exceptional individuals who have overcome these barriers, the reality is that many remain unemployed and dependent on others.

AI advancements have the potential to change this. By making all digital applications accessible without requiring additional accessibility tools, AI can create an inclusive work environment. Voice commands and AI-driven interfaces could enable VI individuals to perform tasks efficiently, making workplaces more accessible for all employees, regardless of ability.

A Prophetic Future?

With breakthroughs in AI-driven brain implants and assistive technologies, the possibility of restoring sight or enhancing perception for VI individuals may soon become a reality. These innovations could also extend to other disabilities, empowering people to function independently and equally in society.

About the Author

The author is an advisor to Karna Vidya Foundation, an organization in India dedicated to using technology to empower visually impaired individuals. He is also the founder of Gerrid.AI, an AI startup focused on leveraging artificial intelligence for the betterment of people with disabilities.