There is a new player in the video assistance arena called CrowdViz, and like Be My Eyes it is currently only available in the iOS App Store, though an Android version is also in the works. Unlike Be My Eyes, however, after eight complimentary video assistance sessions, new sessions must be paid for via in-app purchase.
Free versus paid for the very same assistance? At first glance this would seem like a no brainer. Free is always better, isn't it? Not necessarily, and after you have read this article I think you will agree.
The Current State of Free Video Assistance
From the day I first installed Be My Eyes I have found it increasingly essential in my daily life. I've relied on the app for everything from obtaining cooking instructions for a box of frozen chicken wings to deciphering an error message on a pre-speech Windows boot-up screen.
As good as it is, the Be My Eyes experience can still use improving. For example, the app still doesn't fully release when a session has been completed, and the app must be manually removed from the apps list before VoiceOver speech returns to normal. Other concerns I have experienced and that are shared by others include:
- Time: There may be over three hundred thousand volunteers who have registered to offer Be My Eyes assistance, but not all of them are online at any given moment. The app only polls a single user at a time, and it is not unusual for it to take up to five minutes and multiple attempts before you are connected to a sighted assistant.
- Security: Be My Eyes does not collect any information about either those seeking or those offering assistance. I, for one, would rather not rely on a complete stranger at some unknown location to help me orient myself to a busy intersection; the gentleman standing physically to my right is infinitely less likely to be an Internet troll looking to wreak havoc.
- Independence: I have read any number of social media posts from blind individuals who refuse to even try Be My Eyes because to them it feels too much like "Let's help those poor blind folks" charity. I do not agree with this assessment, but I do understand it. I do also find myself feeling a bit guilty if I keep a volunteer on the line for longer than two or three minutes.
The CrowdViz Alternative
Despite its name, CrowdViz is not technically crowd sourced. The service is a startup profit seeking venture, and instead of crowd sourced volunteers, users are connected with a company that employs a pay-as-you-go cost structure. As mentioned above, the first eight sessions are free; after that, sessions currently cost $1 each, with quantity discounts (one free session when you purchase three sessions via an in-app purchase; six bonus sessions when you purchase ten, for example). The company is also planning a subscription model, but price information was not available at the time of this writing.
I initiated a number of sessions, some free and some obtained via the completely accessible in-app purchase process. The app works on any device running iOS 8 or later. I tested the service using app version 1.0 on both an iPhone 5 and an iPhone 6, though to change devices I had to log off one device and then sign onto the other. I called at various times of day. The service is currently offered around the clock during the weekdays, but the company says weekend coverage is currently spotty until additional employees can be hired and trained.
All of my weekday calls were responded to within 30 seconds, as were all of my weekend calls. Unlike Be My Eyes, which makes a direct, one-way video connection, CrowdViz uses FaceTime. When you initiate a session a worker FaceTimes you back, so you will need to have FaceTime enabled (go to Settings/FaceTime to adjust this setting) and be familiar with its use.
By default, FaceTime uses the device's front facing camera. Consequently, low vision individuals will be able to see the session helper.
After establishing a video connection, CrowdViz and Be My Eyes work similarly. Point the iPhone camera in the correct direction and the assistant can tell you which door has your new doctor's name on it, help distinguish the peanut from the canola oil on your pantry shelf, verify that the package you found on your doorstep is indeed addressed to you, or any other sight-based help which can be successfully transacted using a video connection.
Reps I spoke with were without exception friendly and blindness savvy. According to CrowdViz CEO Akash Khanolkar, "Our workers each undergo a background check, and training includes blindness awareness and courtesy." They also tend to be fairly computer savvy. When I invoked a session to help decipher a boot problem with a VM Fusion Windows startup error, I did not have to educate the rep on my need to use cursor and tab keys instead of the mouse to resolve the issue.
The CrowdViz Interface
The first time you invoke the CrowdViz app "Request assistance" button you are directed to an account setup page, where you must create a user name and app password, and enter your Apple FaceTime ID. All forms are properly labeled. The only minor stumbling block I experienced was the lack of the @ and period keys on the main e-mail entry onscreen keyboard; the numbers keyboard must be toggled. Happily, this only needs to be done once. After that you can stay signed in, or use the account name and password created during account setup.
The next screen informs you how many calls you have left. You can also purchase more sessions from this screen via an in-app purchase. If the service is congested, you may receive a message alerting you to this and stating your assistance session will be limited to ten minutes. In the nearly dozen calls I placed I only received this message once.
When you request assistance, the representative FaceTimes you back when it's your turn. I found this set-up much preferable to listening to the tone loop on Be My Eyes. I can also use my iPhone during the wait, though I only had time to check my e-mail once during all of my connections before the FaceTime ring tone began to play and I was greeted by an assistant.
Final Thoughts
CrowdViz builds nicely on Be My Eyes, addressing many of the concerns I and other users have experienced. The service does not have to waste a lot of time attempting to connect to volunteers who are not ready or able to answer a call. Any security or other issues can be tracked back to the company employees, not some nameless volunteer. And since this a service I am paying for, I am much less likely to feel guilty if the call goes long, and others may not feel they are seeking charity with each call.
I do have concerns about their business model. Currently, four calls cost $3. Subtract Apple's 30 percent and you are left with approximately $2, or 50 cents per call. At the time of this writing, all CrowdViz employees work in the company's US offices. The only way I can envision this business model succeeding long-term would be if they raised prices, went offshore, or introduced a viable subscription plan.
In the meantime, the app is free to try. And at 75 cents or less for each session it's an extremely inexpensive way to keep a sighted reader at your constant beck and call. I will keep CrowdViz in my home screen folder alongside Be My Eyes for those times when I don't want to wait for an answer, when I plan to display private information, or when I feel the session may get a bit complicated.
Product Information
Product: CrowdViz
Manufacturer: DbComConsulting Inc.
Contact Information: 609-751-0686 or contactus@crowdviz.org
Related articles:
- A Review of the Be My Eyes Remote Sighted Helper App for Apple iOS by Bill Holton
- LowViz Guide: Indoor Navigation for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired by Deborah Kendrick
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