Checking the expiration date on a carton of milk may seem like an everyday task for most people.
For the visually impaired, it can be the hardest.
Blind or low-vision people often have to rely heavily on the help of others to perform simple functions, like reading instructions and distinguishing colours, which can erode their sense of independence.
But a new app designed with the focus on inclusion and accessibility is putting the power back in their hands.
Be My Eyes is a free service that pairs visually impaired people with sighted volunteers through video calls.
Hans Jorgen Wiberg, 57, and Christian Erfurt, 34, both from Denmark, are the men behind the app.
“I met Hans, the co-founder and inventor, during a start-up competition I was organising in 2012,” said Mr Erfurt, chief executive and co-founder of Be My Eyes.
“He is visually impaired and presented the idea to me and I fell in love with it. The random act of kindness element really appealed to me.
“Since we’ve been up and running we’ve helped new mums-to-be read pregnancy test results and in one case, years after his father passed away, we were able to help a man visit his father’s graveside on his own for the first time.
“These are really intimate moments for people and it's a proud moment to know we can help them.”
Globally, at least 2.2 billion people have a near or distance-vision impairment.
The app was launched in 2015. In the first 24 hours of going live, more than 10,000 volunteers from around the world signed up.
Today, more than 4.8 million volunteers are on hand to serve 313,000 visually impaired users on the app.
In the UAE, the app has about 5,000 volunteers and 2,000 blind or visually impaired users.
Be My Eyes was chosen as one of the projects under the Expo Live initiative, which aims to inspire visitors to become change-makers.
The Expo 2020 Dubai programme highlights social innovators and funds and supports creative and innovative solutions that improve people’s lives, preserves the planet, or both.
How does it work?
Sighted volunteers “lend their eyes to solve tasks, big and small”, to help blind and low-vision people lead more independent lives.
After downloading the app on Android or iPhone, users and volunteers select their first and second language, if applicable.
Each call is then matched to a volunteer, based on two elements: time zone and language.
Once a visually impaired user presses the call button, most calls are answered within 15 seconds and the video chat starts.
“Volunteers are not disturbed between the hours of 10pm and 7am, so if a user is looking to speak to someone in Danish but it's 3am in Denmark, they can be matched with a Danish speaker in Australia, for instance,” Mr Erfurt said.
“Our research showed us that people find it tough having to rely on friends or family all the time.
“They don’t like having to call them for help at a time that might not be convenient for the person on the other end of the phone.
“Volunteers on Be My Eyes have been chosen to take a call and are on hand to help, so the users don’t have to worry about disturbing someone’s day.”
Mr Erfurt said the most common language in use on the app, which is active in more than 150 countries, is English.
Its biggest market is the US.
Portuguese is another popular language, as people in Brazil and Portugal are often matched for video calls.
Other languages that are growing in use include Arabic, Hindi and Urdu.
There are more than 50,000 blind or visually impaired Arabic users and more than 350,000 Arabic volunteers.
“Those everyday tasks that we find simple are often the same ones that require a lot of planning for people who are visually impaired,” Mr Erfurt said.
“Be My Eyes is important because it’s a visual interpretation tool for anyone, anywhere and it’s building a two-sided community, an inclusive community.
“It’s helping to minimise the gap between us and them, which is healthy in this current climate where, although we’re in a world that is connected, so many people still feel lonely and isolated.”
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Dolittle
Director: Stephen Gaghan
Stars: Robert Downey Jr, Michael Sheen
One-and-a-half out of five stars
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About Krews
Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: January 2019
Number of employees: 10
Sector: Technology/Social media
Funding to date: Estimated $300,000 from Hub71 in-kind support
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What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
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Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Rawat Al Reef, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Abdallah Al Hammadi (trainer)
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Noof KB, Richard Mullen, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: AF Seven Skies, Bernardo Pinheiro, Qaiss Aboud
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Jabalini, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7pm: UAE Arabian Derby – Prestige (PA) Dh150,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Dergham Athbah, Richard Mullen, Mohamed Daggash
7.30pm: Emirates Championship – Group 1 (PA) Dh1,000,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle
8pm: Abu Dhabi Championship – Group 3 (TB) Dh380,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Irish Freedom, Antonio Fresu, Satish Seemar
World Mental Health Day
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Jewel of the Expo 2020
252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome
13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas
550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome
724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses
Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa
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The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants
Al Wasl means connection in Arabic
World’s largest 360-degree projection surface
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
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6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
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8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
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The team
Photographer: Mateusz Stefanowski at Art Factory
Videographer: Jear Valasquez
Fashion director: Sarah Maisey
Make-up: Gulum Erzincan at Art Factory
Model: Randa at Art Factory Videographer’s assistant: Zanong Magat
Photographer’s assistant: Sophia Shlykova
With thanks to Jubail Mangrove Park, Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi
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TALE OF THE TAPE
Manny Pacquiao
Record: 59-6-2 (38 KOs)
Age: 38
Weight: 146lbs
Height: 166cm
Reach: 170cm
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Record: 16-0-1 (11 KOs)
Age: 29
Weight: 146.2lbs
Height: 175cm
Reach: 173cm
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One-off T20 International: UAE v Australia
When: Monday, October 22, 2pm start
Where: Abu Dhabi Cricket, Oval 1
Tickets: Admission is free
Australia squad: Aaron Finch (captain), Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Lynn, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Darcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa, Peter Siddle
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War on waste
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In numbers
1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:
- 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
- 150 tonnes to landfill
- 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal
800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal
Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year
25 staff on site
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Tomorrow 2021
Our commentary on Brexit
- Con Coughlin: Choice of the British people will be vindicated
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The Bloomberg Billionaire Index in full
1 Jeff Bezos $140 billion
2 Bill Gates $98.3 billion
3 Bernard Arnault $83.1 billion
4 Warren Buffett $83 billion
5 Amancio Ortega $67.9 billion
6 Mark Zuckerberg $67.3 billion
7 Larry Page $56.8 billion
8 Larry Ellison $56.1 billion
9 Sergey Brin $55.2 billion
10 Carlos Slim $55.2 billion
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5.
Neighbourhood Watch
Race card
5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; 5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; 6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (PA) 1,400m
France and Covid-19
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Mina Al Oraibi: Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead
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Damien McElroy: A CEO tasked with spreading Iran's influence
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Simon Waldman: Cautious Israel keeping a low profile
THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
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- Alistair Burt: Despite Brexit, Britain can remain a world power
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LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
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Where can I submit a sample?
Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.
Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:
- Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
- Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
- Al Towayya in Al Ain
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- Bareen International Hospital
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- NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
UAE%20SQUAD
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
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Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Marital status: Single
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
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Scorecard
Scotland 220
K Coetzer 95, J Siddique 3-49, R Mustafa 3-35
UAE 224-3 in 43,5 overs
C Suri 67, B Hameed 63 not out
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