{"id":7111,"date":"2021-12-18T17:07:48","date_gmt":"2021-12-18T23:07:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=7111"},"modified":"2021-12-18T17:07:48","modified_gmt":"2021-12-18T23:07:48","slug":"ayes-helping-the-blind-and-visually-impaired-navigate-intersections-safely-like-having-an-audio-pedestrian-signal-in-your-pocket","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=7111","title":{"rendered":"Ayes \u2013 Helping the Blind and Visually Impaired Navigate Intersections Safely. Like Having an Audio Pedestrian Signal in your Pocket"},"content":{"rendered":"<!--powerpress_player--><div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_4840\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-7111-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/secure\/blindabilities\/Ayes.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/secure\/blindabilities\/Ayes.mp3\">https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/secure\/blindabilities\/Ayes.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Podcast Summary:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/ayes.ai\/\">Ayes<\/a>&nbsp;team joined Jeff Thompson in the Blind Abilities studio to talk about Ayes, an Artificial intelligence company form to assist the blind and visually impaired in navigating intersections using traffic signal imagery and algorithmic computation and relaying the data to the user through audio and haptic feedback<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This team of 3 left their AI jobs and formed Ayes after learning from a Blind friend that intersections were a huge obstacle and keeping him from getting out and about as much as he would like. And five months ago,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/ayes.ai\/\">Ayes<\/a>&nbsp;began working on algorithms and an app called, \u201cOKO\u201d. Through the camera\u2019s lens, the user can identify the traffic signal information available to sighted people and also will develop into a more robust app when object recognition and GPS navigation is incorporated into the OKO app. Available in Belgium and the Netherlands, the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/ayes.ai\/\">Ayes<\/a>&nbsp;team is working with the CNIB in Canada and is setting their sights on the States. They have started the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/ayes.ai\/campaign\">OKO campaign<\/a>&nbsp;to get interested participants involved in the development and enhancement of their OKO App.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To find out more about&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/ayes.ai\/\">Ayes<\/a>&nbsp;and OKO and to become a tester here are some helpful links:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Link to become a tester:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/ayes.ai\/get-oko\">https:\/\/ayes.ai\/get-oko<\/a><\/li><li>Link to the Ayes web site:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/ayes.ai\/\">https:\/\/ayes.ai<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li><li>Link to OKO campaign:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/be\/app\/oko-campaign\/id1583843828\">https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/be\/app\/oko-campaign\/id1583843828<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li><li>Link to OKO App (Benelux&nbsp;only):&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/be\/app\/ayes-oko\/id1583614988\">https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/be\/app\/ayes-oko\/id1583614988<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>From the Ayes.AI web site:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We help blind and visually impaired people to navigate safely.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/ayes.ai\/oko.html\">OKO<\/a>, our mobile application, is able to recognize the pedestrian traffic light by using the smartphone camera and our AI algorithm it is able to inform the user on the state of the pedestrian traffic light. We bring this information back to the user using audio and haptic feedback.\u00a0<br><br>In the future OKO will become smarter and will be able to do much more, like detecting obstacles, incorporating GPS navigation such that blind and visually impaired people can explore new places safely. Check out the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/ayes.ai\/campaign.html\">OKO campaign<\/a>\u00a0to see how you can help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Contact Your State Services<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you reside in Minnesota, and you would like to know more about Transition Services from State Services contact Transition Coordinator Sheila Koenig by&nbsp;<a>email<\/a>&nbsp;or contact her via phone at 651-539-2361.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Contact:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You can follow us on Twitter&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.twitter.com\/blindabilities\">@BlindAbilities<\/a><br>On the web at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/\">www.BlindAbilities.com<\/a><br>Send us an&nbsp;<a>email<\/a><br>Get the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/blind-abilities\/id1085849859?l=es&amp;mt=8\">Free Blind Abilities App&nbsp;on the App Store<\/a>and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.blindabilities.android.blind&amp;hl=en_US\">Google Play Store<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Give us a call and leave us some feedback at 612-367-6093 we would love to hear from you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/607027582712671\/\">Blind Abilities Community<\/a>on Facebook, the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BlindAbilities\/\">Blind Abilities Page<\/a>, and the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/jobinsightsgroup\">Career Resources for the Blind and Visually Impaired<\/a>&nbsp;group<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<!--powerpress_player--><div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_4842\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-7111-3\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/secure\/blindabilities\/Ayes.mp3?_=3\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/secure\/blindabilities\/Ayes.mp3\">https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/secure\/blindabilities\/Ayes.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div><p>https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/secure\/blindabilities\/Ayes.mp3 Podcast Summary: The&nbsp;Ayes&nbsp;team joined Jeff Thompson in the Blind Abilities studio to talk about Ayes, an Artificial intelligence company form to assist the blind and visually impaired in navigating intersections using traffic signal imagery and algorithmic computation and relaying the data to the user through audio and haptic feedback This team of 3 left [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[17,467,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7111","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bapresents","category-technology","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6rcRg-1QH","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":7824,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=7824","url_meta":{"origin":7111,"position":0},"title":"OKO &#8211; AI Co-pilot for the Blind. A new iOS App for Detecting and Interpreting Traffic Signals Welcome Back Ayes Co-Founder, Wellem Van de\u00a0Mierop","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"March 10, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Podcast Summary: Willem Van de Mierop returns to the Blind Abilities Studio to announce the\u00a0OKO App\u00a0release in the United States. Available in the App Store,\u00a0OKO - AI Co-Pilot for the Blind\u00a0is a Traffic signal detecting application that instantaneously gives audio and haptic feedback so one can augment there traveling experience\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;BlindAbilities Presents&quot;","block_context":{"text":"BlindAbilities Presents","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=17"},"img":{"alt_text":"A promotional flyer showing a person using the OKO app crossing a street.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Ayes.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Ayes.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Ayes.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Ayes.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6939,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=6939","url_meta":{"origin":7111,"position":1},"title":"Tech Abilities: Do You Need a Hero App? Facebook and Ray-Ban Smart Glasses or Not? Apple\u2019s California Dreaming, Direct Touch Typing, Use Factors for the iPad Mini and Tech Tidbits and News from a Blindness Perspective.","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"September 23, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Show Summary: The Tech Ability Team is in full force and we begin to show how we differentiate when it comes to styles, use factors and preferences. From buying out-right or on the trade up program, to Direct Touch Typing and using the Apple Watch, we all stand by our\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;BlindAbilities Presents&quot;","block_context":{"text":"BlindAbilities Presents","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=17"},"img":{"alt_text":"The TechAbilities Logo-Dark Sunglasses with TA and BA bold letters in each lens.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/TechAbilitiesLogo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/TechAbilitiesLogo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/TechAbilitiesLogo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/TechAbilitiesLogo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/TechAbilitiesLogo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/TechAbilitiesLogo.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5224,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=5224","url_meta":{"origin":7111,"position":2},"title":"Creating Safe Traffic Crossings with Audio Pedestrian Signals \u2013 RTB Safe Traffic is Crossing that Road for All of Us. #NFB19","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"July 22, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Full Transcript Show Summary: While at the NFB2019 Convention Jeff Thompson met up with RTB Safe Traffic Director of Sales, Olivia Harden. Interested in the sounds stemming from the RTB Safe Traffic booth, Jeff inquired about the Audio Pedestrian Signal device and Olivia filled his cup to the brim with\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Mobility&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Mobility","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=466"},"img":{"alt_text":"BlindAbilities Logo A black square with white initials, B A.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7439,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=7439","url_meta":{"origin":7111,"position":3},"title":"Tech Abilities: Pump It Up! iOS16 Beta Surprises or I Thought We Had That? Amazoning, Intersection Crossing, Pop Culture, Tech Tidbits and News with a Blindness Perspective","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"June 13, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Podcast Summary: Serina, Callie and Jeff kind of sorta in a way talk about that WWDC event from Apple, but same as it ever was, same as it ever was, these Talking Heads jump the tracks and yes, they do find there way back through the weeds and negotiating intersections\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Tech Abilities&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Tech Abilities","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=524"},"img":{"alt_text":"The TechAbilities Logo-Dark Sunglasses with TA and BA bold letters in each lens.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/TechAbilitiesLogo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/TechAbilitiesLogo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/TechAbilitiesLogo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/TechAbilitiesLogo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/TechAbilitiesLogo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/TechAbilitiesLogo.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8261,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=8261","url_meta":{"origin":7111,"position":4},"title":"The Blind Kitchen: Adaptive Tools, Helpful Strategies,\u00a0and Specialized Knowledge to Blind and Visually Impaired People &#8211; Meet Founder Debra Erickson","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"May 20, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Podcast Summary: Debra Erickson, founder of\u00a0The Blind Kitchen, joins Jeff Thompson in the Blind abilities Studio to introduce us to and bring us up to date with\u00a0The Blind Kitchen, the\u00a0web site, the audio described videos and what to expect in the coming months. With over 90 items on the store\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;BlindAbilities Presents&quot;","block_context":{"text":"BlindAbilities Presents","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=17"},"img":{"alt_text":"BlindAbilities Logo A black square with white initials, B A.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8224,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=8224","url_meta":{"origin":7111,"position":5},"title":"Culinary Confidence: Cooking Without Looking Exemplifies the Capabilities of Blind and Visually Impaired Cooks Throughout the World on YouTube and Podcasts","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"March 30, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Podcast Summary: For 23 years, the Cooking Without Looking podcast and TV show have been providing blind and visually impaired role models the opportunity to demonstrate how they can successfully cook with little to no sight. Join Blind Abilities podcast host Simon Bonenfant in the virtual studio to learn all\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Cooking&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Cooking","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=255"},"img":{"alt_text":"BlindAbilities Logo A black square with white initials, B A.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7111","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7111"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7111\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7113,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7111\/revisions\/7113"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7111"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7111"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7111"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}