We’ve talked a bit in the past about apps and services designed for individuals with low or no vision, but it’s been a few years since we’ve featured something new. In fact, we highly recommend you look at our previous e-bulletins for even more recommendations for vision-related apps and services, especially since the app that we are looking at today is for Android only.

Lookout is an assisted vision app created by Google. It uses your smartphone’s camera in conjunction with powerful AI to capture and describe the world around you. The app also has some universal design potential in that it could also be helpful for those with print-based disabilities.

Let’s take a look at the six modes currently on offer:

Food Label – In this mode, scanning a products label or barcode will display product information which will then be read aloud. This mode isn’t designed to give every detail about a product, but it is very helpful in making sure that you’re choosing the right item for purchase. The app will even prompt users to rotate the item in order to adequately capture the relevant information.

Currency Mode – Quickly identify currency. Works with US Dollars, Euros, and Rupees.

Image Mode – This new feature will describe the contents of an image as well as allowing users to ask questions about a picture via voice and text.

Text Mode – This mode is for quickly scanning small bits of text like mail, cards, letters, etc.

Explore Mode – Using explore mode, you can point your camera at your surroundings and the app will identify and describe what’s around you.

Document Mode – With this tool, you can capture an entire page of writing or handwriting and have it read aloud. You’re also able to view past documents from this section, so it’s easy to return to text that you’ve already started looking at.

Besides the tools listed above, Lookout also offers reading tools designed to help users read their content aloud as well as adjust font, spacing, color, and more.

To learn more about the Lookout App, click here.

This post originally appeared on the AT Help Desk website.

Tags: apps, assistive technology, AT HelpDesk, Atlantic Regional Office