For over a decade, smartphone cameras have been used to help blind and low-vision individuals connect with the world around them. We’ve looked at some of these apps before, including “Be My Eyes” and “Seeing AI”, and while those apps are still very much worth using, today we are going to take a quick look at a new entry in this space.

TapTapSee is an app for iOS and Android that is designed to help blind and low-vision individuals identify the world around them without the use of a third-party. This is an important distinction because unlike some of the visual assistant apps that already exist in this category such as the aforementioned app “Be My Eyes”, TapTapSee is designed to be used independently.

The app is designed with blind and low-vision users in mind, so there’s no menu or settings to wade through before taking a picture. Instead, you simply tap on the screen, and the app will describe the scene aloud. Photos are always taken with flash on, so even if you are using the app in the dark, it will still be able to recognize objects.

TapTapSee is a barebones app that sticks to its one function and does it relatively well, especially for the cost required. That being said it does have some additional features worth mentioning such as the ability to upload and describe photos from your camera roll, save pictures with the attached description, share via text, email, social media, as well as the ability to read barcodes and QR codes.

TapTapSee is compatible with iOS, Android, and iPod Touch. The app is free with no additional purchases or subscriptions required. To learn more, click here.

This post originally appeared on the AT Help Desk website.

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