Something different is coming: a progressive web app for you all.

Something Different is Coming
A Progressive Web App for Blind and Visually Impaired Users | Works on All Smartphones

I need to tell you about something I built. Not because it's "the best" or "revolutionary" – everyone says that. But because it works in a way that genuinely surprised me when I tested it.

The Problem I Kept Running Into
You know the drill with most vision AI apps:
Point your camera → AI speaks a sentence → that's it.
"It's a living room with a couch and a table."
Cool. But where's the couch exactly? What color? How far? What else is there? Can you tell me about that corner again?
You have to point again. Ask again. Wait again. Listen again.
You're always asking. The AI is always deciding what matters. You never get to just... explore.

What If Photos Worked Like Books?
Stay with me here.
When someone reads you a book, you can say "wait, go back." You can ask them to re-read that paragraph. You can spend five minutes on one page if you want. You control the pace of information.
But photos? Someone gives you one description and that's it. Take it or leave it. They decided what's important. They decided what to mention. They decided when you're done.
We thought: What if photos worked like books?
What if you could explore them at your own pace? Go back to parts that interest you? Discover details the other person missed? Spend as long as you want?

The 6×6 Grid: Your Photo, Your Exploration
Here's what we built:
Upload any photo. Any photo at all.
The AI divides it into 36 zones – a 6×6 grid covering every inch of the image.
Now drag your finger across your phone screen like you're reading a tactile graphic.
What This Actually Feels Like:
You're exploring a photo of your living room:
Start in the top-left corner – drag your finger there:
"Smooth cream-colored wall with matte finish, cool to imagine touching, painted evenly"
Slide your finger right:
"Large window with soft natural light streaming through, sheer white curtains that would feel delicate and silky between your fingers"
Down a bit:
"Polished oak coffee table, glossy surface that would feel smooth and slightly cool, rich honey-brown color"
To the left:
"Plush beige carpet, deep pile that looks like it would feel soft and springy underfoot, slightly worn in the center from foot traffic"
Wait, go back to that window – drag back up:
"Large window with soft natural light streaming through, sheer white curtains..."
You're in control. You decide what to explore. You decide how long to spend. You decide what matters.
Go to the bottom-right corner – what's there?
"Wooden bookshelf against the wall, dark walnut finish with visible grain, would feel smooth with slight ridges"
Move to the zone right above it:
"Books lined up on shelf, various colored spines, some leather-bound that would feel textured and aged"
This Changes Everything
You're not being told about the photo.
You're exploring it.
You can go back to that window five times if you want. You can ignore the couch and focus on the corner. You can trace the room's perimeter. You can jump around randomly.
It's your photo. You explore it your way.
And here's the thing: the information doesn't disappear. It's not one-and-done. It stays there, explorable, for as long as you want.

Now Take That Same Idea and Put It in Physical Space
You walk into a hotel room at midnight. You're exhausted. Strange space. No idea where anything is.
Usually? You either stumble around carefully, or ask someone to walk you through, or just... deal with it till morning.
New option:
Point your camera. Capture one frame. The AI maps it into a 4×4 grid.
Now drag your finger across your screen:
• Top-left: "Window ahead 9 feet with heavy curtains"
• Slide right: "Clear wall space"
• Keep going: "Closet with sliding doors 8 feet on the right"
• Bottom-left: "Clear floor space"
• Center-bottom: "Bed directly ahead 5 feet, queen size"
• Bottom-right: "Nightstand right side 4 feet with lamp and alarm clock"
You just mapped the entire room in 30 seconds. Without taking a step. Without asking someone. Without turning on any lights.
Want to know what's on the left side again? Drag your finger back over there. Want to double-check the right? Drag there.
The information stays right there on your screen. You can reference it. You can re-explore it. You can take your time understanding the space.

The Core Difference
Most apps: Point → Wait → AI decides what to tell you → Move on → Repeat
This app: Explore → Control the pace → Discover what matters to YOU → Information persists → Return anytime
That's not a small difference. That's a fundamentally different interaction model.
You're Not a Passive Receiver
You're an active explorer.
You don't wait for the AI to decide what's important in a photo. You decide which zone to explore.
You don't lose the room layout the moment it's spoken. It stays mapped on your screen.
You don't get one chance to understand. You can explore as long as you want, go back, re-check.
This is what "accessible" should actually mean: Not just access to information, but control over how you receive and interact with it.
I have big plans for this feature to expand it as well.

Oh Right, It Also Does All The Normal Stuff
Because yeah, sometimes you just need quick answers.
Live Camera Scanning
Point anywhere, AI describes continuously:
• Quiet Mode: Only speaks for important stuff (people, obstacles, hazards)
• Detailed Mode: Rich ongoing descriptions
• Scans every 2-4 seconds
• Remembers what it already said (no repetition)
Voice Questions - Just Ask
No buttons. Just speak:
• "What am I holding?"
• "What color is this shirt?"
• "Read this label"
• "Is the stove on?"
• "Describe what you see"
• "What's on my plate?"
Always listening mode – ready when you are.
Smart Search (Alpha)
"Find my keys"
AI scans rapidly and guides you:
• "Not visible – turn camera left"
• "Turn right, scan the table"
• "FOUND! On counter, left side, about 2 feet away"
⚠️ Alpha: Still being worked on.
Face Recognition: Alpha
Save photos of people → AI announces when seen:
"I see Sarah ahead, about 8 feet away"
Totally optional. Enable only if wanted.
Object Tracking: Alpha
Tell AI to watch for items:
"Keep an eye out for my phone"
Later: "Where did you last see my phone?"
→ "On kitchen counter, 22 minutes ago"
Meal Assistance
Food positioned using clock face:
"Steak at 3 o'clock, potatoes at 9 o'clock, broccoli at 12 o'clock"
Plus descriptions: portion sizes, cooking level, colors, textures.
Reading Mode: Alpha
Books and documents:
• Voice commands: "Next page", "Previous page", "Repeat", "Read left page", "Read right page"
• Speed controls: "Read faster" / "Read slower" (instant adjustment)
• "Check alignment" (ensures full page visible)
• Auto-saves progress per book
• Resume exactly where you stopped
Social Cue Detection: Alpha
Optional feature detecting if people are:
• Making eye contact with you
• Waving or gesturing toward you
• Trying to get your attention
Fully Customizable
Pre-set profiles or build your own:
• Scanning frequency (2-4 seconds)
• Detail level (Basic / Standard / Maximum)
• Voice speed (0.5× to 2×)
• Auto-announce settings
• Feature toggles

Why This is a Web App, Not an App Store App
Honest reason: We want to ship features fast, not wait weeks for approval.
Better reason:
App stores are gatekeepers. Submit update → wait 1-2 weeks → maybe get approved → maybe get rejected for arbitrary reasons → users manually update → some users stuck on old versions for months.
Progressive Web Apps are different:
Bug discovered? Fixed within hours. Everyone has it immediately.
New feature ready? Live for everyone instantly.
AI model improved? Benefits everyone right away.
No approval process. No waiting. No gatekeepers.
Plus it works everywhere:
• iPhone ✓
• Android ✓
• Samsung ✓
• Google Pixel ✓
• Any modern smartphone ✓
Same features. Same performance. Same instant updates.
Installation takes 15 seconds:
1. Open browser
2. Visit URL
3. Tap "Add to Home Screen"
4. Appears like regular app
Done.

Privacy (The Short Version)
• Camera images analyzed and discarded – not stored
• Voice processed only during active questions
• Face recognition optional
• Data encrypted
• Delete everything anytime
Critical Safety Disclaimer:
AI makes mistakes. This is NOT a replacement for your cane, guide dog, or O&M training. Never rely on this alone for safety decisions. It's supplementary information, not primary navigation.

When Does This Launch?
Soon.
Final testing in progress.
When we officially release, you will have all features even though some of the app and it's features will still be in beta.
The Real Point of All This
For years, accessibility apps have operated on this assumption:
"Blind people need information. we'll give it to them efficiently."
Fine. But also... what if I flipped it:
"Blind people want to explore. They want control. They want information that persists. They want to discover things their way."
That's what I built.
Not "here's a sentence about your photo" but "here's 36 zones you can explore for as long as you want."
Not "here's a description of this room" but "here's a touchable map that stays on your screen."
Information that persists. Exploration you control. Interaction you direct.
That's the difference.

One Last Thing
The photo grid gives you 36 descriptions per image. Detailed, sensory, rich descriptions.
So when it comes out, watch people explore single photos for 5-10 minutes.
Going back to corners. Discovering details. Building mental images. Creating memories of the image.
That's not just making photos accessible.
That's making photos explorable.
And I think that's better.

Coming Soon
Progressive Web App
Works on All Smartphones
Built for exploration, not just description

What do you think? Which feature interests you most? Questions? Thoughts? Comments below.