Tasks folks take for granted can be a challenge for the estimated 2.2 billion people around the world with visual impairments, who might not notice a maintenance flyer pinned to their buildings window or could struggle to pick out ingredients in an unfamiliar kitchen.
Google accessibility engineering product managers like Patrick Clary worked with low-vision testers to ensure Lookout can, for example, spot packages delivered to a storage room; a couch, table, and dishwasher in a condominium; and elevators and stairwells in highrise buildings. The Lookout team also programmed in cues to indicate the location of objects in relation to users, like chair 3 oclock to warn of an obstacle to the immediate right.
Users can swipe between modes and optionally use a screen reader, such as Googles own TalkBack, to identify the option theyve selected. Lookout also now gives auditory hints like try rotating the product to the other side when it cant spot a barcode, label, or ad off the bat.
As its name implies, it reads snippets of text from things like envelopes and coupons aloud, even in reverse orientation.