LiveSight vs GuideDog Nav

LiveSight is a free, live voice assistant for blind and low-vision people. It streams your iPhone or iPad camera and your voice to a live AI model on Google's servers. The model looks at what the camera shows and talks back, and LiveSight adds haptic feedback. It works with your own free API key from Google AI Studio; the app shows you how to get one when you first open it. Without a key you can still open the app and use SOS, emergency contacts, the Journal and Settings. FIVE MODES - Navigation mode warns you about obstacles, vehicles and the path ahead, using clock directions, and vibrates when it reports a hazard. It does not plan routes or give turn-by-turn directions. - Traffic mode tells you the color of the traffic light it sees. Always confirm with your cane, guide dog or other cues before crossing. - Colors mode describes the color and pattern of clothing and objects. - Expiration mode reads expiration dates on packaging and tells you whether a product is expired, expiring soon or not expired. - Explore mode describes your surroundings. ALSO INCLUDED - Voice commands, haptic feedback, a compass, current weather and battery status. - Assistant language: English, Türkçe, Español, Deutsch, Français, العربية, 中文 or 日本語, with a choice of voice. The app's own interface is in English. - Journal: a record of what LiveSight announced, kept on your device for 90 days and never uploaded. Read earlier days, share or export it, and delete it at any time. EMERGENCY SOS Hold the red SOS button for 3 seconds; a countdown with a Cancel button follows. If you have saved an emergency contact, LiveSight then opens Apple's Messages app with a ready-made emergency text to your primary (or first) contact, including your location when it is available. Nothing is sent until you tap Send. With no contact saved, LiveSight tells you that nobody was contacted and to call your local emergency number. LiveSight never calls emergency services. Saying "send SOS", the assistant (if it concludes you are in immediate danger or asking for help) or an unanswered fall check with Auto SOS on starts the same countdown. Fall detection (Settings > Safety, off by default): during a live session, after a hard fall LiveSight vibrates and asks if you are okay; with Auto SOS on, no answer starts the SOS countdown. It can miss a fall or raise a false alarm. Your emergency contacts stay on your device. PLEASE NOTE The AI can be wrong or miss things. LiveSight is an aid. It is not a replacement for a white cane, a guide dog, orientation and mobility training, or emergency services. COMPLETELY FREE LiveSight is free for everyone, with every feature included: all five modes, voice commands, SOS, emergency contacts, fall detection and the Journal. No purchases, no ads, no account. YOUR FREE KEY FROM GOOGLE Google sets the free limits for your key. If you ever need higher limits, you can turn on Google's paid tier for your own key; Google bills you for it directly. YOUR KEY AND YOUR DATA LiveSight has no AI server of its own and no built-in key. Your key is stored only on your device and sent only to Google. Only after you agree to a one-time question, and only while a session is running, camera frames, microphone audio, your location and the weather there (if you allow location), and your language, speech speed and mobility-aid settings go directly from your device to Google, using your key. On Google's free (unpaid) tier, Google says it may use this content to improve its products and that human reviewers may read it. For the weather, your coordinates go to Open-Meteo once per app launch. The developer receives none of this data. No tracking, no analytics. REQUIREMENTS - For the live assistant: your own free Google AI Studio API key (the app shows you how to get one), an internet connection, and camera and microphone permission - Location permission is optional Privacy Policy: https://cinderspire.github.io/support/privacy-livesight.html

GuideDog Vision is a navigation assistant designed for blind and visually impaired individuals. Built as a student project, it uses your iPhone's LiDAR sensor, camera, and AI to detect obstacles, walls, stairs, and hazards in real time. How it works: - Automatic protection: constantly scans and warns about obstacles - LiDAR distance sensing: real-time measurements in feet - AI object detection: identifies people, chairs, vehicles, and more - Cloud AI: detects stairs, wet floors, doors, and hazards on scan - Voice alerts with haptic feedback Controls: - Hold screen: speak a voice command - Double tap: scan surroundings - Swipe left/right: check sides - Voice: "What's around", "Is it safe", "Left", "Right", "Scan", "Help" Privacy: - All detection runs on-device - Cloud AI optional, only on scan - No images stored, no account needed Works best on LiDAR-equipped iPhones (12 Pro and later). Camera and microphone access required. Built as a student project to make navigation safer for the visually impaired community.