On-Demand Eyes for the Blind

For people who are blind, everyday tasks such as sorting through the mail or doing a load of laundry present a challenge. But what if they could “borrow” the eyes of someone who could see? That’s the thinking behind Aira, a new subscription service (starting at $99 per month for its standard plan) that enables its thousands of users to stream live video of their surroundings to an on-demand agent, using either a smartphone or Aira’s proprietary glasses. The agents, who are available 24/7, can then answer questions, describe objects or guide users through a location. Greg Stilson, Aira’s director of product management (who himself is blind), used the service to navigate airports for an entire year before agreeing to join the company. “It was the most emotionally freeing year I’ve had in my entire life,” he says. —Samantha Cooney