It’s been a year since I signed up for Be My Eyes — an amazing service that I highly recommend joining. Here’s how it works.

You download the app and sign up as a sighted volunteer. When a blind or low-vision person needs help they video call you and you help them.

Last night for example, I helped someone identify which button on the remote for an AC unit turned the temperature up and down, and what the current temperature was. I’ve also helped with really simple stuff like which is the salt or pepper, or reading a sign.

As somebody who is involved in creating experiences for people, participating in this service has been amazing. First, it’s nice to help people — I think it’s a cool idea that’s worth supporting. Second, it’s an extremely valuable reminder about just how critical the sensory dimension of experience design is, and how often we all (myself included) overlook accessibility requirements.

Even for people with no sensory impairments, almost every product or service I use can be improved by thinking about affordances, ergonomics, poka yoke (error proofing), legibility, progressive disclosure, clear groupings, and all the other tools in the interaction design arsenal.

Here’s a link to Be My Eyes so you can find out more and sign up!

See this post on LinkedIn