Each year we bring together life-changing low vision and blindness-specific assistive technology exhibitors from all over the world to connect with the blind and visually impaired community of consumers, families, friends, professionals, and anyone who is interested in learning more about assistive technology. 

This free event, held at The Carroll Center for the Blind in Newton, MA, is open to the general public and features two key components: an exhibition hall and insightful workshop presentations.

Date: Tuesday, November, 26, 2024

Time: Exhibits will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Presentations will run from 9:00 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Location: The Carroll Center for the Blind, 770 Centre St, Newton, MA 02458

Cost: Free

Refreshments and Lunch: Free coffee and muffins will be served in the Lulie Gund Building dining hall from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. Lunch is also available for $5 on a first-come, first-served basis.

• 9:00 to 9:45 AM: Rebokeh App

We will explore how this low vision app is used to magnify text and objects and adjust contrast. Learn how Rebokeh compares to other magnifier apps on the market. 

• 10:00 AM to 10: 45 AM: Meta Smart Glasses

This session will explore how Meta glasses can provide real-time information about your surroundings, describe the environment, read printed text, and leverage Be My Eyes. We will review the pros and cons of this device in enhancing everyday tasks

• 11:00 AM to 11: 45 AM: Describing Images With Picture Smart And Be My AI

These powerful tools enable you to get descriptions of your current screen, graphic images on web pages, image files on your computer, charts in Excel and PowerPoint, and much more, bringing accessibility to a whole new level for blind and low vision PC users.

• 12: 30 PM to 1:15 PM: Co-Pilot And PowerPoint

Learn about this revolutionary AI system and how blind and low vision users can transform their Word documents into PowerPoint slide decks with a simple prompt. This technology will be a game-changer for students and employees who need to present information to the rest of the community.

• AdaptiVision, Inc.
• Eschenbach
• Vispero
• Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library
• Non-24 Vanda Pharmaceuticals;
• Schepens Vision Research and Technology Lab
• NECO Center for Eye Care
• NE Low Vision
• Howe Innovation Center at Perkins
• Therapro
• Envision, Inc.
• Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Vibug
• MBTA Mobility Center

• 9 am to 9:45 am: Be My AI, Nick Corbett and David Kingsbury

Learn to extract information from images with the new Be My Eyes app feature called “Be My AI”. From submitting pictures for interpretation and asking follow-up questions such as recognizing landmarks while traveling, identifying the layout and options on an appliance control panel, putting together outfits, and troubleshooting computer challenges, Nick and David will guide you through real-world applications for using AI.

Listen to the recording

• 10:30 am to 11:30 am Three Apps for Built Environment Navigation, Nick Corbett

Join Nick as he touches upon how OKO, Magnifier, and Seeing AI are helping people access crosswalk signals, detect doors, measure proximity to people, read text, and navigate around objects using lidar enabled haptics.

Listen to the recording

• 12:30 pm to 1:15 pm Smart Apps in the Kitchen, Sheila Carney, Kritika Singh

Experience the apps that will make your kitchen more accessible to you! Apps like Seeing AI, Tap Tap See, and Be My Eyes will be demonstrated to identify food products, read recipes, follow cooking directions, find expiration dates, and more. Also see a demonstration of Amazon Echo Show, and its popular feature of show and tell. You can even ask Alexa for help with recipes and cooking questions.

Listen to the recording

• 2:30 pm to 3:15 pm Top Ten Daily Screen Reader Practices, David Kingsbury

Join David as he reviews his top ten daily practices for being an effective screen reader user; from the very basic to a bit more advanced. He will also discuss revisions that will be appearing in his third edition of “The Windows Screen Reader Primer: All the Basics and More.” This new edition will be released by the Carroll Center early next year.