Seeing the World Together
Even when I'm mad
I’m currently furious with Meta right now.
This week the The Atlantic published an article about LibGen, the pirated-books database that Meta used to help train their AI. Millions of books were utilized without licensing or consent, and one of my novels is on the list. Used without my knowledge or permission.
So I’m fuming, and it’s also been a rough week for mental healthcare advocacy with more disturbing cuts across federal, state, and local levels. But instead of giving into rage and despair, I decided to write about a gap being filled in our world through a positive piece of technology.
It’s called the “Be My Eyes” app for smart phones.
Be My Eyes connects blind and low-vision users who want sighted assistance with volunteers and companies anywhere in the world, through live video and artificial intelligence. I read about it in 2021 and was immediately intrigued. When I was in high school I’d actually thought about teaching in a school for the blind doing mobility therapy. After reading more about the Be My Eyes organization, I created a volunteer profile.
My very first call was a few weeks later, and I was so nervous when I answered it I nearly dropped my phone trying to hit “Accept.” It was a young man asking if I could see his trash can at the curb as he worried it had blown away. I told him it was still there, he thanked me, and disconnected.
I’ve since answered over a dozen calls, roughly one every few months. It’s completely anonymous between the caller and the volunteer, there’s no chit-chit, and calls are usually quick. I once answered a call from s a young woman asking me to read the expiration date on a loaf of bread. Another from a woman asking me to help her find the “5” in a elevator where the buttons didn’t have brail markings.
Yesterday, I spent forty minutes with a woman in South Carolina helping her organize a large pile of mail, reading the envelopes, fliers, and other junk ads so she could sort what to keep and what to throw away. Then, I read her thermostat and helped her adjust it down to a cooler, more comfortable temperature.
My favorite call to date was from a teenage boy in a locker room (I was initially skeptical when I first answered it) but it was indeed a legitimate call. He kept his phone solidly pointed at his locker and asked if I could see his deodorant, which had gotten knocked over and lodged between two shelves. I quickly helped him find it, and just before he disconnected he shouted “Thank you! Love you!”
Answering Be My Eyes calls gives me a little burst of joy from being able to do something helpful with immediate results. And, it reminds me that no matter how mad I get at technology or legislation or city budget cuts, technology—and advocates— are still making progress and doing good things.
Amazing things, even, that fill gaps to improve lives.
Because I’m often writing about the pain and struggles of others and sharing their stories for anyone to learn from, my twice-monthly columns are available to all subscribers for free, but I deeply appreciate any financial support for this work.
As always, I’m deeply grateful for any reader who takes the time to read my stories.
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