Most street corners lack pedestrian signals we can feel or hear. Imagine the liberation offered by an app using AI to read visual signals! OKO is free, too!
I’m excited for portable, accessible pedestrian signals, but I also have questions: How reliable is it?
Video Description
Haben Girma and her guide dog Mylo are standing at a street corner. She is holding up her phone toward the pedestrian signal.
iPhone: (Don’t walk signal, Slow Beeping).
Haben: I’m testing out a new app called OKO. When I get to an intersection, I hold up my phone and scan for a pedestrian signal. When it detects it and it’s a red light, it beeps slowly. It also pulses so I can feel the vibration. Then when the light changes, it speeds up. So you can either hear or feel when the light’s green.
(Fast beeping)
Description: Haben puts her phone in her pocket and then speaks to her guide dog.
Haben: Forward!
Description: Seeing Eye dog Mylo starts walking into the intersection with Haben.
Haben: Then my guide dog and I cross the street.