MVGYOSZ (Hungarian Federation of the Blind and Partially Sighted) developed an ICT based remote assistance service for people who are blind or have low vision back in 2018-2019, introduced to Hungarian users under the name TÁVSZEM (RemotEye).
The aim of the project was to provide high-level remote assistance services to blind and partially sighted persons using their own accessible ICT devices, available with the same possibilities regardless of their place of residence anywhere in Hungary.
TÁVSZEM, available 24/7, has become within a short time very popular. During the past 5 years MVGYOSZ has been receiving continuous feedback and suggestions for improvement from the users. The direction of development to follow was definitely confirmed by the results of a questionnaire survey of MVGYOSZ on the development of digital services in July 2024: there is a strong demand for the use of AI and the users would prefer the possibility of reaching the services through an App instead of the web interface. MVGYOSZ looked into the questions raised by the survey and decided to contact Be My Eyes in order to overcome the issues reported by the users and to introduce new supplementary services.
As a result of the negotiations, MVGYOSZ was provided a test API where RemotEye agents and users could test the services in practice. Based on their reports, MVGYOSZ prepared a document summarising the service requirements. The developers of Be My Eyes have successfully integrated almost all requests indicated by MVGYOSZ, including an option to use AI. TÁVSZEM has become available through Be My Eyes application from 15th October 2024.
MVGYOSZ and Be My Eyes are confident that TÁVSZEM available on the new platform and complemented with AI will help even more Blind and Partially Sighted persons live their everyday life independently.
Dr Mónika Nagyné Berke, Head of MVGYOSZ Services