Yes, there are apps out there that can help us in some ways like Aira, but honestly, not in every way. I will agree that the cost is kind of high, but most of that cost is to help pay the agents.
My sighted wife looked into possibly becoming an agent, and each agent is required to go through extensive training, including not only going through simulated situations, but also to wear the glasses themselves to see what it is like to be the customer. So the agents are not just volunteers, but actually trained professionals that are paid an hourly rate and that are waiting for our call to help us with our situation. So even though Be My Eyes is a great app, and I use it on occasion, it is no comparison to Aira. According to an interview with Greg Stilson from Aira, the new design with the Samsung phone is meant to work separately without using your iPhone. There are many reasons for the new design, but one reason is so someone that does not have an iphone can also use Aira. Built into the new design with the Samsung phone is there own A I assistant Chloe, which is going to be able to do some small task without even having to call an agent. Aira's user base continues to grow, but nevertheless, whether or not someone signs up for Aira, not only depends on finances, but also their individual needs. I think we should just be proud that we have all of the options that we do to help us through our everyday task. Chris > On May 4, 2018, at 7:37 AM, Mama Peach <mamape...@charter.net> wrote: > > I get that, but I think it is just another case of because we are blind, we > are charged outragious prices for the service. I guess if it is a “got to > have it situation and one has the money, then it would be nice to have. There > are just so many apps out there that provide this same service, for very > little money or nothing at all. > > From: Sieghard Weitzel > Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2018 11:35 PM > To: viphone@googlegroups.com > Subject: RE: Glasses > > If you live a lifestyle where you need this level of assistance whether it’s > maybe for a difficult job or whatever else you might like to do then it’s > actually ot that expensive. How many hours of assistance can you get > one-on-one if you paid somebody $15 an hour? Easy calculation, at $329 for > unlimited service that would be 22 hours a months which is just a bit less > than 45 minutes a day. I think also that for many people the 400 minutes or 6 > hours and 40 minutes for $199 is enough and the big benefit is that the > assistance is available just about any time you need it and not when maybe > you asked whoever helps you to stop by. > On the other hand, paying $199 for 400 minutes works out to almost $30 an > hour. In any case, it sounds as if those who can afford it and have it all > agree it is worth it. > > Regards, > Sieghard > > From: viphone@googlegroups.com <viphone@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Mama > Peach > Sent: Thursday, May 3, 2018 9:25 PM > To: viphone@googlegroups.com > Subject: Re: Glasses > > Wow, my rent costs less than the unlimited minutes per month. Why not just > use apps that are already available that don’t cost anywhere near this > amount. I just can’t see spending that amount of money, but that is just my > opinion. > > From: Andy Baracco > Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2018 6:51 PM > To: viphone@googlegroups.com > Subject: Re: Glasses > > The Samsung phone included with the new glasses is simply for providing power > to the glasses. Apparently Talk Back is locked out, so you can't use the > phone as a phone, so you still will have 4 pieces of hardware, the iPhone, > the bluetooth headset, the Samsung phone, and the glasses. The advantage to > this system is that you don't have to charge the glasses separately, as the > Samsung phone will power them. > > Andy > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Kay Malmquist > To: viphone@googlegroups.com > Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2018 5:38 PM > Subject: Re: Glasses > > They are introducing a new model called the horizon and this is a new pair of > glasses that have the camera in the middle and operates with a Samsung phone > that is dedicated for just Aira. No more Mifi and less hardware. You can > still use your iPhone if you like, but if not and you want to use the new > system, this will free up your Iphone for use in whatever way you like. The > new glasses will have a larger field of vision. > > As for becoming dependent on Aira, I don't really think so. Do I like using > it for things? Yes, When it comes to describing events, helping me put > items together, finding things on the net that I wanted to buy more of and > so much more. Just makes my life a bit easier and I don't feel that > dependence is the issue. I still do things without the help of Aira, but > when I use them to quick scan my mail or find a sirloin steak in my freezer > that doesn't have a barcode because it is from a side, I appreciate them very > much. Finding my way in an office building when no one else is around has > become less of a chore that's for sure. > > Kay Malmquist > kay.malmqu...@gmail.com > > Gratitude Advantages > "No matter what your temperament is now, gratitude will give you more > patience, understanding, compassion, and kindness." > > — Rhonda Byrne > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Andy Baracco > To: viphone@googlegroups.com > Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2018 3:22 PM > Subject: Re: Glasses > > i agree with michael. When I was working I would have had the same issues. > But my friends who have the service absolutely love it, in fact, they seem to > be addicted to it, and I think that is a negative. Lately they seem to be > everywhere, doing an advertising blitz and I almost feel like it's being > shoved down my throat. But i think there is a use case for it, and if my > circumstances were different, I might consider it. I think it's neat, but > certainly not for everyone. I do wish that there was a way that the glasses > could interface directly with the iPhone so you wouldn't need another device. > As it is you have your phone, some way to get audio, i. e. bluetooth headset, > the glasses, and either a mobile hot spot or another phone that you would > need to power the glasses. You need to make sure that all of these pieces are > charged and in working order, and if one link in the chain fails, you're back > to your own skills. > > Andy > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Michael Maslo > To: Viphone > Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2018 8:27 AM > Subject: Re: Glasses > > Out of curiosity, what plans are people who have these glasses have? I > personally can't justify the price for none of the plans. I would be > prohibiting to use them on my job due to sensitive material I have or in > contact with. Also the money spent for the glasses and plans could be used to > pay bills, save for a vacation or so many items. I respect there are a lot > who like this application but it is but not for me. If those who have these > glasses go shopping with them, how long does it take you to go shopping? Is > it faster then asking for assistance or using the on line services offered by > a lot of chains? Thanks for any responses. > > > > On May 3, 2018 at 09:40, <Carolyn Arnold> wrote: > > I wonder if their minutes roll over like AT&T and Net 10 prepay plans do? > > > > Best regards, > > > > Carolyn > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of > Scott Rumery > > Sent: Thursday, May 3, 2018 9:28 AM > > To: viphone@googlegroups.com > > Subject: Re: Glasses > > > > Hi Linda, > > > > The name of the company is Aira pronounced "Eye Ra". > > > > I am actually going to be signing up for the service today and if you or > anyone else on the list are interested I can share a referral link that if > you use it when you sign up for the service will get us both a free month of > the service. > > > > The pricing for Aira is as follows: > > > > 100 minutes per month for $89 > > > > 200 minutes per month for $129 > > > > 400 minutes per month for $199 > > > > Unlimited minutes per month for $329 > > > > I know that it sounds like a lot of money to pay but if you really think > about the service that they are providing it really doesn't seem that high to > me. I know that for my wife and me we will get a lot of use out of this > service as there are a lot of times during the month that we have to ask one > of our sighted friends or family members to either come over to our house to > help us or to use Face Time on the iPhone to help us. > > > > I am going to be signing up with the 200 minute plan to start, but if we need > more time (which seems unlikely) I can change it later. Also, keep in mind > that if you find that you are not using all of your minutes in the month you > can then downgrade your service unless you are already on the lowest tier > plan. I believe that if you use all of your minutes in a given month that you > can then purchase more time but as of right now I do not know how much it > cost to add time to the current month. > > > > I hope that this information is helpful, and please let me know if you are > interested in getting a referral link as I will then share it with you. > > > > I hope that everyone has a great day! > > > > > > Scott Rumery > > > > On 5/3/18, Lynda Ingraham <lynda.ingra...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > Hi Everyone, > > > > > > > > > > > > Could someone please post or repost the contact for the information > > > for the company that has developed the glasses that allow you to > > > receive live assistance from a person? If you happen to know the pricing > > plans, great. > > > If > > > not, the contact info would be great. > > > > > > > > > > > > Thank you, > > > > > > > > > > > > Lynda > > > > > > -- > > > The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone > > > list. > > > > > > If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, > > > or if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact > > > the owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. > > > > > > Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. Mark can be reached at: > > > mk...@ucla.edu. 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