Orientir – help for the blind

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About this app

Orientir is a talking assistant and navigator for blind and low vision people. Point your phone camera ahead and the app tells you by voice and vibration what is in front of you, where the obstacles are and which way to go. It also reads text aloud and describes the scene with AI. Orientir helps people with visual impairment, partial sight and age-related vision loss walk more independently.

OBSTACLE DETECTION — WORKS OFFLINE
A neural network on your phone finds people, cars, bicycles, motorcycles, chairs, benches, dogs and other obstacles up to 30 times per second. No internet needed and camera images never leave the phone.
- "Stop" — an obstacle straight ahead
- "Go around on the left / right" — whichever side is freer
- "Path is clear" — a short sound when the way opens up

HAPTIC NAVIGATION: VIBRATION INSTEAD OF WORDS
Every hint has its own vibration pattern, so your ears stay free for the street. Learn the patterns in a short practice and choose the vibration strength.

WALKING NAVIGATION WITH VOICE GUIDANCE
Say where you want to go, for example "pharmacy on Main street", or type an address. Orientir builds a pedestrian route and guides you turn by turn: it warns before each turn, says "a bit more to the left" using the compass and tells you when you have arrived. "Where am I?" announces your current address. Obstacle detection keeps working during the route.

AI SCENE DESCRIPTION AND TEXT READER
One tap and artificial intelligence describes what is around you or reads text aloud: signs, labels, medicine packages, prices, expiry dates, receipts, documents, menus, screens. Directions use the clock face ("at 2 o'clock") and distances are in steps. If the text is cut off, Orientir tells you where to move the phone.

FOR LOW VISION
Large buttons, high contrast black-and-yellow design and big fonts. Have small print read aloud instead of straining your eyes, and get a quick description of a room, a street or a shop shelf.

FOR BLIND USERS AND TALKBACK
Fully accessible with the TalkBack screen reader: every element is announced, voice hints never interrupt each other and a scene description is never cut off by navigation. Camera tilt control vibrates if the phone points at the ground or the sky.

THREE LANGUAGES
English, Russian and Uzbek, chosen automatically from your phone language or in Settings.

FREE TO USE
Obstacle detection, haptic cues, walking routes and "Where am I?" are free with no limits. AI scene description and text reading are free 10 times a day. Premium raises the limit to 50 a day. Societies of the blind and rehabilitation centers can get partner codes for their members.

PRIVACY
A photo goes to the cloud only when you tap "Describe scene" or "Read text". Your location is used only to search for addresses and build routes. No ads, and we never sell data.

IMPORTANT
Orientir is an assistive mobility aid. It does not replace a white cane, a guide dog or orientation and mobility training, and it may miss glass, holes, steps in the dark or branches at head height. Do not use it to decide when to cross a road.

Maps and routes: © OpenStreetMap contributors.

What’s new

First release: offline obstacle detection, haptic cues, walking navigation, AI scene description and text reading for blind and low vision users.