Louisiana Association for the Blind and OrCam Technologies Announce Cooperation Agreement
L.A.B.-OrCam Collaboration Aims to Boost Independence for Blind and Low Vision Community by Harnessing Innovative Assistive Technology
SHREVEPORT, La., Oct. 19, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- OrCam Technologies, a leader in personal, AI-driven innovations, and Louisiana Association for the Blind (L.A.B.), a private, non-profit community service organization for people who are visually impaired, announced today a cooperative agreement that aims to empower people who are blind and visually impaired in Louisiana and Mississippi with increased independence through OrCam's AI-driven artificial vision technology.
The cooperation between L.A.B. and OrCam will help introduce OrCam's pioneering assistive technology to L.A.B. clients to support its use in education and employment settings as well as to generally improve quality of life for people who are blind or visually impaired.
"We hope to identify and work with additional clients and vendors to bring this important piece of technology to those who can truly benefit from it. OrCam has the potential to create new opportunities and encourage independence for those with visual impairments by enabling them to better navigate the visual world," said Audra Muslow-Hicks, VP of Community Services of Louisiana Association for the Blind (L.A.B.). "We take a communal approach to service delivery, communicating with people in the eyecare field, their patients and families to educate them on this device and how it can benefit both the individual and their family."
Muslow-Hicks also noted the benefits of OrCam's technology during COVID-19 in Louisiana, where case numbers are high. "With many older and medically compromised members of our community, OrCam's technology affords opportunities for remote work. We have been able to shift our work model to minimize contact between people, while still enabling them to remain productive in a work from home environment."
OrCam harnesses breakthrough AI-driven computer vision and machine learning to innovate wearable and handheld platforms that provide increased independence to device users, enabling access to any text, printed or digital, in addition to identification of known faces, products, money notes and colors. Magnetically mounted on the wearer's eyeglass frames – allowing for hands-free use – OrCam MyEye is the size of a finger and the only wearable assistive technology that is activated by an intuitive pointing gesture, enabling people who are blind or have low vision to more independently study, work and perform daily activities. The device does not require the use of a smartphone or Wi-Fi, resulting in real time audio communication while ensuring data privacy.
"We are proud to cooperate with L.A.B., an organization which has tirelessly supported people with visual impairments through training, services and employment since 1927, and is gradually expanding its reach across the southern U.S.," said Tzahi Israel, OrCam Technologies VP of Global Sales. "Joining forces with L.A.B. will help facilitate our efforts to enhance independence and accessibility for those who are blind or visually impaired throughout the areas where L.A.B. is active. We are honored to aid the association in its commitment to reduce the 70 percent unemployment rate of those with visual impairments."
About OrCam Technologies: OrCam Technologies, a leader in personal, wearable AI platforms, was jointly founded in 2010 by Israeli innovators Prof. Amnon Shashua and Mr. Ziv Aviram, who are also the Co-founders of Mobileye (now an Intel company), the collision avoidance system leader and autonomous driving innovator. Inspired by this development of groundbreaking artificial vision technology that supports safer driving, OrCam harnesses AI-driven computer vision to provide increased independence to people who are blind or visually impaired, are hearing impaired, have reading challenges, and for other populations. The company's flagship OrCam MyEye assistive technology device was named to the TIME Best Inventions of 2019 list.
For more information: http://www.orcam.com and YouTube and follow OrCam on Facebook and Twitter.
About Louisiana Association for the Blind: Established in 1927, Louisiana Association for the Blind (L.A.B) is a private, non-profit community service organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people who are visually impaired through training, services and employment. As a part of National Industries for the Blind (NIB), L.A.B participates in the nation's AbilityOne Program, providing recycled content copy paper and 3M Safety-Walk nonskid material to the federal government, made by Americans with visual or severe disabilities in Shreveport, LA. Follow L.A.B. on Facebook Twitter and LinkedIn.
SOURCE Louisiana Association for the Blind
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