Students create mobile application for the visually impaired

A group of students from the Civil Engineering Computer Science from the Technical University Federico Santa Maria devised 
 "SmartSight" an application for Android phones designed to help people with visual disabilities, allowing the camera of mobile devices read texts and convert them into sound.

"The application has some features that are still in development yet. We are currently seeking funding for example in the business incubator of some companies (Clear or LG), "said Gabriel Ruiz, one of the five members of the workgroup.

In total, says Ruiz, the group needs about $ 20 million to continue the project.

To achieve this, the application could be completed in about six months for commercial release.

According to its creators, there are several ways to sell this solution through application stores, cell phones have an estimate that the price would not exceed $ 10 per download, as well as directly with telephone companies to come and inserted into the phone models.

"Now also, the same software can be expanded to other applications such as learning new languages ​​for the case of children, or people that instead of reading a book chooses to hear it," Ruiz exemplifies