Transforming Lives Through Be My Eyes with Hans Jørgen Wiberg

OVIDcast

In this episode of The Health Change Makers, Jenny is joined by Hans Jørgen Wiberg, founder of the revolutionary Be My Eyes app. The conversation dives into how Be My Eyes is transforming the lives of visually impaired individuals by connecting them with volunteers around the world for visual assistance. Hans shares his journey of developing the platform, the importance of the community it has cultivated and the significant role technology, particularly AI, plays in increasing accessibility. He also discusses the potential of AI in education, healthcare, and language preservation, while expressing his concerns about AI's societal impact. The episode is filled with inspiring stories of change and a shared passion for harnessing technology to create a more inclusive world.

(1:40) The global impact of Be My Eyes
(10:26) Challenges and Failures
(15:40) The role of AI in accessibility
(22:12) The power of humour in communication
(27:45) Future Aspirations

About the guest:
Hans Jørgen Wiberg is the founder of Be My Eyes app, a free mobile app that allows people with a visual impairment to get in contact with sighted volunteers via a live video call, so they have access to help 24/7. The app was released in 2015 and gained 10,000 users within the first 24 hours. It's now got over 600,000 users and over 7 million volunteers in over 185 languages, making the Be My Eyes app, the largest online community for blind and low vision people.

OVID Health

OVID Health is an award-winning, independent agency with expertise in healthcare public affairs, patient advocacy, and communications. Their team builds bridges between the worlds of industry, healthcare, and the public sector to help clients achieve change in the health and life sciences sectors.

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