AI as an Accessibility Tool: Real-World Application Cases in Speech Recognition and Cognitive Assistance

INTRO

Alexa, turn on the light.

GPT Chat, help me summarize this text for college. Artificial intelligence is now an integral part of my daily life.

In almost every room I have an Alexa virtual assistant that allows me to control lights, blinds and devices (as I already discussed in my article on home automation, written for this blog) while during university lectures I use Chat GPT to take notes and process information more quickly.

AI isn't just a set of algorithms: it's a concrete aid that simplifies, enhances, and makes everyone's lives more accessible.

When the voice becomes freedom

In my case, Alexa is a constant presence: she manages the music, adjusts the temperature through my two air conditioners, turns lights on and off in areas of the house that would be difficult for me to reach.

It is a form of digital autonomy that breaks down small daily barriers thanks also to its speech recognition .

But not everything is perfect: Alexa sometimes struggles to understand different inflections or less direct commands, reminding us that behind every technological advancement there is still a lot of work to do to truly include all voices.

The intelligence that listens to you and supports you in your studies

During college, Chat GPT became one of my main tools.

It helps me summarize notes, create concept maps, clarify complex concepts, and save precious time.

This form of cognitive assistance is a concrete example of how AI can make studying more personalized, especially for those, like me, who need to optimize their energy and overcome various barriers.

Be My Eyes: The Intelligence That Sees for Us

Of the apps I use, Be My Eyes is one of the most amazing. It allows blind or visually impaired people to receive real-time visual assistance from volunteers or OpenAI's artificial intelligence.

It's a platform that combines solidarity and technology, transforming a smartphone camera into a tool for freedom. Gabriel, a dear friend and advisor to my association, is visually impaired and told me how Be My Eyes changed his life:

"For me, it's like having a pair of eyes always available. It helps me read labels, understand the colors of clothes, or navigate new spaces. It's a freedom I didn't have before."

Did you know that Be My Eyes won the “Google Play Best Apps for Good” award in 2021 and today has over 7 million users worldwide?

Since 2023, it has introduced 'Virtual Volunteer', a feature powered by GPT-4 that allows AI to describe objects, text, and environments with great precision.

(Source: Be My Eyes Official, Google Play Awards 2021)

In order to concretely demonstrate the power and usefulness of these artificial intelligences, (aside from a few graphical and textual errors) I created two concept maps of the article simply by copying and pasting my text.

CONCLUSION

Artificial intelligence does not replace humans, but it can amplify their possibilities.

Every voice command, every text generated, every visual assistance is a step towards a more accessible world.

It's not just about technology, it's about digital empathy.