We launched our new service, RealSAM Speaker, this week and wanted to share some links to the coverage we’ve had so far! New AI speakers make news and entertainment accessible for those with sight loss – AT Today – Assistive Technology A first look at the RealSAM Smart Speaker [AD]
News
Pocket Passport: An Article by Red Szell
Red’s latest blog explores how RealSAM Pocket can be just the thing for inspiring your next travel adventure! Over the 33 years since my diagnosis of Retinitis Pigmentosa I have become well-acquainted with the restrictions that progressive sight loss imposes upon an individual. In some ways this has prepared me
Reading Aids for Blind People: An article by Red Szell
Like so many people with a degenerative eye condition, I spent many years, and many hundreds of pounds, on increasingly elaborate reading aids until, about a decade ago, I had to admit defeat and give up reading visually. First to go was newsprint, followed a year so later by standard
Read More Reading Aids for Blind People: An article by Red Szell
A Day in the Life of My Pocket: An Article by Red Szell
In his latest article, find out how Red is using his Pocket to fill his weekends in lockdown! ”It’s Saturday as I write this; the week’s work is done and under the terms of my New Year’s resolution (which so far is holding strong) I am resisting the temptation to
Read More A Day in the Life of My Pocket: An Article by Red Szell
RealThing Ai wins $1M grant from the Australian Government to Accelerate its work in the UK
RealThing Ai, the Melbourne-based technology developer that owns the RealSAM UK brand, has been awarded $1m of funding by the Australian Government to accelerate its growth in developing Artificial Intelligence solutions for Blind and partially sighted people, worldwide.
RealThing Ai has developed a unique human dialogue and intelligent reasoning product, called RealSAM, for people living with low vision and blindness. It is delivered exclusively through voice activation, and used to control every day technology such as mobile phones and smart speakers. RealThing has partnered with leading sight loss organisations including Vision Australia, the US Library of Congress National Library Service, and the UK’s Royal National Institute of Blind People.
Australian Federal Government Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Karen Andrews said Australian businesses are among the most innovative in the world and the Government was pleased to help scale-up their ideas.
“The Accelerating Commercialisation grants are all about investing in the growth of great Australian business ideas that will ultimately change our lives for the better,” Minister Andrews said.
“Not only do these business ideas strengthen our economy, they are examples of Australian ingenuity helping make the world a better place.”
RealThing’s RealSAM platform and voice interface has changed the lives of vision impaired users around the world. The funding will be used to further their solution and create a world first – installing the AI onto a mobile phone, so it can operate untethered to the internet. This will overcome the shortcomings of other assistants such as Apple’s Siri, which can only operate when connected to the cloud.
Commenting on receiving the Accelerating Commercialisation Grant, RealThing Ai CEO Nick Howden said:
“We are thrilled to be recognised by the Australian Government as recipients of the Entrepreneurs’ Programme. This funding will lead to significant creation of jobs in the high value areas of Artificial Intelligence and MedTech, while, most importantly, improving the quality of life of people living with sight loss”.
About RealThing Ai
Founded in Melbourne, Australia, RealThing Ai is a global business specialising in accessible AI technology. RealThing AI technology is powered by voice, making complex technology products accessible to anyone with visual impairments or sight loss. Users who are blind or have little vision are given the ability to search for audio books from a variety of libraries, talking newspaper collections, podcasts, talking magazines and radio stations using a voice activated smartphone or smart speaker.
The business was established in 2008, with the founding partners’ background in developing smart tech for defence, aviation and research.
About the Accelerating Commercialisation Grant
Accelerating Commercialisation is part of the Australian Government’s Entrepreneurs’ Programme, which has provided 519 grants worth $251 million to Australian businesses since its establishment in 2014.
More information on the grant recipients is available at www.business.gov.au/ac-funding-offers
Pocket Revolution: An article by Red Szell
This week I celebrated having had Pocket in my life for a month. And it really was a celebration (well as much as we can in these restricted times!) I can genuinely say that, alongside my white cane, I have never had an aid to living with sight loss that
Be My Eyes on Pocket: An article by Red Szell
For a number of years now I have been hearing from other blind and visually impaired (BVI) people about the benefits of ‘Be My Eyes’. If you haven’t yet come across it, ‘Be My Eyes is a free app that connects BVI people with sighted volunteers who can provide visual
Choosing a Phone for People with Sight Loss
Whether you’re researching for yourself or a loved one, choosing the right mobile phone if you’re experiencing sight loss can seem like a challenging task. With a vast range of different brands and devices to choose from, with varying features and price points, it can be hard to know where
RNIB Newsagent on Pocket: An article by Red Szell
My first job on coming to London after university was as a freelance journalist for various newspapers including The Evening Standard, The Independent and, occasionally The Daily Telegraph. So I’ve always had a keen interest in print media. However my failing eyesight soon put paid both to my ability
Perusing Podcasts on Pocket: An article by Red Szell
”Following on from last week’s blog, I was keen to explore Pocket’s podcast catalogue and try to track down my favourite show after having missed it live on Radio 4. As with searching for books and radio stations searching for podcasts is very straightforward. The keywords to remember to use
Read More Perusing Podcasts on Pocket: An article by Red Szell