The iPhone is a wonderful device for the blind and vision impaired. Accessibility options like multitouch VoiceOver, Siri, Speak Screen, Dictation, and Zoom make interacting with iOS possible for these users. Now thanks to a new free app, vision impaired iOS users can use their phones to borrow someone else’s eyes for every day tasks.

Be My Eyes connects blind users in need of help to sighted users of the app via video chat. Here’s how it works.

As soon as the first sighted user accepts the request for help a live audio-video connection will be set up between the two and the sighted user can tell the blind person what she sees when the blind user points his phone at something using the rear-facing camera.

As a sighted user you don’t need to worry about missing a call and ‘leave a blind person hanging’ – you are a part of the bigger Be My Eyes helper-network and we will find the next available sighted person in the network. The challenges that the blind person needs help with can be anything from knowing the expiry date on the milk to getting help crossing the street.

Be My Eyes uses volunteers, so if your eyesight is fine consider downloading the app and lending a hand, or your eyes.