In this article, you will find the following:

What is Ally?
Introducing: Ally, your everywhere AI assistant on Envision Glasses
Set Up and Personalize Ally on Envision Glasses
How to use Ally right away on Envision Glasses?
How to customize your Ally experience with Envision Glasses?
What can you do with Ally on Envision Glasses?
How people use Ally?
How is Ally breaking down barriers?
Where can you use Ally?

What is Ally?

Ally is the most accessible AI assistant—like calling a helpful friend who always picks up. Whether you’re asking for advice, scanning a document, or pointing at a menu, Ally is ready to support you, wherever you are.

With Ally, the Envision Glasses become even more powerful, providing spoken answers to natural questions through a friendly, adaptive voice assistant.

Looking for a recipe? Ally can walk you through each step at your pace. Need a summary or a deep dive? You decide how much detail you want. It’s flexible, thoughtful, and built for real life.

Introducing: Ally, your everywhere AI assistant on Envision Glasses

Set Up and Personalize Ally on Envision Glasses

There are two great ways to use Ally on your Envision Glasses:

Use Ally right out of the box: Even without the app, Ally is ready to support you. It will speak the language your Envision Glasses are set to and use the default Ally personality. Conversations are limited to 3 minutes—perfect for quick questions and simple tasks.
Unlock the full experience with the Ally app: By connecting your Envision Glasses to the Ally app, you gain access to all default personalities and can even create your own custom allies. With the free Ally subscription, conversations can last up to 10 minutes—and with Ally pro, you get unlimited minutes and even more features as they’re rolled out.

Whether you’re just getting started or ready to personalize your experience, Ally adapts to your needs. For the most flexibility and enhanced features, we recommend downloading the Ally app and connecting it to your Envision Glasses.

How to use Ally right away on Envision Glasses?

Step 1: Accessing Ally

Navigate to the Ally feature in the Main Menu.

Do a one-finger double tap to open it and hear Ally’s startup sound and greeting.

Step 2: Using Walkie-Talkie Mode Default Mode

When you start a chat with Ally, you will be muted by default.
To speak in Walkie-Talkie Mode, press and hold the hinge button, ask your question, and release the button to mute again. The hinge button acts as a push-to-talk control—holding it unmutes the mic, and releasing it mutes it automatically. This helps prevent accidental background noise or unintended speech. For more information on how to locate the hinge button, please see Where to locate the hinge button on your Envision Glasses and what features you can use it for?

Step 3: Switching to Continuous Mode

Open the Context Menu with a two-finger single tap.
Disable Walkie-Talkie Mode with a one-finger double tap. This will switch to Continuous Mode.
In Continuous Mode, you can mute and unmute the microphone with a one-finger double tap.

Step 4: Asking Questions & Interrupting Ally

Ask as many questions as you want, and Ally will answer.
In Continuous Mode, you can interrupt Ally at any time by talking—whether for follow-ups or corrections.
In Walkie-Talkie Mode, press and hold the hinge button to ask another question. Once you release the hinge button, the microphone will mute again.

Step 5: Muting in Noisy Environments

In Continuous Mode, do a one-finger double tap to mute the microphone.
Do a one-finger double tap again to unmute.

Step 6: Adjusting Volume

Swipe forwards or backwards during the call to adjust Ally’s volume.

How to customize your Ally experience with Envision Glasses?

Users can now sync their Envision Glasses with the Ally app by going to the preferences section on iOS, Android, or the web. To do this, make sure you’ve already downloaded the app or accessed Ally on the web and created your account. For detailed steps depending on the platform you’re using, please see:

Before getting started, please make sure that:

Your smartphone and the Ally app are updated to the latest version: Please check if the Ally app is up to date by visiting the App Store here or Google Play Store here. For instructions on updating iOS devices, tap here. For Android devices, tap here.
Your Envision Glasses are running the latest software version: Update Envision Glasses to the latest version. To confirm the latest glasses software version check here. For detailed and up-to-date information, see Update Software

Once the above has been confirmed, please proceed with syncing the Ally app with your Envision Glasses by following the steps below:

Step 1: To get started, open your Ally app and log in to your account under the Preferences tab. Once you’re successfully logged in, you will find the option Envision Glasses in this tab, please tap on it and select Connect your Envision Glasses. This will generate a unique QR code on your Ally app.

Leave this screen open on your smartphone and move to your Envision Glasses.

Step 2: On your Envision Glasses, go to the Ally feature and open the context menu by performing a two-finger single tap. Then, do a one-finger double tap on the option Connect Envision Glasses to my Ally.

This will activate the camera. Please scan the QR code displayed on your Ally app.

For the best scanning experience, make sure your smartphone’s screen brightness is set to maximum and that the screen curtain is turned off.

If someone is available to assist, they can help ensure the QR code is fully visible on your smartphone screen.

You will hear a confirmation sound once the QR code has been successfully scanned.

Step 3: If your Envision Glasses are not recognizing the QR code, try logging into your account via ally.me in the browser on your smartphone and scan the QR code from there.

If you’re at home, you can also open the site on your computer screen instead.

This may help resolve the issue and allow the QR code to be scanned successfully.

Step 4: Once you’ve successfully synced your Envision Glasses with your Ally app, you’ll hear a confirmation sound followed by a message from your Envision Glasses stating the name of the selected Ally from your Ally app.

This could be one of the default personalities—Tom, Kai, Lea, or Zoe—or a custom Ally name you’ve created.

Step 5: To select your preferred Ally, go to the Ally feature and open the context menu by performing a two-finger single tap. You will hear the name of the currently selected Ally.

If you’d like to change it, do a one-finger double tap to enter selection mode, then swipe forward with one finger to browse the available allies. When you hear the name of the Ally you want your Envision Glasses to use, double tap with one finger to select it.

Step 6: If at any point you’d like to unsync your Ally app from your Envision Glasses, go to the Ally feature on your Envision Glasses and open the context menu by performing a two-finger single tap.

Then, swipe forward with one finger three times until you hear Disconnect Envision Glasses from my Ally.

If you confirm this action, your personalized allies will no longer be visible on your Envision Glasses.

To re-sync, simply follow the steps above again.

What can you do with Ally on Envision Glasses?

Work smarter, explore further, connect deeper.

Ally brings confidence and joy to every moment, making the world more accessible for the blind and low vision community—and beyond. See below all the types of information you can ask Ally on the Envision Glasses:

General Information

What’s the capital of France?
What’s the square root of 625?

Current Information

What movies are releasing this weekend?
Tell me the top news stories from last night.

Weather

How cold is it going to get tomorrow in San Francisco?
Do I need to take my umbrella to Amsterdam tomorrow?

Vision Assistance

Describe what I am holding.
What does it say on the notice board ahead?
Do you spot an empty chair?

Work Assistance

Can you read this manual and tell me what the contact email is?
Can you tell me if there are any boxes blocking the aisle?

Study Help

Can you help me summarize this chapter?
Can you quiz me with trivia about Orientation and Mobility exams?

Cooking

What can I replace an egg with while baking a cake?
How do I make a shakshuka?

Translations

Can you tell me what this road sign says in English?
Teach me how to say “Good Morning” in German.

Creativity

Can you help me write a poem about sunsets?
Help me come up with a new slogan for my business.

These examples highlight Ally’s capabilities as a conversational assistant. The possibilities are vast—so feel free to ask away.

How people use Ally?

From navigating daily routines to solving long-standing access challenges, people who are blind or have low vision use Ally in a wide variety of empowering ways:

Meal planning: Ask Ally to suggest dishes based on dietary needs or menu options.
Outfit selection: Get weather-aware fashion advice.
Travel and navigation: Receive tips on airport menus or seat controls mid-flight.
Daily scheduling: Plan your day or get reminders.
Object identification: Use Ally’s contextual support to describe scenes or locate personal items.

How is Ally breaking down barriers?

Here are additional, powerful examples shared by users and discovered through hands-on demos. These represent scenarios where, even with screen readers and specialized tech, people who are blind or have low vision have historically had to rely on sighted help. Ally helps change that:

Using medical devices: Ally can read screens on blood pressure monitors, glucose meters, or thermometers. This lets users buy any brand, not just self-talking models.
Doorstep security: When the doorbell rings, users can ask Ally to describe who or what is outside, adding a layer of safety and control.
Setting up appliances: Instruction manuals often use visual diagrams. Users can show Ally the manual and the device, then ask questions like: 'Based on this picture, where is the start button on this toaster?' Ally helps them set things up independently.
Staying safe in the kitchen: When it’s unsafe to touch, like checking a hot stove or pot, Ally can confirm if it’s boiling or on, or what settings are active.

Where can you use Ally?

Ally is available on:

Envision Glasses Home Edition users with a 2024 or 2025 Pass, or for Professional Edition holders. For more information, please see Purchase Envision Glasses Home Edition and Purchase Envision Glasses Professional Edition
Download Ally from the App Store by tapping here.
Download Ally from the Google Play Store by tapping here.
To access Ally on the web, simply go to: ally.me

This cross-platform accessibility means Ally can support users wherever they are. To check which software versions and devices it is compatible with, please refer to Which devices work with Ally?