Skip to main content

ally Envision Glasses Conversational Assistant

Updated

In this article, you will find the following:

  1. What is ally?
  2. Introducing: ally, your everywhere AI assistant on Envision Glasses
  3. How to use ally?
  4. What can you do with ally on Envision Glasses?
  5. How people use ally?
  6. How is ally breaking down barriers?
  7. Where can you use ally?

What is ally?

ally is your AI assistant on the go—built right into the Envision Glasses. Designed to support people who are blind or have low vision, ally helps users understand their surroundings, access information in real time, and stay on top of their daily life with ease. Whether it’s suggesting menu items or recommending outfits based on the weather, ally offers smart, personal, and inclusive support—whenever and wherever it’s needed.

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

It’s like having your very own research assistant—ready to help just like a friend or coworker would. And unlike other AI assistants that offer one-sentence replies or direct you to external websites, ally listens, adapts, and puts you in control of how the information is delivered.

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

How to use ally?

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.

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:

  1. 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.
  2. Doorstep security: When the doorbell rings, users can ask ally to describe who or what is outside, adding a layer of safety and control.
  3. 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.
  4. 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:

This cross-platform accessibility means ally can support users wherever they are.

 

Related articles

Comments

0 comments

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Powered by Zendesk