Video call a friend or family and have them see what you're seeing through the camera. You can add a list of your friends and family members as a Companion through the Envision App. The friends and family members can then receive the video call through a free companion app called Envision Companion app, just as they would receive a FaceTime or WhatsApp call. This is ideal for situations where the AI functions are not entirely helpful, like venturing into a new location or shopping at a mall.

This article contains the following: 

1. How to start calling your chosen family members or friends?
2. How to add a Companion as an Envisioner?
3. How to be added by a Companion as an Envisioner?
4. How to call a Companion once they have been added in Envision App as an Envisioner?
5. Why is my Companion not receiving notifications?
6. Envision Companion’s Guide

How to start calling your chosen family members or friends?

To start calling your friends or family from your Envision Glasses, it is important that your Companion has already downloaded the Envision Companion app and created an account in order for you to be able to add each other.

The Envision Companion app is a free standalone app that connects an Companion, a chosen family member or friend, with an Envisioner, an Envision Glasses user, via a video call. When an Envisioner is confronted with a task or situation in which additional visual information could be useful, they can reach out to their Companion, for assistance.

The Envisioner activates the Call a Companion feature on the Envision Glasses, and the Companion receives a notification on their phone. Once answered the Companion sees what is in front of the Envisioner and provides assistance. With the help of the Companion, a number of tasks can be made more accessible, from navigating new environments to choosing a colour-matched outfit.

The Envision Companion app can be installed for free by the Companion from the App Store on iOS or Play Store on Android. Here are the links for both of them:

• Download for iOS
• Download for Android

How to add a Companion as an Envisioner?

Please follow the next steps:

Step 1: Open the Envision App.

Step 2: Go to the Envision Glasses tab.

Step 3: Go to Settings.

Step 4: Go to Envision Companion.

Step 5: Tap on the Add a Companion button. 

Keep in mind that for the following steps your Companion must have already downloaded the Envision Companion app and created an account.

Step 6: Once tapped, you will find two methods. The first method is called Send Invitation Link, which will allow you to send a link to your Companion through any other instant messaging app on your smartphone, once the Companion has received the link for instance to their email and taps on it you will both be automatically added.

Step 7: The second method allows you to manually add the email address with which your Companion created an account in the Envision Companion app. Enter the email address of the Companion that you want to add. This email address is shown in their dashboard on the Envision Companion app.

Step 8: Tap on Send Request. You will get a pop-up notification stating that the ‘Companion has been added successfully’.

How to be added by a Companion as an Envisioner?

In the same way, your Companion has the possibility to share an invitation link to become your Companion by following these steps:

Step 1: Once your Companion has downloaded the Envision Companion app and created an account, they can go to the Envisioners tab.
Step 2: Tap on the Add an Envisioner option. 
Step 3: From there, they have the option to send an invitation link via Whatsapp, email, text message or any other instant messaging app on their smartphone.
Step 4: Once they have selected the desired method, they can tap on the Send option.
Step 5: You, the Envisioner, will have to tap on the invitation link that has been sent to you. This will open the Envision App and automatically add them as your Companion.

How to call a Companion once they have been added in the Envision App as an Envisioner?

Step 1: Go to the main menu and do a one-finger double tap in Call a Companion. Similarly, you can open this feature by Voice Commands by pressing and holding the Hinge Button on the Envision Glasses for 1 or 2 seconds and you will hear a tone. Once you hear this tone, you will be prompted to say which feature you would like your Envision Glasses to open and, voila, it will open. For more information on this topic, please see Voice Commands Tutorial

Step 2: Navigate through your Companion list by doing a one-finger swipe forward and, when you hear the Companion's name you want to call, do a one-finger double-tap.

Step 3: You will hear a sound indicating that the call is connecting. At that moment, the Companion receives a notification and, once they tap on the notification, your Companion will be able to see from your point of view, everything in front of you through the Envision Glasses camera.

Step 4: Do a one-finger swipe backward or forward to increase or decrease the volume. Once you want to end the call, do a one-finger swipe down.

Why is my Companion not receiving notifications?

Upon your companion creating an account to login notifications should be enabled.

If your Companion is an iPhone user, they need to ensure that notifications from the Envision Companion app are not muted and are being delivered immediately. To find out how to set this up, see  Use notifications on your iPhone or iPad

If notifications are not being delivered immediately, your Companion may have activated one of the Focus options on their iPhone. This option should be disabled, as it may interfere with the normal, default notification settings of certain applications. Enabling any Focus option disables all application notifications except the selected ones.
 
To toggle this option off, please see Turn on or schedule a Focus on iPhone
To learn more about this topic, please see Use Focus on your iPhone or iPad

Envision Companion’s Guide

There is a separate Envision Companion Guide that explains the Call a Companion feature in more detail. You can share it with your Companion List and consult it here.

On the other hand, this guide can be consulted directly in our Help Center in different articles here. 

Note: This feature only works in online mode, therefore it is necessary to be connected to a stable network to get the most out of it. That does not mean when you are not connected to the internet you can not use the device. To find out which features do not require an internet connection, see Which features work without an Internet connection?