During the call, volunteers and Specialized Help agents have access to additional features such as Snapshots and Flashlight. Through these in-call features, they are able to provide you with even greater visual assistance. Let’s take a quick glance at how these features work.

Image description: iPhone depicting Be My Eyes app call screen from a volunteer/agent perspective. Placed on the bottom right side of the iPhone screen is the Flashlight button.

Flashlight

In dark environments, volunteers and agents have the ability to turn on the flashlight on your phone. This might be useful for better visibility to read or navigation in a dark room. When a volunteer or agent turns the flashlight on and off on your phone, the app will announce it for you: “Torch On” or “Torch Off”.

Image description: iPhone depicting Be My Eyes app call screen from a volunteer/agent perspective. Placed on the bottom left side of the iPhone screen is the Snapshot button.

Snapshots

This tool can be incredibly useful if you are having problems stabilizing the camera or need to focus or zoom in on hard-to-read text. For moments when volunteers need to stabilize an image, zoom in, or just take a few extra moments to analyze the task at hand — the in-app Snapshot tool comes in handy. The Volunteer or agent on your call can take a quick, temporary snapshot which will be automatically deleted after the call. They can preview the snapshot, and analyze it further to provide enhanced visual support.

Safeguarding your privacy - Are the snapshots stored?

Snapshots taken during the call will NOT be saved anywhere, and will immediately be deleted upon completion of the call.

Best practice on how to communicate with volunteers or agents

If you need assistance with text, documents, or packaging readouts, let the blind volunteer or agent know that you can take a snapshot for a more clear readout. Snapshots are NOT stored and will be deleted immediately after the call.