One year after the pilot project, WE launch app (free) designed for the blind

ANDm 2025, just before the start of the Alive festival, NOS presented a pilot project for the development of an application that, through Artificial Intelligence, describes in real time the objects of the surrounding space for blind or visually impaired people.

Now, also days before the start of another edition of NOS Alive, the technology company officially presents the NOS Guide – a free application that is the final product of the project conducted last year and that will stay available for free in both Android and iOS app store.

© US  

The operation is simple: simply point the camera of the phone in a direction for the app wizard to make a description of what you can find in the surrounding environment. In addition to mobile phones, NOS will also provide the Guide for Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, thus providing more immersive and intuitive support as the need to use the phone and point the camera is put aside.

In 2025, when News to Minutes went to the NOS enclosure Alive to get to know this project, we had the opportunity to talk to Aliu Baio, a guinean musician and photographer who, as part of the blind community, helped test the app and contributed to its development.

At the time, Baio said in conversation with Minute News that, before joining the project, the Guide-NOS is gone “very good” and that “there were only small things that could be improved” like voice speed and app organization.

Aliu Baio © News to Minute  

Even with these elements that had room for improvement, Aliu was convinced that the app would be useful in everyday life. “ This application could be used, for example, in something as simple as in a situation where you want to choose a garment and want to know the color of the piece I want to wear”, said Aliu at the time.

A year later, another of the participants in this project – Francisco Dias, 34 years old – tells us that the experience with the NOS Guide has been “transformer” and “determinant” to gain autonomy in everyday life.

“ Allows me to read and organize documents, or other objects, without needing to ask for help and has been a significant support in my mobility”, said Francisco in his shared impressions about the use of the app, stressing that integration in Ray-Ban Meta glasses “makes everything more intuitive”.

“ I believe that with this initiative, people with blindness will gain even more confidence and freedom to make their lives naturally and without feeling on the edge of society.”, made Francisco.

Presentation of the NOS Guide © US  

With NOS Alive to take place next week between 9 and 11 July, NOS decided to promote the Guide-NOS in the enclosure with the free availability of Ray-Ban glasses Put it on blind or low vision people who want to go to the festival. The company thus hopes to give the participants in the initiative the opportunity to experience first-hand not only the final app, but also integration with smart glasses.

“The NOS Guide was born from the conviction that technology creates real impact when it is designed to think about people. By allowing blind people to understand more fully the environment around them, this solution strengthens their autonomy and inclusion, giving life to NOS’ commitment to putting innovation at the service of a closer, more accessible and inclusive society”, explains the director of Social Responsibility and Corporate Communication of NOS, Margarida Naples, quoted in a press release.