Amman — In a world where technological advances are accelerating, artificial intelligence is no longer merely a tool for developing devices and software. It has become a genuine opportunity to make life easier for people with disabilities and open new horizons for greater independence and social inclusion. Among the ideas seeking to improve the lives of this group is “Arshidni,” an application designed for people who are blind.
اضافة اعلان
The project’s creator, Dana Ba’irat, told Al-Ghad that she recognized the importance of using technology to serve people and make daily life easier and safer for those with visual impairments. A blind person may have the ability, knowledge and desire to travel, learn, work and live independently, yet face obstacles when identifying their surroundings and detecting potential hazards. In this context, the application becomes more than a technological tool; it can serve as a link between users and the world around them, providing information that helps them make decisions with greater confidence.
Using technology to reduce barriers
Ba’irat explained that she developed the idea with the help of her colleagues from the Faculty of Information Technology at Yarmouk University.
“It all began with a simple question: How can we make life easier and safer for blind people and give them the opportunity to rely on themselves?” she said.
This question lies at the heart of “Arshidni,” which aims to help blind and visually impaired people move around freely without constantly needing someone to accompany them.
The application’s importance lies in the humanitarian idea behind it: using technology to reduce the barriers faced by people with visual impairments and provide them with tools that support decision-making and greater independence in their daily lives.
For a blind person, travelling to university, work or the market is not simply a matter of moving from one point to another. It requires constant attention, estimating distances, identifying obstacles and responding to changes in the surrounding environment. This highlights the need for solutions that go beyond providing directions and offer information that helps users understand their surroundings.
Addressing real-world challenges in society
Dana explained that “Arshidni” is an example of student-led innovation initiatives seeking to move beyond academic knowledge and address real-world challenges in society. Programmers can develop many applications, but the real challenge lies in identifying a problem and designing a practical tool that helps users overcome obstacles and achieve greater independence.
She noted that the application’s success would mean enabling blind people to use it while travelling and find in it an assistive tool that respects their abilities and privacy while giving them additional options.
The presence of such initiatives in universities also reflects the role educational institutions can play in encouraging students to apply their academic specializations in service of society and transform academic projects into solutions that can be further developed, tested and used on a wider scale.
“Arshidni” is not limited to helping blind people find their way. Its purpose is linked to a broader concept of independence, encompassing the ability to plan journeys, understand one’s surroundings and decide whether to continue along a route, change direction or ask for assistance.
Independence does not mean that a person must never rely on others. Rather, it means that assistance should not be a constant requirement for carrying out everyday activities.
Promoting a sense of safety while travelling
The application brings together three essential dimensions: a humanitarian dimension, reflected in addressing the needs of blind people and respecting their right to mobility and independence; a technological dimension, based on using smartphones, location information and alert mechanisms to provide practical assistance; and a social dimension, reflected in contributing to a more inclusive environment where visual impairment does not become an additional barrier to participating in daily life.
Dana said independence means being able to make choices and decide when help is needed and whom to ask for it, rather than being forced into dependence because assistive tools are unavailable.
The application also helps strengthen users’ sense of safety while travelling. For Dana, safety means feeling that one has enough information to understand and navigate the surrounding environment. When users receive clear guidance at the right time, the hesitation and anxiety that can accompany movement through unfamiliar places may be reduced.
A tool that gives people greater freedom of choice
According to Dana, one of “Arshidni’s” distinguishing features is its proactive warning system, which adds to the application’s value. It does not simply describe a location; it also provides approximate distance estimates and alerts users to potential hazards in their surroundings.
The application also includes another feature called “Tammini,” or “Reassure Me,” which adds an important humanitarian and social dimension. Blind people need not only to know which way to go, but also to feel that someone can be reached if they encounter a dangerous situation or require urgent assistance.
The feature allows users to register the contact details of a guardian or trusted person so they can get in touch when needed. In this way, the application goes beyond navigation and creates a support link connecting the user, technology and their personal safety network.
Dana explained that this feature can strengthen users’ confidence by giving them a clear option for contacting someone they know and trust, rather than having to search for a way to communicate in a stressful moment. Knowing that there is a straightforward way to seek support can also provide peace of mind and encourage users to try new experiences without feeling that they must face every situation alone.
She stressed the importance of involving blind people in decisions and initiatives that concern them, as they are best placed to identify what suits them, meets their needs and helps reduce the difficulties they face.
Dana acknowledged that projects of this kind face numerous challenges, with securing financial support being the greatest. Such support would help the project succeed and turn it into a tangible reality. This would require extensive field testing, cooperation with users themselves, continuous data updates and institutional support to ensure the project’s sustainability.
Dana concluded by saying that the humanitarian value of “Arshidni” lies in making technology a means of giving people greater freedom of choice, mobility and confidence.
Source: Al-Ghad. Reporting: Ruba Al-Riyahi
