Vision app acts as eyes for blind Aussies

Everyday life could be about to become a whole lot easier for blind and vision-impaired Australians, with a smartphone app acting as their virtual eyes.

US-based start-up Aira, partnering with Vision Australia, on Friday launched its hands-free, wearable technology in Australia and New Zealand, the first countries to trial it outside the US.

Using smart glasses or a smartphone, vision-impaired "explorers" beam a live stream to an operator who in effect becomes their eyes, talking them through their environment step by step.

To mark the app's release, 15 blind and low-vision Australians put the technology through its paces at Vision Australia's Melbourne headquarters.

"It is access to information, any time, anywhere," Aira's Kevin Phelan said in a statement.

"Aira promotes greater independence and access for people who are blind or have low vision because you get immediate assistance for almost anything you want to do without a sighted person nearby."

The technology could be used to help people safely navigate busy and heavily populated areas such as airports, train stations and shopping centres, Vision Australia's Chris Edwards said.

"We know this technology can assist people who are blind, to experience a more accessible environment when out and about," the blind-from-birth Mr Edwards said.

Users will be able to access the paid platform seven days a week from 9am to 3pm before it moves to 24-hour, round-the-clock coverage in mid-July.