Accenture Develops Artificial Intelligence-Powered Solution to Help Improve How Visually Impaired People Live and Work
July 28 2017 - 4:59AM
Business Wire
Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has developed a new artificial
intelligence (AI)--powered solution to help the visually impaired
improve the way they experience the world around them and enhance
their productivity in the workplace. The solution, called Drishti,
was developed as part of Accenture’s focus on Tech4Good, which aims
to apply technology to improve the way the world lives and works by
solving complex social challenges.
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Drishti, which means “vision” in Sanskrit, provides smart
phone-based assistance using AI technologies such as image
recognition, natural language processing and natural language
generation capabilities to describe the environment of a visually
impaired person. Initially developed and tested with 10 blind
professionals through a collaboration with the National Association
for the Blind in India, the solution provides narration to the user
on the number of people in a room, their ages, genders and even
emotions based on facial expressions. It can also be used to
identify and narrate text from books and documents, including
currency notes, and identify obstructions like glass doors to
improve the safety of the user.
Accenture, which has an unwavering commitment to inclusion and
diversity, plans to introduce Drishti to more than 100 visually
impaired employees in India. The solution is currently being
piloted at Accenture in South Africa, and a Spanish language
version is being tested with Accenture employees in Argentina.
“Accenture believes diversity is a source of innovation,
creativity and competitive advantage,” said Paul Daugherty, chief
technology & innovation officer, Accenture. “This Tech4Good
solution is a great illustration of how AI technology can empower
humans by augmenting their capabilities so they can achieve more
for themselves and the world around them. This work reflects our
longstanding commitment to inclusion and diversity, and our effort
to create a ‘truly human’ environment where people can be who they
are, and be their best, both professionally and personally.”
“Accenture shares our mission to empower the visually challenged
in the workplace. Through the innovative use of technology, we’ve
seen first-hand how the Drishti solution Accenture developed can
enable visually impaired individuals to lead more inclusive and
productive lives,” said Pallavi Kadam, executive director, National
Association for the Blind in India. “This project makes us excited
for a not-too-distant future where the widespread use of
technologies such as this will have a significant and positive
impact on the blind community.”
“Drishti is a powerful example of how advanced and emerging
technologies can be used for good to address complex human
challenges. This project resulted from an opportunity we saw to
build a more inclusive workplace for our visually impaired
colleagues,” said Sanjay Podder, managing director of Accenture
Labs in Bangalore, Accenture Tech4Good lead and Eisenhower Fellow.
“By harnessing the rapid advancements in AI technology, we’ve
demonstrated – through the pilot with the National Association for
the Blind in India, as well as with Accenture’s own employees – the
impact innovative solutions such as this can have on improving the
way people live and work.”
To hear more on inclusion and diversity at Accenture, watch this
video: #InclusionStartsWithI.
About AccentureAccenture (NYSE: ACN) is a leading global
professional services company, providing a broad range of services
and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and
operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills
across more than 40 industries and all business functions –
underpinned by the world’s largest delivery network – Accenture
works at the intersection of business and technology to help
clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for
their stakeholders. With approximately 411,000 people serving
clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to
improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us
at www.accenture.com.
Accenture Labs incubates and prototypes new concepts
through applied R&D projects that are expected to have a
significant strategic impact on clients’ businesses. Our dedicated
team of technologists and researchers work with leaders across the
company to invest in, incubate and deliver breakthrough ideas and
solutions that help our clients create new sources of business
advantage. Accenture Labs is located in seven key research hubs
around the world and collaborates extensively with Accenture’s
network of nearly 400 innovation centers, studios and centers of
excellence globally to deliver cutting-edge research, insights and
solutions to clients where they operate and live. For more
information, please visit www.accenture.com/labs
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AccentureHannah Unkefer, + 1
415-537-4848hannah.m.unkefer@accenture.comorKiran Balasubramanian,
+ 91 9886771250kiran.bala@accenture.com
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