“OrCam: Breakthrough Assistive Device Now In ATRIEV”

True to its name and slogan of “Creating vision beyond sight” – the Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired (ATRIEV) recently signed on June 13 a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to become one of the six organizations as beneficiaries of the 25 OrCam MyEye 2.0 from Aboitiz Group’s Corporate Social Responsibility program.

OrCam MyEye 2.0 is the world’s most advanced wearable assistive technology device, that increases the independence of people who are blind, visually impaired, or have reading difficulties through its tiny, intuitive smart camera. This powerful pocket computer, the size of a lipstick case, easily attaches magnetically onto the eyeglasses, uses Artificial Intelligence, that instantly reads text, recognizes faces, identifies products, bank notes, tells you the time, date, and more, just by pointing your finger, tapping the button on the side, or doing gestures. This is the same AI technology installed in smart cars or the Autonomous Vehicles.

The MOA with Aboitiz Foundation Inc. and St. Joseph Foundation Inc. entrusted five out of the twenty-five OrCam units to ATRIEV for the next two years. And this happened barely four months before the organization’s celebration of its 25th founding anniversary.

“OrCam will be very helpful to us. This will allow our trainers who are either blind or still with light perception to use the breakthrough device in their different community-based deployments in far-flung areas. Our trainers doesn’t only handle visually impaired people, but also sighted PWD trainees in these communities,” said Antonio D. Llanes Jr., Executive Director of ATRIEV who signed the MOA.

ATRIEV graduates, who are gainfully employed, and even students doing research and are running for academic top honors in the secondary and tertiary levels may also qualify to borrow this hi-tech device at the office from Program Coordinator Lourdes B. Borgonia. They must comply with all the requirements of the organization, which was duly approved by Aboitiz Foundation. Each borrower is only given a maximum of three months to use the device, based from ATRIEV’s Electronic Device Loan Agreement form.

“For those who are interested in borrowing OrCam from ATRIEV, we will soon be offering training to our pool of trainers and graduates, on how to use and take care of this very expensive, but highly advanced assistive device,” the founding father of ATRIEV added.

The 25 OrCam MyEye 2.0 assistive device that are strictly on loan to the six institutions serving the visually impaired will remain as the property of Aboitiz Foundation Inc., the social arm of Aboitiz group.

“The Aboitiz Foundation is pioneering an incredible initiative with OrCam’s breakthrough artificial vision technology. Meeting the recipient organizations and the wonderful team from ATRIEV was a critical part of what made the launch event and training successful, and very special. Everyone was kind, professional and a pleasure to work with. We’re excited and proud to launch OrCam’s assistive technology in the Philippines,” said Jon Wolff, OrCam Technologies Regional Director for Australia and Asia who demonstrated on how to use the wearable hi-tech device.

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