TPT launches Aira pilot for patients visiting Moorfields Hospital

Date posted: 22nd March 2021

New technology from Aira is set to give visual assistance to blind and partially sighted patients and support them to attend hospital eye appointments.

 

The 6-month trial, launched today, will support patients attending appointments at Moorfields Eye Hospital. It is funded by Thomas Pocklington Trust and will be free of charge for blind and partially sighted people to use.

 

It will link visually impaired patients attending appointments at the hospital’s City Road site to a network of trained, professional agents who will be able to help them navigate to and around the hospital.

 

Through an app on a smartphone, Aira agents can help with both navigation and social distancing by letting people know when someone is approaching, if that person is wearing a mask and if there is directional signage such as spacing guides.

 

Darren Paskell, Technology Manager at Thomas Pocklington Trust, said: “Many blind and partially sighted people have fed back to us how Covid-19 has impacted their independence. Some people have cancelled eye appointments due to concerns around the virus and lack of certainty around assistance available.

 

“We have come together with the technology company to offer this service free of charge for blind and partially sighted people to use with their smartphone – enabling them to attend appointments independently.

 

“As a blind person myself, I am cautious about who is able to see personal information such as my medical records.  Aira’s agents are professionally trained employees, and go through a rigorous reference process.  This provides reassurance on confidentiality.”

 

Aira, which derives its name from Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Remote Assistance (RA), would cover the geographic area in and around the Moorfields Eye Hospital on 162 City Road from Old Street and Old Street station south of the hospital along City Road west of the hospital across to Bath Street on its west side.

 

Visual interpreting covers a variety of situations from navigation through streets to reading forms. Aira provides this information in an objective manner at the request of the blind or partially sighted person.

 

For more information on how to use Aira download the Aira Quick Start Guide

 

ENDS

 

For further information or images please contact: Penny Wilkinson, Thomas Pocklington Trust, penny.wilkinson@pocklington-trust.org.uk  07974 578 637.

 

Editors’ Notes

About Thomas Pocklington Trust

Thomas Pocklington Trust is a national charity dedicated to enabling and empowering blind and partially sighted people of all ages to live the life they want to lead. We are committed to increasing awareness and understanding of their needs and aspirations, to working with partners and to developing and implementing services which meet these needs to increase independence and improve lives. These include:

 

• Acting as an advocate and positive change agent for blind and partially sighted people.
• Creating opportunities for blind and partially sighted people seeking employment.
• Enabling opportunities and supporting blind and partially sighted people whilst in and entering education.
• Facilitating the voice and encouraging self-determination of blind and partially sighted people.
• Being an effective partner and grant funder based on our knowledge of the sector.

 

About Aira

Aira Tech Corp is a technology company dedicated to making lives simpler, easier and more fun. Based in San Diego, California, it uses the latest technologies to connect people who are blind or have low vision with real, highly-trained professionals who provide visual information on demand.  https://aira.io