Lumyeye vs OrCam, Reading Machines & Electronic Magnifiers
The sovereign, mobile and affordable alternative to traditional reading machines, talking pens and electronic magnifiers. Why pay more?
With 2.2 billion people affected by visual impairment worldwide (WHO, 2023), the need for accessible and affordable aids has never been more urgent.
| Feature | Lumyeye IA | Reading machines | Electronic Magnifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology | Conversational AI | Classic OCR | Optical / Zoom |
| Interaction | Q&A | Passive reading | Visual reading |
| Mobility | 100% (Smartphone) | Bulky | Limited |
| Features | All-in-one (Web, Object, Text) | Text only | Magnification |
| Scene Description | Yes (Describes the environment) | No (Text only) | No |
| Updates | Continuous & Free | Impossible (Fixed hardware) | None |
| Average Cost | 14,90 β¬ / mois | 1 500 β¬ - 4 000 β¬ | 300 β¬ - 1 500 β¬ |
More than just reading.
π Medical Instructions
Don't read everything. Just ask: "What's the dosage?" and the AI answers immediately.
π½οΈ Restaurant Menus
Take a photo of the menu and ask: "What dishes have fish?". It's that simple.
π Administrative
Sort your mail. "Is this a bill or junk mail?" Lumyeye gives you the answer in a flash.
π₯« In the Kitchen
Identify your cans without opening them. "Is it peas or beans?"
π Transportation
Read bus schedules or direction signs on the street, even from afar.
π Web Search
Ask a question about news or weather. Lumyeye searches Google for you.
π¨ Art & Culture
At the museum, get paintings and sculptures described with artistic precision.
π Lost Objects
"Where are my keys?" Scan the table, the AI finds them for you.
AI Connected to the Web
Unlike static traditional machines, Lumyeye learns every day and connects to the internet to give you up-to-date, accurate and contextual answers.
Lumyeye vs all competitors
Detailed comparison with every solution on the market for the blind and visually impaired
π± Lumyeye vs Oorion
Oorion is a French visual assistance app offering image description and text reading. However, Oorion focuses on photo analysis. Lumyeye goes further with real-time AI dialogue, voice web search, pedestrian GPS, banknote recognition, and full compatibility with VoiceOver and TalkBack.
π° Oorion: free (limited features) vs Lumyeye: β¬14.90/month (unlimited complete assistant)
π Lumyeye vs BlindShell Classic 2
BlindShell Classic 2 ($549) is a simplified phone with physical buttons, designed for blind people. Its strength: simplicity. Its weakness: No built-in visual AI. No object recognition, no scene description. With an iPhone + Lumyeye, you keep a universal smartphone while benefiting from a complete AI visual assistant.
π² Lumyeye vs Kapsys SmartVision 3
Kapsys SmartVision 3 (~$1,000) combines an Android smartphone with a physical keyboard and built-in screen reader. It's a good compromise, but it uses a previous-generation processor and lacks conversational AI. Good news: Lumyeye is 100% compatible with the SmartVision 3. You can install it to add AI without changing your phone.
π Lumyeye vs Envision Glasses
Envision Glasses (~$3,500) are smart glasses based on Google Glass offering OCR reading and scene description. The concept is appealing but the high price, limited battery life (3-4h), and conspicuous design hinder adoption. Lumyeye offers the same AI features on the smartphone you already own, at a much more affordable price.
ποΈ Lumyeye vs Talking Pens (C-Pen, PenFriend)
Talking pens like the C-Pen Reader ($200-350) or RNIB's PenFriend scan text line by line by hovering over it. Line-by-line reading, and no scene description or object recognition. Lumyeye reads an entire page at once, summarizes the content, translates into 40 languages, and answers your questions about the document.
π± Lumyeye vs Olga Phone
The Olga Phone is a simplified large-button phone ($149-249) designed for visually impaired seniors. It allows calling and texting with an enlarged screen, but offers no visual AI features. No object recognition, no scene description. Lumyeye transforms any smartphone into a true intelligent assistant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a reading machine?
It's a dedicated device that scans and reads text. Expensive and often bulky, it's now complemented by AI on smartphone.
What is the best alternative to OCR?
Lumyeye. For the price of a lunch per month, you get a universal reader, translator and personal assistant in your pocket.
Can you read an entire book?
Yes. Lumyeye can read entire pages of novels or magazines, and even summarize them for you if you're in a hurry.
Does it work outside the home?
Of course. That's the advantage of mobile. At the supermarket, on the street, on vacation... Lumyeye is always with you.
Does Lumyeye replace an electronic magnifier?
Yes. Instead of straining your eyes to decipher magnified text, let the AI read it to you with a natural voice.
Is it reimbursed?
The subscription is so affordable (β¬14.90) that it's accessible to all, without complex paperwork. That's the price of immediate independence.
π Privacy & Security
No data stored. Your photos are analyzed then instantly deleted. 100% secure servers in France.