AYES

Ayes, an Antwerp-based start-up was founded in 2021. AYES developed the software 'OKO' to help blind and visually impaired people navigate on the street. With the submitted project, AYES aims to improve the existing application 'OKO' and add a new functionality: recognition of bus and tram numbers. To further develop and train the AI model, AYES needs a data server and an artificial intelligence extension.

From hardware to software

The prototype consisted of a camera, a computing module and a speaker controlled by an AI model. "Then came the most important work: walking around with potential users to get as much feedback as possible. With this valuable input, we were able to refine the AI model. The enthusiastic response from the testers made us realise that our solution was a breakthrough," says Van de Mierop. "As we wanted to make our product accessible to everyone, it had to be scalable and affordable. So we shifted the focus from hardware to software, and so it became an app on the smartphone."

Once they could make the AI algorithms run fast and accurately enough on smartphones, the trio launched their own start-up from scratch. AYES, pronounced like the English 'eyes', and OKO, the name of the app, are obviously a reference to eyes. "OKO is also easy for Siri to recognise and it is a name that works well internationally, which is important if we want to grow internationally," says Van de Mierop.

The app for the blind is already being used in more than 20 countries around the world, whether in testing or not. The app is certainly big in Japan.