A new product from Microsoft Corporation can do just that for people who have trouble seeing. They may be blind or visually challenged. The product, an app, is called Seeing AI. "AI" is short for artificial intelligence, a term for computers with an ability to think and learn like human beings.
Seeing AI is currently available for free for Apple's iPhone and iPad in Canada, Hong Kong, India, New Zealand, Singapore and the USA. It has four Channels: Short Text, Document, Product, and Person. After you download it, the app will show video directions for each channel. And the app uses both a camera and artificial intelligence to identify places, objects and people (even the emotions of people).
People can use Seeing AI to learn words in English. With the app open, you can point your iPhone or iPad at any object and it will say what the object is. People can also use the app when going to a store or supermarket. It can read product bar codes(条形码) so users will know whether a can is filled with fruit or dog food. In addition, at restaurants, diners can use it to hear a list of drinks and other menu offerings. It can recognize both food choices and prices. And in the near future, it will be able to identify banknotes so people know whether they are holding a bill that is worth $100 or $1.
However, as a new app, seeing AI will not be correct 100% of the time. For example, just because someone is smiling does not necessarily mean they are happy. The app recognizes text, but not handwriting yet. That feature may be available in the future. Also, Seeing AI needs to be connected to the Internet to work.
【小题1】What does the author say about Seeing AI?| A．It is on sale all over the world. |
| B．It can run on all smart phones. |
| C．It is tailored for the visually disabled. |
| D．It asks for a small charge for the service. |
| A．Make quick decisions. |
| B．Tell the types of food. |
| C．Identify paper money. |
| D．Recommend best alternatives. |
| A．The usage of Seeing AI. |
| B．The future of Seeing AI. |
| C．The limitation of Seeing AI. |
| D．The significance of Seeing AI. |
| A．A diary. | B．A guidebook. |
| C．A novel. | D．A magazine. |
