Seeing is something a lot of people take for granted. Rarely can a person with no visual impairment relate to what a blind person has to deal with on a day-to-day basis. However, thanks to the new app Be My Eyes, a person with no visual impairment can now help a blind person with what they deal with on a regular basis just by using their smartphone.

“It's my hope that by helping each other as an online community, Be My Eyes will make a big difference in the everyday lives of blind people all over the world,” said Hans Jørgen Wiberg, founder of Be My Eyes.

By downloading the Be My Eyes app a blind person can log in and request assistance for a problem that requires sight, whether it be checking the expiration date of milk or navigating unfamiliar surroundings. Upon receiving a notification for help, the volunteer helps the blind person by seeing through a live video connection and answering any questions.

“Through a direct video call the app gives blind people the opportunity to ask a sighted volunteer for help, for tasks that requires normal vision,” the Be My Eyes website explains. “The blind person “lends” the helper’s eyes all through his or her smartphone. The sighted helper is able to see and describe what the blind person is showing the sighted helper by filming with the video camera in the smartphone. That way, by working together they are able to solve the problem that the blind person is facing.”