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WOW! 4,454,919 VOLUNTEERS and 277,697 BLIND & LOW-VISION PEOPLE That's a great ratio! Is it safe to say anytime someone needs help they're able to get it?

abawany 6y ago
I've received calls but by the time I pick up (between 2-3 rings) someone else has already picked up the call and is likely helping the caller. I've had the app on my phone for nearly a year and haven't yet been able to handle a call so it seems that people are getting the help promptly when they need it.
- switch007 6y ago
  And that is AMAZING
bluGill 6y ago
More importantly it means that a blind person isn't constantly bothering the same few people all the time. If every blind person needs help once a day, every volunteer only needs to help once a week. This means you can be helpful without being annoyed by how often a stranger is bothering you.
- adkadskhj 6y ago
  On that note, i made a comment in another thread here about how i'm terrified of getting something wrong/etc. However, if the app were to connect me more frequently with people i've positively helped, bonded with, etc (mutually i imagine, tinder-esque hah), it feels less intimidating to mess up if i knew the person a bit. It seems to me part of my fear resolves around a vacuum of fire and forget - never being able to correct my mistake, or help them more to make up for it, or etc. Plus building relationships is neat hah.
  - pcthrowaway 6y ago
    Speaking as someone who worked as a relay operator for the deaf and hard of hearing, there's likely a reason this doesn't happen. People using these services largely want them to be a transparent layer between them and the thing they're trying to access. Basically the person is there to provide the same access a sighted/hearing person would have. If they form a relationship with the person helping them, they may be less inclined to read sensitive documents. Additionally this gives the helpers a more clear window into the life of another person (which can be used nefariously) rather than, more often, bits and pieces without context.
ehsankia 6y ago
It is pretty awesome. Honestly the one complaint I've heard is that helpers are sad that they aren't getting more calls and get super excited when they finally get one. Which really is the best kind of the problem to have.
- pfortuny 6y ago
  I’ve received some 8 calls, and being outrun several other times... It feels like losing a race!
- pranavjoneja 6y ago
  Yep, I've been a helper for 2 years now and I've only received 2 calls
mlang23 6y ago
Indeed, the ratio works out, at least for me. I get help even at night time. As far as I understand, the algorithms uses distance and language to find a helper. So if nobody near me is awake, I can still get help from people speaking my language which live in a different timezone.

abawany 6y ago

I've received calls but by the time I pick up (between 2-3 rings) someone else has already picked up the call and is likely helping the caller. I've had the app on my phone for nearly a year and haven't yet been able to handle a call so it seems that people are getting the help promptly when they need it.

switch007 6y ago
And that is AMAZING

bluGill 6y ago

More importantly it means that a blind person isn't constantly bothering the same few people all the time. If every blind person needs help once a day, every volunteer only needs to help once a week. This means you can be helpful without being annoyed by how often a stranger is bothering you.

adkadskhj 6y ago
On that note, i made a comment in another thread here about how i'm terrified of getting something wrong/etc. However, if the app were to connect me more frequently with people i've positively helped, bonded with, etc (mutually i imagine, tinder-esque hah), it feels less intimidating to mess up if i knew the person a bit. It seems to me part of my fear resolves around a vacuum of fire and forget - never being able to correct my mistake, or help them more to make up for it, or etc. Plus building relationships is neat hah.
- pcthrowaway 6y ago
  Speaking as someone who worked as a relay operator for the deaf and hard of hearing, there's likely a reason this doesn't happen. People using these services largely want them to be a transparent layer between them and the thing they're trying to access. Basically the person is there to provide the same access a sighted/hearing person would have. If they form a relationship with the person helping them, they may be less inclined to read sensitive documents. Additionally this gives the helpers a more clear window into the life of another person (which can be used nefariously) rather than, more often, bits and pieces without context.

ehsankia 6y ago

It is pretty awesome. Honestly the one complaint I've heard is that helpers are sad that they aren't getting more calls and get super excited when they finally get one. Which really is the best kind of the problem to have.

pfortuny 6y ago
I’ve received some 8 calls, and being outrun several other times... It feels like losing a race!
pranavjoneja 6y ago
Yep, I've been a helper for 2 years now and I've only received 2 calls

mlang23 6y ago

Indeed, the ratio works out, at least for me. I get help even at night time. As far as I understand, the algorithms uses distance and language to find a helper. So if nobody near me is awake, I can still get help from people speaking my language which live in a different timezone.