# Conversations for Vision: Remote Sighted Assistants Helping People with Visual Impairments

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/1812.00148 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/1812.00148/

## Key facts

- Cited by 6 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 1 Dec 2018.

## Built on by (most cited first, 6 of 6)

- [WorldScribe: Towards Context-Aware Live Visual Descriptions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2408.06627/) (2024)
- [Investigating Use Cases of AI-Powered Scene Description Applications for Blind and Low Vision People](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2403.15604/) (2024)
- [Beyond Visual Perception: Insights from Smartphone Interaction of Visually Impaired Users with Large Multimodal Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2502.16098/) (2025)
- [Towards Understanding the Use of MLLM-Enabled Applications for Visual Interpretation by Blind and Low Vision People](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2503.05899/) (2025)
- [How Multimodal Large Language Models Support Access to Visual Information: A Diary Study With Blind and Low Vision People](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2602.13469/) (2026)
- [Probing the Gaps in ChatGPT Live Video Chat for Real-World Assistance for People who are Blind or Visually Impaired](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2508.03651/) (2025)

## Abstract (arXiv)

People with visual impairment (PVI) must interact with a world they cannot see. Remote sighted assistance has emerged as a conversational/social support system. We interviewed participants who either provide or receive assistance via a conversational/social prosthetic called Aira (https://aira.io/). We identified four types of support provided: scene description, performance, social interaction, and navigation. We found that conversational style is context-dependent. Sighted assistants make intentional efforts to elicit PVI's personal knowledge and leverage it in the guidance they provide. PVI used non-verbal behaviors (e.g. hand gestures) as a parallel communication channel to provide feedback or guidance to sighted assistants. We also discuss implications for design.