Czech researchers develop app to help visually impaired detect food mold

Researchers from the Technical University of Liberec, Mendel University in Brno, and TyfloCentrum are developing BMyVision v2.0, a mobile application designed to assist blind and visually impaired individuals. The app uses a smartphone camera to identify early signs of mold on food, such as bakery products, and can read expiration dates.

To ensure accuracy, the development team is building a database to train the system. While they currently have approximately 1,400 images, they are seeking thousands more from the public to reach a target of 10,000 photos. The goal is to help users distinguish between mold and substances like flour or powdered sugar.

Beyond food safety, the developers intend to expand the system's capabilities to recognize Czech banknotes, human faces, and sidewalk obstacles, including pet waste. The application is expected to be released for free on the Apple Store and Google Play, with testing scheduled to begin in September.