- Two apps, ViaOpta Navigator and ViaOpta Daily, have been developed by Novartis in partnership with the National Council of the Blind in Ireland (NCBI)
- These award-winning apps are designed to help people with visual impairment with their everyday activities
Dublin, 10th July 2017: Novartis, in partnership with the NCBI, is delighted to announce the launch of a suite of vision assistance apps. The award-winning ViaOpta Navigator and ViaOpta Daily apps were developed to better assist those living with visual impairment. ViaOpta Navigator app enables people who are blind or vision impaired to move independently by providing essential information to support orientation when walking. Similarly, ViaOpta Daily uses vocal guidance and audible tutorials to help with everyday activities. The cutting-edge technology used aims to make a difference in the lives of people who live with visual impairment and who seek discreet assistance.
Loretto Callaghan, CPO Head for Novartis Ireland, said: “Novartis is proud to continually support those living with visual impairment. We work tirelessly with organisations such as the NCBI to create patient-focused innovative solutions to enhance the lives of many here in Ireland. We are delighted that patients will now have the opportunity to benefit from the use of the ViaOpta apps to improve their independence and quality of life.”
Chris White, NCBI CEO, commented on the benefits of the apps, saying: “With the help of the ViaOpta apps, people living with vision impairments can undertake everyday tasks confidently and independently. These upgraded apps signal yet another advancement for people who are blind and vision impaired and will help them enormously as they go about tasks like taking their dog out for a walk, shopping or going to a busy café.”
The real-world benefits of these apps can be seen in their extensive functionality. ViaOpta Navigator and ViaOpta Daily have been created to assist people who are visually impaired to have a better experience the world around them in a discreet way, all at the push of a button. The various features for each of the apps are detailed below.
| ViaOpta Navigator Features | ViaOpta Daily Features |
| · Alerts (alerts and voice commands) | · Weather (updates on local weather) |
| · Directions | · Magnifying Glass |
| · Map | · Timer |
| · Junctions (junction information with directions) | · Contacts (access your phone contacts) |
| · Bookmark (destinations can be bookmarked) | · Colour Recogniser |
| · Search (search for saved destinations) | · Money Recogniser |
| · Share location with family and friends | · Object Recogniser |
| · Scene Recogniser |
For more information, or to download the ViaOpta apps, please visit www.viaopta-apps.com The ViaOpta apps are available on both iOS and Android platforms and are also free of charge.
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For further information, please contact:
Lorraine Cronin | Anna Duffy
Edelman
087 773 0361 ǀ lorraine.cronin@edelman.com
086 088 0928 ǀ anna.duffy@edelman.com
Notes to Editor
About ViaOpta:
The ViaOpta suite of apps have been designed specifically for people living with vision impairment.
- ViaOpta Daily is designed as a personal assistant to help people with vision impairment with their everyday activities.
- ViaOpta Nav offers an experience that can be life changing if you are living with vision impairment by helping you to increase your mobility and regain independence.
- Since their initial launch the apps have been awarded a Bronze Cannes Lions Mobile Awards (2015), a European Excellence Award (2014), and was recognised by the PM360 Pharma Choice Award (2014)
The apps are available for free download from Apple iOS and Android (Google Play) stores on your mobile devices and from www.viaopta-apps.com
© ViaOpta is a registered trademark of Novartis AG. © Novartis Pharma AG. January 2014
About Novartis:
Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, eye care and cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals. Novartis is the only global company with leading positions in these areas. In 2016, the Group achieved net sales of USD 48.5 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 9.0 billion. Novartis Group companies employ approximately 123,000 full-time-equivalent associates. Novartis products are available in more than 155 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com
Novartis is on Twitter. Sign up to follow @Novartis at http://twitter.com/novartis
About NCBI:
NCBI (National Council for the Blind Ireland) is the national sight loss not for profit charity, which offers support and services to people of all ages who are experiencing difficulties with their eyesight. NCBI offers community based services to help people adapt to sight loss and maintain their independence. These services include emotional support to the individual experiencing loss of vision and to their families, advice and information on all aspects of vision loss as well as practical support and solutions to the challenges encountered by people with vision loss. NCBI’s services are offered to people of all ages, from birth through to older age. NCBI employs over 160 staff to deliver these services and are supported by a team of dedicated volunteers throughout the country.