The OKO application
The name OKO originates from slavic countries, meaning 'eye'. The reason we choose this name is because it is very easy to remember but also very easy for Siri to pick up on this sound, simply say 'Hey Siri, open OKO' and you are good to go. This is just the start of some of the details that the AYES team has designed into the application to make it as easy to use as possible.
The homescreen of OKO
From the moment you open up the OKO application, it immediately starts searching for pedestrian traffic signals. The home screen features 4 elements, with a top bar indicating the selected functionality for easy use by voice-over users. On the top right, there is an account button containing general settings, while the bottom right holds a select functionality button to choose the desired feature. Finally, there's a button on the bottom left to report a mistake, which creates an image at that point and sends it to our AI for fine-tuning.


The settings page of the OKO application
The OKO application's settings page includes three sections, the first sections the 'Preferences' section has three tabs. The first tab is the camera settings tab, where users can disable the camera visualization, although the app will continue detecting pedestrian signals. The second tab is the audio and haptic tab, allowing users to turn off either the haptic or audio feedback. The third tab is the privacy settings, where users can opt to disable data sharing for OKO detections, although it's recommended to keep it enabled for an optimal user experience. The 'More' section contains two tabs, one to rate the app in the app store and the other to share the app with friends. The 'Support' section provides users with the ability to contact the OKO team, while the About tab provides access to the website, Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.
The different types of feedback
The OKO app is capable of identifying the pedestrian head's WALK, DON'T WALK, and COUNTDOWN statuses. To provide feedback to the user, the app employs three types of feedback: visual overlay, audio feedback, and vibrations. The app utilizes three distinct rhythms to indicate the status of the traffic signal. Specifically, the slow rhythm signifies DON'T WALK, the fast rhythm indicates WALK, and the intermediate rhythm corresponds to COUNTDOWN.


How to use the OKO application
-
Position your phone against your chest, ensuring the camera is facing the direction you want to cross. Some users consider using a lanyard case to let the phone hang freely for added convenience.
-
Point away from the intersection to begin scanning the crossing.
-
Gradually move towards the parallel street while keeping the camera aimed in the intended crossing direction.
-
Wait for the app to detect a pedestrian traffic signal in the desired crossing direction.
-
Once the pedestrian traffic signal is identified, the app will relay the information to you, confirming that you're facing the correct direction for crossing.
-
Proceed to cross the street, ensuring you follow all safety precautions and traffic signals.
Interesting insights into the OKO application
-
The OKO application operates locally on the user's device to ensure consistent reliability at intersections. This means that you can run the application regardless of WiFi or cellular connection.
-
As the OKO application's software operates directly on the user's device, older phones may exhibit somewhat slower response times compared to their newer counterparts.
-
We support iPhone 8 and up, you will find that the newer the phone the faster the software will respond.
-
Refrain from using power-saving mode, as it can negatively impact detection speed
-
Noticeable improvement in detection speed when using iOS 16 compared to iOS 14
-
We currently do not support Android, because our software runs locally on the phone it requires a good camera, a good battery and a powerful computerchip. Currently, only iPhones meet these requirements.
-
Make sure 'Screen Recognition' is turned off for the OKO application. The OKO application is fully accessible with voice-over so no need for the 'Screen Recognition' this can be turned off in the settings page > accessibility > VoiceOver > VoiceOver Recognition > Screen Recognition > Apply to Apps > toggle OKO off.


How to pronounce OKO
Play the following audio clip to learn how to properly pronounce OKO
Join the AYES O&M Club
Join our special email list dedicated to Orientation and Mobility specialists