Helping Visually-Impaired People
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched a mobile app called ‘MANI’ to help visually-impaired people to identify the denomination of currency notes. The app ‘MANI’ is an acronym for Mobile Aided Note Identifier. Users can download this app from Android Playstore or iOS App Store. The application also works offline once installed.
“After installation, the mobile application does not require internet and works in offline mode. It has the ability to navigate the mobile application via voice controls for accessing the application features wherever the underlying device and operating system combination supports voice-enabled controls,” said an official statement.
‘MANI’ App Working
Through user’s camera, the app scans the notes and identifies the denominations of Mahatma Gandhi Series and Mahatma Gandhi (New) series banknotes by checking front or reverse side or part of the note including half folded notes at various holding angles and a broad range of light conditions (normal light/daylight/low light, etc.). It can be navigated via voice controls to be able to access the app’s features wherever the underlying device and operating system combination supports voice-enabled controls. Furthermore, it gives audio output in Hindi and English, and non-sonic mode such as vibration (suitable for those with vision and hearing impairment). However, the RBI added in its statement that this mobile app does not authenticate a note as being either genuine or counterfeit.
“Technological progress has opened up new opportunities for making Indian banknotes more accessible for the visually impaired, thereby facilitating their day to day transactions,” the RBI said in a statement.
