EchoVision User Guide | Setup & Tutorials

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Built by, with, and for the Blind and Low-Vision Community

Getting Started with EchoVision

Welcome to EchoVision. This guide helps you set up, explore, and confidently use your EchoVision smart glasses from the moment you open the box.

Tutorial Videos

Step-by-step video tutorials are available on YouTube, including setup, hotspot connection, and everyday use. Browse the EchoVision tutorial playlist for the full list of videos.

Safety Note

EchoVision is not a replacement for a white cane or guide dog and should not be considered a primary mobility aid. Use EchoVision to supplement your orientation and mobility skills. Network conditions and AI limitations can affect accuracy.

What’s Included

Inside your EchoVision package, you will find:

  • Protective charging case
  • EchoVision smart glasses, inside the case
  • Magnetic clip-on sunglasses, inside the case, in a slot in front of the glasses (included free for preorder customers; optional accessory for later buyers)
  • Under the case and the cardboard insert holding the case, you will find:
    • USB-C charging and data cable
    • Cleaning cloth
    • Interchangeable nose pads in small and large sizes (medium size is pre-installed)
    • Quick Start Guide in print and Braille

Your Device

EchoVision has two main parts: the smart glasses and the charging case. The descriptions below help you identify features by touch.

Smart Glasses Overview

When unfolded, the glasses resemble standard sunglasses with added controls.

  • Left arm, outside surface: A raised horizontal line marks the touchpad for volume and other functions.
  • Top of left arm, just behind the hinge: The Power/Camera button turns EchoVision on or off and lets you take photos or record video.
  • Front of glasses: The camera is on the right side near the front edge.
  • Top of right arm, just behind the hinge: The AI/Action button controls most AI features and modes.
  • Tip of right arm: A USB-C port for direct charging or use with a portable power bank.

Charging Case Overview

The charging case protects the glasses and charges them when stored.

  • Orientation: Place the case with the front flap facing you and the narrow edge down.
  • Bottom edge, center: USB-C charging port for the included cable.
  • Back of case, above the port: A flat button. Double-press to hear the case battery level.
    • One beep or vibration = 0-25%
    • Two beeps or vibrations = 25-50%
    • Three beeps or vibrations = 50-75%
    • Four beeps or vibrations = 75-100%
  • Front of case nub where the hole in the flap magnetically secures the closure of the case. For those with some ability to discern visual cues, you will find that that nub has an LED circle that conveys certain status information on the functioning of the charging case.

Note: pre-production versions of the charging case used audio beeps to indicate the charge level. Production versions provide haptic feedback via vibrations.

Initial Setup

There is a small piece of protective tape on the bridge of the glasses to prevent contact with the charging case during transport. Please remove this tape before placing the glasses in the charging case to charge. While they were transported to you in the case, they have not been charging due to the tape preventing charging contact.

Before you begin the setup process, make sure to fully charge the glasses and have your smartphone nearby. EchoVision supports iOS and Android.

System Requirements

  • iOS: iPhone 8 or newer running iOS 16.6 or later
  • Android: Devices running Android 11 or later

Install the EchoVision app by Agiga from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. You can also scan the QR code inside the box or on the Quick Start card.

Setting Up EchoVision

Before launching the app:

  • Turn on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on your phone.
  • Make sure the glasses are charged or connected to power.

Then open the EchoVision app and follow the prompts.

  1. Sign in or create an account
    • Select “Continue with email.”
    • Select Register Account if this is your first usage of EchoVision. Then, enter the email address you registered with Agiga, along with a password. This screen creates your login password, although there is no need to enter it twice as is the case with other apps.
    • Otherwise, enter your credentials and select Login.
    • In any dialog that asks for a password in the EchoVision app, you will also find a button to show the password. This is helpful if you need to double check the password you’ve entered for accuracy.
    • When the app asks you to allow location services, select “While using.” On the next screen, select “Allow” to allow the app to search for Bluetooth devices. You’ll need a Bluetooth connection to EchoVision in order to modify and update settings or to use Bluetooth audio to the glasses.
  2. Connect via Bluetooth
    • The app scans for nearby EchoVision devices.
    • Select your device name to connect. The EchoVision device will be named EchoVision-BLE-XXXX, where XXXX is a unique serial number.
    • Once you’ve selected the device, you will be asked for permission to connect to the Bluetooth device. If you want audio from your phone to be passed through to your glasses as a headset, select Pair. Otherwise, select Cancel. If you ever change your mind, you can always connect or disconnect Bluetooth audio. This is described later in this document.
  3. Connect to Wi-Fi
    • The next screen will say “Scanning for wi-fi networks.” In a few seconds, you will see a list of Wi-Fi networks that your glasses can access.
    • Choose your home network or mobile hotspot.
    • Enter the password carefully; it will be masked. If you would like to check your entry for accuracy, there is a “show password” button available.
  4. Finish setup
    • After connecting, the EchoVision home screen appears and you can begin using your device.

Connecting to a Mobile Hotspot

EchoVision’s AI features require a Wi-Fi connection. When away from a home Wi-Fi network, use your smartphone hotspot.

Using iPhone

Timing: When using a mobile hotspot, connect the glasses within one minute of turning on the hotspot on your phone. Watch a video demo from Amy (also included in the tutorial playlist).

Connecting EchoVision to a mobile hotspot works the same way as connecting to any other Wi-Fi network. Before connecting, make sure your phone’s hotspot is enabled and discoverable.

To prepare your iPhone hotspot:

  1. Open iOS Settings > Personal Hotspot.
  2. Turn on Allow Others to Join.
  3. If available, turn on Maximize Compatibility.

To connect EchoVision to your hotspot:

  1. Open the EchoVision app.
  2. Go to Settings > Wi-Fi.
  3. Select your phone’s hotspot from the list.
  4. Enter the hotspot password to connect.

Once the glasses have connected to your hotspot at least once, they will automatically switch between your home Wi-Fi and your mobile hotspot as availability changes. You may still have to ensure that your hotspot is discoverable when you leave home, but once EchoVision sees it, it will connect to your personal hotspot without further intervention.

When your phone reconnects to your home Wi-Fi, the glasses will reconnect to the home network, as the hotspot is no longer available. When you leave home and your hotspot is enabled, the glasses should automatically connect to your hotspot.

Using Android

Enable your Mobile Hotspot by going to Settings > Network & internet (or Connections) > Hotspot & tethering and toggling it on. On certain Android devices, you can also ask your voice assistant to turn on the hotspot.

To connect your EchoVision glasses to your hotspot for the first time, open the EchoVision app, navigate to Settings > Wi-Fi, select your phone’s hotspot, and enter the password. The glasses will save this network, so you will not need to re-enter the password unless you perform a factory reset of your glasses.

When you are finished using the Mobile Hotspot, disable it using the same method you used to enable it. This will help conserve your mobile data.

When your glasses come back into range of any previously connected Wi-Fi network, they will reconnect automatically.

Charging Your Device

Charging the Case

  1. Connect the included USB-C cable to the port on the bottom of the case. The end with the right angle connector is recommended, as it allows for the cable to run alongside the case rather than sticking out the back.
  2. Connect the other end to a wall adapter or power bank.
  3. Double-press the button on the back of the case to hear or feel the battery level (1 to 4 beeps or vibrations):
    • 1 beep or vibration = 0-25% charge
    • 2 beeps or vibrations = 25-50% charge
    • 3 beeps or vibrations = 50-75% charge
    • 4 beeps or vibrations = 75-100% charge

    The nub on the front of the case that secures the case flap provides visual status information on the state of the charge and charging of the case. For those with some ability to discern visual cues, you will find that that nub has an LED circle that conveys certain status information on the functioning of the charging case.

    • When the case flap is opened the nub LED turns on. If the light is green the charging case is fully charged. If the light is red, the charge is less than full. The LED stays on for a few seconds.
    • When you close the flap, the LED will come on for a short while to confirm the secure closure. It will then go off after a few seconds.
    • When the charging case is being charged the LED will indicate charging progress. While charging the LED flashes. The rate of the flashing is more rapid when the case’s state of charge is low and the rate diminishes as the state of charge increases. The color of the light will be red when the state of charge is not full. When full the LED will be a constant, unblinking green. This indicator can provide finer grained information than the button press on the back of the case. For example, the button press might give you 4 beeps or vibrations even though the LED is not yet unblinking green, which tells you that while you are in the 75-100% range of the state of charge, the case is not fully charged yet.

    When the case’s charge level is at 1 beep or vibration you should charge the case rather than letting the case battery go to 0% charge to protect the long-term life of the case battery.

    Note: pre-production versions of the charging case used audio beeps to indicate the charge level. Production versions provide haptic feedback via vibrations.

Charging the Glasses

You can charge the glasses in two ways:

  1. In the case: Open the case with the flap facing you. With lenses facing you, align the nose bridge with the slot and gently press down until fully seated. Be careful: if you have the magnetic clip-on lenses in the case, ensure that they are placed in the dedicated slot designed for them to fit in (which is directly in front of the slot for the glasses, closer to you against the leather part of the case). Having them in the main glasses compartment will interfere with the glasses’ ability to make contact with the charging contacts in the case. Also, do not place the glasses in the charging case with the magnetic clip-on lenses attached to the glasses. This will also likely interfere with the glasses’ ability to make contact with the charging contacts in the case.
  2. Direct USB-C: Connect the cable to the USB-C port at the tip of the right arm and plug the other end into a charger or power bank. In a pinch, you can use the case as a power bank.

If the glasses are on when you place them in the case, they say “Power connected”, and when you take them out they say “Power disconnected”. You can also check that the glasses are charging by watching the Battery Charge on the app’s Home tab go up.

EchoVision App Description

When you open up the app the very first time, it will ask you to sign in or register.

Once you have created the account, you will see five tabs across the bottom of the app. From left to right, they are Home, History, Gallery, Settings, and Help.

Home Tab

The Home tab is where you will find information about your glasses in the following order:

  • Glasses serial number
  • Glasses status: The Home tab shows one of three states:
    • Ready — Glasses are on and ready for full use.
    • Standby — Glasses are connected via Bluetooth but not in ready mode.
    • Disconnected — The companion app is not connected to the glasses over Bluetooth. The app cannot tell whether the glasses are Ready or Standby; this status describes the app link, not whether the glasses are powered on or off.

    What you can do in each state:

    • When status is Ready, you can use all functions: AI functions (press AI once, twice, or three times, or press and hold), photo and video recording, OTA updates and settings in the companion app, status check (triple-press Power/Camera), and send feedback (press AI five times). The glasses are connected via Bluetooth.
    • When status is Standby, the glasses remain connected via Bluetooth. You can use OTA updates and settings in the companion app, power off (hold Power/Camera 5 seconds), check status (triple-press Power/Camera; silent while the glasses are in the charging case), and send feedback (press AI five times). You cannot use AI functions or take photos or videos until the glasses return to Ready.
    • When status is Disconnected, the companion app has lost its Bluetooth link to the glasses and cannot report Ready or Standby. You cannot use OTA updates or settings in the app. On the glasses themselves, you may still power on/off (hold Power/Camera 5 seconds), check status (triple-press Power/Camera), except during reboot or shutdown—the glasses may be on even though the app shows Disconnected.
  • Wi-Fi network: Gives the name of the Wi-Fi network EchoVision is connected to.
  • Battery Charge: Percentage of battery charge.

History Tab

The History tab is where you can find a listing of all of your AI interactions, including your prompts and the AI’s answers. You can always come back to look at it if you missed the answer from the glasses or simply want to go back to review what the glasses said. It is especially helpful if you are in a crowded or noisy environment and cannot hear the glasses well. You might need to wait for the app to synchronize with the glasses, but you can always close and reopen the app if you don’t see the tasks you performed under history. If you use a screen reader with your companion app you can use certain gestures to initiate a refresh of the history tab’s list of conversations. On Android the default gesture to refresh the conversation list is a two finger swipe down over the conversation list. On iOS the default gesture is a 3 finger swipe down.

The History Tab is also useful for retrieving Reading Mode results. The scanned text can be copied or shared via the controls for each conversation.

All AI interactions initiated by Q&A / Scene Description, Live AI, and Reading mode are captured in the History.

When you open the History tab you will be presented with a page headed “Chat History”. A list of conversation summaries will be presented to you in reverse chronological order. It includes dates for your reference. You can select a conversation summary item and that will open a screen headed “Chat session”. The screen presents a list of chat interactions items presented in chronological order. Focus will be sent to the top of the last entry of this list. Each entry of this list contains:

  • The date and time of the interaction.
  • A thumbnail image that was captured at the time the interaction commenced.
  • The prompt you provided. If you did not provide a prompt you might find a prompt injected by the glasses to direct the AI’s response. In the context of a Live AI session the prompt will not exist for those observations provided automatically when continuous Live AI is being used. Also, when in Live AI and you use double tap of the touchpad to prompt a fresh “look” there will be a prompt injected by the glasses.
  • The AI’s response.
  • Controls (buttons) that can be applied to this item. These include thumbs up, thumbs down, share, copy and delete options. When using a screen reader these visible controls are not accessible directly but instead are accessed through the screen reader actions menu.

The grouping of AI conversations into groups for the History Tab is primarily chronological. A group of AI conversations that happen closely together in time will be grouped into a single conversation item in the History Tab.

You can delete History one interaction at a time: open a conversation and use the delete control on an entry. Deleting a whole conversation or your entire History at once is coming in a future update. There is no way to disable History logging.

The Gallery Tab page tells you if media is available for download from the glasses and shows you media files that you have transferred to the phone that you have not deleted. If there are photos and videos that are on the glasses but not synced to the gallery, you will have an opportunity to transfer them to the gallery. In iOS, the photos and videos in the Gallery tab are kept in an album called Echovision on the iOS Photos app. On Android the media downloaded from the phone will be available in your phones gallery or photos.

If there are photos or videos on the EchoVision glasses that have not been transferred to the gallery, you will see an alert asking you to transfer the photos or videos that are not in the gallery.

  • iOS, if you select the option to transfer, you may be asked to connect to a Wi-Fi network called EchoVision Media Center. Allow this connection, and your media will transfer from the EchoVision glasses to the gallery.
  • Android there is no additional step to connect to a particular network to complete the download operation.

To maximize success when downloading media from the glasses to the phone, consider the following:

  • The glasses must be powered on and connected to the companion app.
  • Both the glasses and the phone require an adequate Wi-Fi connection, as Wi-Fi is used for the media transfer. Staying near a strong Wi-Fi source is recommended.
  • The glasses should have more than 10% battery charge or be connected to a charger during the download.

Settings Tab

The Settings tab allows you to view and modify EchoVision settings. These include Bluetooth audio, Wi-Fi, connection to other services, and more.

The glasses need to be On and in the Ready or Standby state for changes to settings to take effect. The glasses and phone do not need to be connected to Internet or Wi-Fi.

Audio

The Audio tab is where you can adjust the audio playback settings of the glasses, such as volume of the glasses and phone calls, and glasses voice speed.

  • Media volume: The volume of EchoVision’s spoken feedback and sounds. With VoiceOver or TalkBack, swipe up or down on the slider to adjust it.
  • Call volume: Used when you have the glasses paired as a headset. With VoiceOver or TalkBack, swipe up or down on the slider to adjust the call volume. Note, if you have the call volume set high, people from the other end of the call might be able to hear themselves echoing back as the EchoVision microphone picks up audio from the speakers in your glasses.
  • Speech speed: You can adjust the speed of the glasses’ spoken output from 1.0X (default slowest speed) to 2.0X (fastest speed) in increments of 0.1X.

Wi-Fi

Used to scan for and connect to Wi-Fi networks. A Wi-Fi network is required for the glasses to access the AI. Your glasses can connect to open networks, password-protected networks, Wi-Fi hotspots, and most captive networks (i.e., the kind of Wi-Fi network that presents you with a login page but lists itself as open).

External Audio Devices

The External audio devices option allows you to pair EchoVision to speakers, headphones, or hearing aids. This capability allows you to use an alternative audio source for playing EchoVision’s audible responses through a paired audio device, rather than sending audio to its own internal speakers.

Before you try to pair a Bluetooth audio device with the glasses, make sure you put the audio device into pairing mode so Echovision will be able to see it during its scan for available devices. Please consult your audio device’s manual for details on how to enable Bluetooth pairing mode.

When you select this option, the app will scan and list all the available devices you may potentially pair EchoVision with. Simply select your audio device from the list, and EchoVision’s audio will be routed to the selected device.

Device Management

In the Device Management tab, you can adjust many system-related settings.

  • Wear detection: Wear detection uses sensors in the arms of the glasses to tell whether you are wearing them. When Wear Detection is on, taking the glasses off puts them in standby (they say “Going to sleep”) until you put them back on (they say “Glasses on”). When it is off, taking the glasses off does not change their state. You can turn Wear Detection on or off.
  • Camera indicator light: You can turn the camera indicator light on or off. If it is on, the camera indicator light will be visible, including when you are performing any AI related tasks. If you have it turned off, the camera indicator light will be on only when you are taking photos or recording videos. If this option is disabled, the camera indicator light will remain off while the AI is using pictures and video from its camera with the AI engine. This setting affects whether the camera indicator light is on when the camera is used during Connected Services calls such as Be My Eyes and AIRA calls. Please consult appropriate privacy laws in your area for the legal ramifications of this feature.
  • Verbosity Level: This ONLY applies to Reading Mode guidance and instructions. This does not apply to any other aspects of voicing done by the glasses. There are two options: Verbose and Brief. The default value is Verbose.
  • Route Phone Audio to Glasses: When enabled, phone audio (calls, media, and other phone sounds) can route through the glasses as a Bluetooth headset. Go to Settings > Device Management > Route Phone Audio to Glasses and toggle it off if you do not want phone audio to play through the glasses.
  • Long Press Scene Description: This setting is on by default on supported glasses software. Turn it on to ask questions or start a voice command by holding the AI button while EchoVision is idle. When it is off, press the AI button once to start voice input for a spoken question or command; holding the button does not start voice input. The Follow-up Questions toggle appears alongside this setting and applies only to long-press questions; it is available only while Long Press Scene Description is on. Device configuration can disable either toggle. If the settings are unavailable, update the glasses to a software version that supports them.
  • Find glasses: The Find Glasses option triggers an audible alarm in the EchoVision glasses, which could be used to locate them if you put them down somewhere and cannot find them. Note that this feature only works if your glasses are within Bluetooth range, the glasses are powered on, and the glasses are in Ready or Standby mode.
  • Found glasses: Selecting the Found Glasses option stops the alarm sound that was triggered with the “Find Glasses” option.
  • Reboot glasses: This option is to reboot the glasses if you are unable to turn off and restart the glasses with the Power/Camera button.
  • Factory reset: You might have to consider a factory reset if your glasses become unresponsive or if certain operations cannot be resolved. Note: If you do a factory reset, you will lose all the Wi-Fi connections you have previously established, all the photos and videos pending transfer from the glasses to the phone’s gallery, and all of your other settings. You will also need to perform all of the operations outlined in the section above entitled “Initial Setup > Setting Up EchoVision”. If you want to perform a very complete reset see the section below entitled “Performing a Factory Reset (Advanced)”. This factory reset operation is functionally equivalent to performing a factory reset using your glasses’ AI button with a 30 second press and hold.

System Update

You can visit the System Update screen to see if new system updates are available and to find out the version numbers of the currently installed system software and firmware. The System Update option allows you to update the EchoVision glasses system software and firmware. The glasses battery state of charge must be at 50% or above when commencing the system update or have the glasses charging via USB-C cable or in the charging case during the system update. The update will not commence if this is not the case. The glasses must also be connected to Wi-Fi to download an update; otherwise the app shows “WiFi Connection Required”. It is recommended the phone where the EchoVision app is installed be nearby while doing the update.

Forget Glasses

The Forget Glasses option disconnects the EchoVision glasses from the app. Use it when you replace your glasses with a different pair, or when the glasses need to be fully removed from your device for some other reason. Afterwards, the Home tab lets you scan for glasses: with the pair you want to use powered on and near your phone, select it from the list of glasses found. A different pair may also need its Wi-Fi set up (see Wi-Fi) and, to play phone audio, Bluetooth pairing (see Pairing EchoVision Glasses as Wireless Headphones). When you forget your glasses here, you should also unpair or forget the same glasses in your phone's Bluetooth connections.

Account

In the Account section, you will find Usage, Connected Services, Log Out, Delete Account, and About.

  • Usage: Activating this item will take you to a screen that provides you with your usage statistics for various AI operations. It enumerates this usage in terms of the number of requests, the time spent in each type of operation, and the last time the operation was performed. The operations for which usage statistics are gathered include Q&A / Scene Description, Live AI, Reading Mode, and overall. Each Reading Mode scan counts as one request here, and scans are what your subscription counts for Reading Mode. This information can be useful for assessing your usage against your subscription’s limits, in addition to just providing you a sense of your usage of the EchoVision glasses.
  • Connected services: Connected services allows you to connect your glasses with Be My Eyes and Aira if you already have an account with either service. We will add other human agent services in the future when they become available.
    • Aira: Follow the prompts to get the glasses connected. Once you have authenticated the glasses with your Aira account, it will display successfully connected to Aira.
    • Be My Eyes: You will have to sign in with your email and password. If you have previously signed in with Apple, Google, or Facebook, you will need to create a password with your email address in the settings of the Be My Eyes app.

    This screen is primarily for establishing your credentials to use these assistive services and the actual use of the services is done via voice prompts in Q&A mode (see the section entitled “Voice Commands for Calling Services”).

    If you factory reset or forget the glasses you will need to redo this linking of the glasses to these accounts.

    You must have the glasses powered on and connected to the app to successfully perform this linking of the glasses to these connected service accounts.

    You can always check on whether your accounts are linked to the glasses by going to this screen and selecting the account. If the link is currently established it will notify you of this and if the glasses are not linked this operation will help you link the account with the glasses.

    You can use these screens to sever the link to, or log out from, these connected service accounts.

  • Log out: This is where you can log out of your EchoVision account. Logging out also disconnects the glasses from the app, so after you sign in again, scan for your glasses on the Home tab. Logging out does not clear your History: your past AI interactions are still on the History tab when you sign back in.
  • Delete account: This is where you can delete your EchoVision account. This deletes your EchoVision account from our servers.
  • About: This screen contains “App Info” comprised of the version number of your companion app.

Support

In the Support category, you will find options to contact support and send feedback.

  • Contact support: You have the option to either email or call customer support by using this option.
  • Send feedback: The Send Feedback option allows you to submit a report directly to Engineering if you ever encounter problems with your glasses or the EchoVision app. Describe the problem in the Description field and, if you like, add a voice recording. Your app version, glasses versions, and phone model are attached automatically. You can also send a report from the glasses by pressing the AI button five times.

Help Tab

The Help tab contains links to Ask EchoVision, User Guide, and Tutorials.

The Ask EchoVision link opens an interactive assistant that can be queried about all things related to your EchoVision glasses. By default you ask by voice and hear the reply. Select Type instead to type your question, and Read aloud to hear a written answer.

The User Guide link opens the EchoVision User Guide (this document). You can jump from section to section by using the heading navigation commands in your screen reader.

The Tutorials link opens a screen to choose between currently available audio tutorials for the EchoVision glasses.

Controls Overview

EchoVision has three main control areas:

  • Power/Camera button: Top of left arm
  • AI/Action button: Top of right arm
  • Touchpad sensor: Outside surface of left arm

Power/Camera Button

  • Hold 5 seconds: Power on or off
  • Press once: Take a photo. EchoVision will make a camera shutter sound.
  • Press twice: Start video recording. EchoVision will say, “Recording started.”
    • To stop recording, press the Power/Camera button once.
  • Press 3 times: Check battery status, charging state, and Wi-Fi connectivity. This is a good, low impact way of reassuring yourself of the state of your glasses if you are having any difficulties with the glasses.
  • Hold 30 seconds: Force a restart. This is equivalent to turning the power off on your glasses and then powering them back up. This is a very different operation than performing a factory reset of the glasses via the 30 second press of the AI button. See the section entitled “Performing a Factory Reset (Advanced)” for more information on the factory reset operation.

AI/Action Button

The AI button works as described below on system software build 0929 and later. To check your version or update, go to Settings > System Update.

  • Press once: With Long Press Scene Description on, start a scene description without a spoken question. When it is off, press once to start the voice interaction, then speak a question about the scene or a supported command. When in Reading Mode, after a scan is completed and voiced, a single press of the AI button initiates scanning of the next page to be processed.
  • Press and hold: When Long Press Scene Description is on in Settings > Device Management and EchoVision is idle, ask a question (Q&A). After two tones rising in pitch, ask your question while still holding the button, then release it to send. When the setting is off, holding the button does not start voice input.
  • Press twice: Live AI mode for real-time audio descriptions; you can ask questions continuously. EchoVision will say, “Connecting to Live AI. Please hold on.” Then it will say, “Live AI is ready. Here’s what I see.” At that point, you can ask it questions about your environment, or just let it describe what it sees. If live AI gets stuck on a particular scene and you know the scene has changed, double tap the touch pad to cause the image to refresh.
  • Press three times: Reading mode to read a page or document aloud. EchoVision will say, “Starting text detection. Please hold your document steady.” See the section entitled “Using Reading Mode” for more details.
  • Press five times: Send a system report with spoken feedback. After the prompt, describe the problem in up to 60 seconds, then press the AI button once to finish. Your recording is sent with the logs to AGIGA’s engineers for troubleshooting.
  • Press six times: Bluetooth pairing mode. Bluetooth will remain in pairing mode for 60 seconds. You may need this in case you need to connect EchoVision to your phone as a Bluetooth headset.
  • Press and hold while EchoVision is busy (for example, while it is answering or reading): Cancel the active interaction, denoted by a double beep.
  • Hold for about 30 seconds: Perform a full factory reset. Start while EchoVision is idle and keep holding: you will hear a double beep at about 20 seconds, then the factory reset announcement. See the Settings > Device Management > Factory Reset section for more information on the impact of a factory reset.

Touchpad Sensor (left arm)

  • Swipe forward (toward the lenses) along the line on the outside surface of the left arm to increase the volume.
  • Swipe backward (away from the lenses) along the line on the outside surface of the left arm to decrease the volume.
  • Single tap:
    • In Live AI mode: mute or unmute the microphone
    • In Q&A or Reading modes: pause or resume audio
    • During music playback: pause or resume
    • During phone call or Aira session: mute or unmute the microphone (Be My Eyes calls have no mute)
  • Double tap:
    • In Live AI: Refresh the current image and get a new description
    • In Reading mode: skip ahead to the next section
    • During phone call: answer or end the call
    • During Aira or Be My Eyes call: hang up
  • Triple tap:
    • In Q&A: replay the answer
    • In Reading mode: go back to the previous section
  • Long press:
    • If connected to a phone: trigger your phone’s voice assistant (Siri or Google Assistant)
    • In Live AI, Reading, or Q&A: stop any AI interaction
    • During Aira call: turn the camera on or off

You might find it challenging to become adept at reliably using the touchpad. Practice with the touchpad gestures can help improve your relationship with the touchpad. Some users have found that placing the tip of their middle finger of their left hand on the raised AGIGA logo on the outward facing, front portion of the left arm can serve as a useful landmark for positioning their index finger in an optimal position for tapping on the touchpad and getting a good sense of where to swipe the touchpad.

In order to maximize the performance of the touchpad sensor, clean and dry the touch area thoroughly.

  • Power off to avoid accidental input while cleaning.
  • Wipe the touchpad with a clean, dry microfiber cloth to remove all oil, sweat, and moisture. Sweat is rich in salts and acts as an electrical conductor, which triggers phantom touches or blocks registered gestures.
  • Dry your hands completely before using the touchpad.

Voice Commands for Calling Services

With Long Press Scene Description on in Settings > Device Management, wait until EchoVision is idle, then press and hold the AI button, say one of these commands while holding it, and release the button to call an assistance service. When the setting is off, press the AI button once to start voice input and say the command; holding the button does not start voice input.

  • “Call Aira”, “Call human interpreter”, or “Call an agent.”
  • “Call Be My Eyes” or “Call volunteer”
  • “Call Be My Eyes group” followed by the group’s name, or “Call my first group”, to call one of your Be My Eyes groups. If EchoVision isn’t sure which group you mean, it reads the closest matches and asks you to choose one.
  • “Call” followed by a company’s name and “service”, such as “Call Microsoft service”, to call that company through Be My Eyes. If EchoVision doesn’t recognize the name, it suggests similar services.

Asking EchoVision for Help

With Long Press Scene Description on in Settings > Device Management and EchoVision idle, press and hold the AI button, ask one of these questions, then release it. When the setting is off, press the AI button once to start voice input, then ask your question.

  • “What can you do?” Gives a summary of EchoVision’s functions.
  • “What are your commands?” Gives a brief summary of the most used commands.

Using Reading Mode

To initiate Reading Mode, press the AI/Action button three times. Reading Mode reads pages from books, periodicals, documents, and most other printed text aloud. EchoVision will say, “Starting text detection. Please hold your document steady.” It will then provide real-time positioning or targeting guidance to align the reading material optimally for scanning and OCR operations. How much of this guidance you hear depends on the Verbosity Level setting (Verbose or Brief). When it determines optimal positioning, it will say, “Stay still for a moment. Got it. You can lower the document. Processing now.” The image is captured immediately before “Got it” is voiced.

The glasses may play tones while processing the image. Processing time varies based on several factors, but it is generally quick. Before voicing the text, the glasses may announce the type of text detected, such as “This appears to be a book page. Left page,” “This appears to be a receipt,” or “This appears to be a laboratory bill.” When it finishes reading a scan, it will say, “End of page. Press the AI button once to scan the next page.”

Reading Mode requires a connection to the Internet. If you do not have a reasonable Internet connection and attempt to initiate Reading Mode, the glasses will announce, “Network is unavailable. Please connect to Wi-Fi.”

Positioning the Reading Material

Keep in mind that positioning and targeting instructions assume you are moving the reading material, not your head or glasses relative to the material. This distinction is important because moving your glasses (head) requires the opposite adjustments for up/down and right/left instructions compared to moving the material. Distance adjustments (moving closer or farther away) remain the same regardless of which moves. Some users or situations may require moving the glasses (head) relative to the material instead. In those cases, keep in mind there will be a slight extra cognitive load to mentally translate the spatial positioning instructions given by the glasses.

What Reading Mode Can Read

The primary purpose of Reading Mode is to read printed material such as books, magazines, and correspondence. However, it also excels at reading text on product packaging, menus, menu boards, transportation directional signs, status boards, and various other textual displays. The glasses can also read handwritten text, though accuracy depends heavily on the legibility and style of the handwriting.

Large-format documents—such as oversized books, magazines, and newspapers—can present a challenge because high information density results in small font sizes. Managing larger material may require folding the document or covering parts of it to isolate smaller areas over successive scans.

Getting the Best Scan

As part of the positioning and targeting guidance, the glasses may provide feedback on:

  • The adequacy of lighting and the presence of glare or shadows affecting the material.
  • Whether the reading material is fully within the camera frame.
  • Whether the image is sharp enough for successful OCR processing.

Adequate lighting is essential for maximum OCR accuracy. While the glasses provide automated feedback on lighting conditions, keep the following lighting tips in mind:

  • Diffuse, Indirect Natural Light: Sitting near a window with bright daylight—while avoiding direct sunlight—provides even illumination without harsh contrast.
  • Side-Task Lighting (Ideal Setup): Position a desk lamp or gooseneck lamp equipped with a neutral/daylight LED (4000K–5000K, CRI 90+) to your left or right side, angled downward at roughly 45 degrees onto the surface.
  • Over-the-Shoulder Placement: Place the light source slightly behind and to the side of your non-camera (left) shoulder, casting light forward onto the reading surface without shining directly into the camera lens.
  • Glossy Pages & Magazines: Tilt the page or the light source a few degrees so the reflection bounces away from the camera lens instead of back into it. Diffuse the light using a lamp shade or bounce it off a nearby white wall.
  • Matte Surfaces: Standard printer paper and matte book pages reflect little light, so glare is rarely a problem and the angle of the light matters less.
  • Avoid Overhead & Direct Backlighting: Light sources directly above or directly behind your head cast a silhouette of your head and shoulders across the reading material when you tilt your chin down. Keep primary lamps placed to the side.
  • Diffuse Overhead Room Light: High ambient room light helps diminish head shadows, making it easier for the camera to capture an even exposure.

Additional tips to maximize accuracy and scan success:

  • Document Mat / Dark Surface: Lay standard white paper or letters on a dark, non-reflective surface (such as a dark felt, wood, or leather desk mat). High contrast between the paper edges and the background helps the AI software crop the page correctly.
  • Page Orientation: Endeavor to keep the reading material oriented right-side up. While the scanner can process rotated text, OCR accuracy may decrease.
  • Book Spines: Minimize text distortion caused by steep book spines dipping into the center binding. Flatten the book as much as possible to ensure clear captures near the margin.

Optimal positioning takes practice. Pay attention to the audio guidance provided by the glasses; over time, positioning the material will become faster and more intuitive. Many users find that the optimal position for reading material is higher up and closer than expected.

Summaries and Follow-up Questions

Reading Mode is strictly designed to read text verbatim without summarizing or guessing missing text. Because it does not interpret or extrapolate, Reading Mode does not summarize reading material, nor does it support follow-up prompts. Use Live AI, Scene Description, or Q&A mode when summaries or interactive dialogue about the material are needed.

Controlling Playback

Use the touchpad on the left arm of the glasses to control audio playback pacing:

  • Single Tap: Pause or resume voicing.
  • Double Tap: Skip forward.
  • Triple Tap: Skip backward.

Note: The skip distance varies depending on the document structure. On well-structured text, skipping may navigate by heading levels; on unformatted text, it may jump by section or paragraph.

Saving the Text

To save text captured in Reading Mode, use the companion app:

  1. Open the History tab in the companion app.
  2. Select the desired chat session from your Chat History.
  3. Locate and select the specific entry.
  4. Use the action menu to select Copy or Share.
  5. Utilize the text using your preferred phone options.

Usage Limits

Reading Mode usage is counted in scans. Each capture counts as one scan, even when it reads both pages of an open book. Your subscription sets how many scans you get each month. For more details on plans, review the FAQ section for subscriptions. To monitor your consumption, check the Account > Usage section of this document.

Pairing EchoVision Glasses as Wireless Headphones

EchoVision glasses can be paired as Bluetooth headphones to route phone audio through the glasses. This feature is optional and can be enabled or disabled based on your preference.

To pair EchoVision as wireless headphones (iOS):

  1. Open iOS Settings > Bluetooth.
  2. Locate and select the EchoVision audio device.
  3. If the device does not appear, press the AI button six times to place the glasses into Bluetooth pairing mode, then return to Bluetooth settings and try again.

Once paired, phone audio may route through the glasses.

Alternatively, if your glasses are not paired as a Bluetooth audio device, opening the EchoVision app may present a Bluetooth pairing request. Simply select “Pair”, and audio will come through the glasses from your phone.

EchoVision will revert audio back to your phone when they are folded and placed into the charging case. This can take 10 to 30 seconds.

If you no longer want phone audio to go to your glasses, go to Settings > Device Management > Route Phone Audio to Glasses and toggle it off.

Managing Bluetooth Audio Behavior

When opening the EchoVision app, you may be prompted to pair the glasses as an audio device. You may allow or decline this request depending on whether you want phone audio routed to the glasses.

To stop phone audio from playing through the glasses without changing your phone’s Bluetooth pairing, go to Settings > Device Management > Route Phone Audio to Glasses and toggle it off.

If phone audio still routes to the glasses, fold the arms and place them in the charging case for 10 to 30 seconds to return audio to your phone.

Even if audio pairing is declined or Route Phone Audio to Glasses is off, the glasses will continue to function normally for EchoVision features.

Note:
After rebooting the glasses, audio may temporarily route back to them. If that happens, toggle Route Phone Audio to Glasses off, or fold the glasses and place them in the charging case.

Troubleshooting

Refer to agiga.ai/fix-it for more info.

Performing a Factory Reset (Advanced)

A factory reset returns the EchoVision glasses to their original settings. In some cases, resolving Bluetooth or connectivity issues may also require resetting app connections and reinstalling the EchoVision app. In addition, a full reset may help resolve Bluetooth audio routing issues or persistent connection problems. Before proceeding, make sure your EchoVision glasses are running the latest system software.

Verify System Versions

  1. Open the EchoVision app.
  2. Go to Settings > System Update and select Check for Updates.
  3. Confirm that you are on the latest update. If updates are available, install them before continuing.

To perform a full reset

  1. Open your phone’s Bluetooth settings.
  2. Locate the EchoVision device, open More Info, and select Forget this device.
  3. Open the EchoVision app.
  4. Go to Settings > Device Management > Factory Reset, then select Confirm. Alternatively, hold the AI button for about 30 seconds, until the glasses announce the factory reset.
    • The glasses will announce that they are resetting.
    • The app will indicate the glasses have disconnected.
  5. In the EchoVision app, go to Settings and select Forget Glasses.
    • If the app prompts you to scan for glasses, they have already been forgotten.
  6. Close and delete the EchoVision app from your phone.
  7. Restart your phone.
  8. Reinstall the EchoVision app from the App Store or Google Play Store.
  9. Open the app, sign in, and follow the setup prompts.
    • Allow device discovery and location access.
    • Pair with the device named “EchoVision-XXX” when prompted.
  10. Connect the glasses to Wi-Fi to complete setup.
  11. Manually restore all of your settings including links to Connected Services (Aira and Be My Eyes).

Customer Care

If you need help, contact: