WATERTOWN, MA (WBZ-AM) -- Students and staff at the Perkins School for The Blind have a new tool to help them navigate their way around.
The new app called AIRA allows the blind to walk around with a virtual personal assistant.
With the use of special glasses with a camera or the tap of a smartphone Kim Charlson can talk to an AIRA agent like Ashley to guide her.
Kim lost her vision at age 11, She's now the executive director of the Library at the Perkins School For The Blind and was the first persons to test the new technology on campus.
"It's like having a sighted person in your pocket. Just waiting for you to ask a question. With Aira, its always a good time to talk, they always have time for me," Charlston said.
Watch Video: How Aira Works
But even with this new tech Charlson says still needs her guide dog, Dolly to help navigate her way around town.
The technology was devleoped by Suman Kanuganti, the co-founder and CEO of AIRA and sys he was inprired by a blind friend.
While powered by AT&T, it can also be used with google glasses or a similar device.
WBZ NewsRadio1030's Bernice Corpuz reports.