It was packed with fun, innovation, and hands-on exploration of Google’s latest accessible tech. Huge thanks to Hans, Praneeth, Sara and the incredible team at the ADC for being such warm and generous hosts. We were treated to a delicious lunch, given loads of time to explore and play with new tech, and were offered a rare behind-the-scenes peek into cutting-edge developments – including DeepMind AI.

We’re especially grateful to our trustee Sara Elnusari, who works at Google and helped make this brilliant day happen. Thank you, Sara!

“AI is changing everything – fast. For visually impaired people, this revolution is both a little scary and seriously exciting. I’m using AI every day to help me do my job and navigate the world. It helps me understand images, describe objects, and summarise data and text. I can’t read print anymore and only see shapes and light – so this tech is already making a huge difference. It’s an exciting time to be blind.”
– Charlotte Carson, CEO, LOOK

Two young people looking at two computer screens playing a football game using an accessible controller.
Image of LOOK CEO Charlotte and LOOK Trustee Sara talking the one of the team at the Accessibility Discovery Centre
Image of a group of young people sitting around a table using their phones to identify different cans of drinks

Pixel Phones & a Surprise for the Apple Fans

Most of our group are loyal Apple users – they know their way around VoiceOver and all the famous iPhone accessibility features. So getting hands-on with Google Pixel phones was a real eye-opener!

For many, it was their first time using TalkBack and Pixel’s magnification tools. The verdict? Surprisingly impressive. Even the most devoted Apple fans were intrigued by what the Pixel had to offer.

Gemini Live Blew Our Minds

The highlight of the day? Gemini Live – Google’s new conversational AI assistant, now available on Pixel devices (and downloadable on iPhones too!).

Gemini can see through your phone’s camera, describe what’s in front of you, answer complex questions, and have natural, flowing conversations. It’s like having a super-intelligent, endlessly patient friend in your pocket. It’s not perfect – but it’s pretty amazing.

To show us what Gemini could do, our wonderful host, Hans, brought out a table full of snacks: crisps, drinks, chocolate bars and more. Instead of describing them himself, he asked everyone to use Gemini to figure out what was on offer.

Phones came out. Cameras pointed. And then… Gemini spoke. Calmly and clearly, it described each item in turn. Our group had a brilliant time testing it out, laughing, and choosing their favourite treats.

A young girl using Gemini on her phone to identify a can of fizzy drink
Image of two young people sitting at a table leaning in to listen to their mobile phone as they use Gemini Live to describe the drink can in front of them.
LOOK CEO Charlotte holding her phone using Gemini Live to describe the drink cans on the table in front of her, standing next to her is LOOK trustee Sara.

Guided Frame & the Art of the Accessible Selfie

Image of 3 young people and a LOOK Mentor standing inside a white selfie frame with the words Instagram, LOOKUKCharity written at the top.

We also had loads of fun with Guided Frame, a tool that helps VI users take selfies independently. Thanks to Praneeth, Accessibility champion at Google, we learned how the Pixel gives audio and haptic feedback to help you line up your face in the frame and snap the perfect shot.

Meet the Mentors: Abbey, Finn and Sydney

Throughout the day, we were lucky to hear from LOOK mentors – young VI adults who shared how tech supports their education, work and independence.

Finn, artist (and problem-solver!), is about to start an art residency in the US. They use their phone to photograph landscapes and turn them into beautiful watercolours.

Sydney May, LOOK mentor and total tech wizard, works as an Education Tech Advisor at Thomas Pocklington Trust – and is also smashing it on the UK comedy fringe circuit!

I cook with Gemini Live. She finds my spices, helps me choose my clothes – she’s basically a second pair of eyes around my house.
– Sydney May

Abi Way, another LOOK mentor, spoke to young people and parents at the Google Accessibility Discovery Centre, sharing her personal story of how she used technology to support her studies.

Abi, 22, who has albinism, has recently graduated with First Class Honours in Engineering from Queen’s University Belfast, and is now deciding between exciting offers to begin her Master’s in Engineering. Her passion is space, and her goal is to make engineering more inclusive for visually impaired people – and to get more visually impaired young people excited about careers in STEM.

Abi offered practical insights into how assistive and mainstream technology helped her overcome barriers throughout her education.

Without my iPad, I couldn’t have done my degree.
– Abby Way

From GCSEs to university level, Abi adapted tools and apps to meet her needs. She used her iPad and Apple Pen to take notes, zoom in, adjust contrast, and convert handwriting to text. Instead of relying on video magnifiers, she often uses her phone’s camera to see diagrams or check plug sockets and circuits in the lab.

Like so many visually impaired people, Abi has had to find innovative workarounds with available tech. Her love of music, being a case in point, Abi is currently learning to play guitar without being able to read music; instead, she uses her ipad on a stand to magnify the music she’s written out by hand.

Everyone wants to fit in, not least teenagers and Abi, although initially reluctant to adapt her shiny new laptop, found using tactile stickers on her keyboard a game-changer. Abi also utilised tools like Otter.ai, microphones for recording lectures, and apps like Google Keep to help with note-taking.

Abi also spoke about her transition from University into the workplace:

When I did my work placement at Airbus I actually found the workplace easier than university – it’s more focused, less overwhelming, and the tech needs are more straightforward.

Abi, thank you so much for sharing your inspiring journey with our group of parents and young people.

Thank You

A huge thank you to Google ADC, to Hans, Praneeth, Sara, and to all our amazing mentors and young people who made the day so memorable.

Tech is changing fast – and it’s brilliant to see how much of it is being designed with accessibility and inclusion at its heart.

We left buzzing with ideas, full of excitement – and with a few new friends too.

A group photo of LOOK team member Kristina with her guide dog standing next to LOOK trustee Sara, both are talking to young people and parents.
Image of LOOK CEO Charlotte and LOOK mentor Abi standing either side of one of the Google Accessibility Discovery Centre team members with a large Google sign above their heads
A group photo of young people sitting around a table leaning in to listen to their mobile phone as they use Gemini Live to describe the drink can in front of them. At the front of the room is a large computer screen with LOOK CEO Charlotte and LOOK Trustee Sara talking.