Analyzed

We analyze ...

CamFind app

Overall rating:

Technology:

Applications and software Smartphone and Tablet

Needs:

Low or no vision

Related reviews:

What does it consist of:

July 2017

We have tested the basic features of this application within a comparative analysis of 3 similar-purpose applications.

CamFind
aipoly vision see review
TapTapSee see review

CamFind is an image recognition and visual search mobile application developed by Image Searcher. CamFind allows users to identify any item simply by taking a photo with their Smartphone, providing a range of information and web results to facilitate the purchase of the photographed product. This Application has been downloaded more than 2 million times and has identified more than 50 million images. In the latest versions it includes social functions, such as the ability to share favorite images and allows the rating of images by other users.

You can check the application website in the following link

Forms of Acquisition:

You can download the Android application at the following link:

Click to download

You can download the application for IOS at the following link:

Click to download

Warranty and support

As it is a free application, the developer company does not offer support for the resolution of incidents.

The developer offers the contact address contact@camfindapp.com

Price range

The application has a free cost for the full use of all its functionalities.

Technical verification:

In the technical verification we have worked with version 4.1.1 for Android, while one of our volunteers has tested the IOS version with the same characteristics in the social validation section.

The CamFind application is easily found on GooglePlay and is easy to install.

The CamFind application is in a way a commercial evolution of the Taptapsee application analyzed in this comparison.

This application has a more attractive design and a more successful identification of icons and functionalities, which makes it possible to be used by people with low vision, thereby expanding the number of users covered by Taptapsee.

Among other things, the fact that the group of people with reduced vision has been taken into account is perceived at the moment in which the activation of the Talkback or screen reader is not necessary for the voice identification of the analyzed objects. In turn, the font size of the results is larger.

The organization of functionalities in the menu is clearer, although we miss the translation of the menu into Spanish, a problem that is also latent in its use with a screen reader, where the labels are not translated despite having selected Spanish as language of use. It should be noted that the only time the selected language is transformed into Spanish is when the search result is offered.

The application has the following functionalities:

Capture function: located in the lower central area of the screen, once activated it shows a button on the screen with a photo camera icon which allows the object to be identified to be photographed. In the upper left corner there is an option with the + symbol that allows you to select an image from the gallery of the phone itself for identification with the application.

Stream: allows you to view images that other users have shared and rate them with a star or a heart. In our opinion, this functionality does not make much sense since it is only useful for users with total or very little reduced vision. To improve this functionality, we would propose that these types of users value photos that users with null or partial vision publish together with the identification offered by CamFind so that they can offer a second opinion on the identification.

History: This functionality allows access to all the images identified by the application in the terminal in which it is installed, so that an analysis can be retrieved.

Settings: allows you to modify some of the basic characteristics of the application, including the automatic activation and deactivation of the flash, the activation or deactivation of voice alerts or the language settings (only affects identification results).

The following images show the process of identifying a yellow highlighter. First, a photograph is taken, then the application takes time to identify the object and present the result of the identification on the screen and reads the result through the application's voice synthesizer, finally, a third screen related to the commercial functionality of the application where links to websites where the product can be purchased are attached.

The image identification algorithm of this application is very good, and the waiting times are somewhat shorter than with Taptapsee.

The product search functionality for purchase in our opinion should be optional for the user who decides to activate it, since in some cases it may not be necessary and it can make the application in general have less usability and greater complexity.

In general, the application is highly reliable and has not generated any problem in the course of the tests carried out, we could say in turn that of the 3 applications analyzed it is the one that appears to have a greater technological maturity, managing to smooth out certain aspects that Aipoly does not they contemplate or that Taptapsee has yet to improve.

Highlights

The quality of image identification coupled with the time spent in its identification is the most advanced for the 3 applications.
The menus and functionalities are better organized and certain accessibility criteria are considered for people with reduced vision.
It is the most mature and reliable in technological terms of the 3 applications analyzed in this comparison.

Improvement points

It is recommended to translate all the menus and functionalities of the application into Spanish, both visually and their labels for screen readers.
It is recommended that the online search functionality for the purchase of the identified product can be deactivated in such a way that users who do not want to use it deactivate it.
It is advisable to allow the sharing of images with other users with full vision so that they can check the quality of image identification and provide second opinions.

The following table shows a comparison of the technical verification criteria of the 3 applications compared.

**Comparison of technical verification criteria**
Criteria	aipoly vision	taptapsee	Camfind
RELIABILITY	.	.	.
SECURITY	.	.	.
USABILITY	.	.	.
FUNCTIONALITY	.	.	.
MATURITY	.	.	.
PORTABILITY	.	.	.
UNDERSTANDING	.	.	.
EASE OF ACQUISITION	.	.	.
EASE OF INSTALLATION AND CONFIGURATION	.	.	.
ACCESSIBILITY	.	.	.
CONSUMPTION	.	.	.
PRICE	.	.	.
IMAGE IDENTIFICATION	.	.	.

Accessibility: .
4

It is the degree to which people can use or access a product, technological solution or service, regardless of their technical, cognitive or physical abilities.
Reliability: .
4

[field_fiabilidad_vt_description_n_]
Safety: .
5

[field_seguridad_vt_description_n_]
Usability: .
4

[field_usabilidad_vt_description_n_]
Functionality: .
4

[field_functionality_vt_description]
Maturity: .
4

[field_maturity_vt_descripci_n_]
Portability: .
5

[field_portability_vt_descripci_]
Understandability: .
4

[field_comprehensibility_vt_descri]
Phase of acquisition: .
5

[field_facility_of_acquisition_n_v]
Ease of installation and configuration: .
5

[field_ease_of_installation_y]
Consumption: .
4

[field_consumo_vt_description_n_]
Price: .
5

[field_precio_vt_description_n_]
Generic valuation 1 VT: .
4

[field_valuation_gen_rica_1_vt_d]

Social valuation:

As in the case of the other 2 compared applications, we have carried out 2 differentiated social validation tests. On the one hand, Andrés (user with zero vision) with an IPhone IOS terminal and on the other hand Domo (user with reduced vision) with a Samsung Android terminal.

IOS tests carried out by Andrés

Andrés, our volunteer specialized in testing products for null vision, has tested the 3 applications of this comparison and in the following lines we summarize his experience of use.

Andrés performs the installation in a simple way as in the case of the other 2 applications analyzed.

This application has a more commercial functionality, its mission is to offer a series of online shopping and search possibilities for the identified object.

For comparison, the same objects have been identified as with the other 2 applications, the results obtained are shown below:

Pen - Identified as a wooden table on the first try, and as a blue click pen on the second try.
Mug: identified as a brown and white ceramic mug.
Paper cup: identified as a disposable cup in black and white.
Chair: identified as a white chair.
Smartphone phone: identified as a black Samsung smartphone.
Computer Mouse - Identified as HP Black Wired Computer Mouse.
Water bottle: identified as a white surface on the first, second attempt a clear plastic bottle.
Keys: identified as silver keys.
Wallet: identified as a black leather wallet.
Notebook: identified as a blue spiral notebook.

General impressions:

One of the difficulties that is appreciated is that it is difficult to find the option of taking a photo again after taking another.
This application in general identifies very well, the menu is somewhat less usable, but it is learned over time, it is very similar to Taptapsee.
The fact that it tells you where you can buy an item is a good feature for unusual items or items that are difficult to acquire in local stores.

Android tests carried out by Domo

Juan Carlos Domonte (Domo) is our volunteer specialized in product testing for people with reduced vision. Domo's viewing area is very small so you can only see something in the central area up close and up.

Domo uses an Android terminal, getting very close to see the screen. It uses the screen zoom function, and with a Samsung S8 it handles very well.

Domo analyzes the same objects to check the identification quality and the functionalities of the application.

Pen: Identified as Blue and White Click Pen
Mug: the first identifies only the table, the second identifies a white ceramic mug.
Paper cup: identified as brown and white disposable cup
Chair: identified as white and gray chair.
Smartphone phone: identified as black Samsung Android smartphone
Computer Mouse - Identified as HP Black Wired Computer Mouse
Water bottle: identified as a bottle with a blue plastic label
Keys: identified as assorted keys with carabiner
Wallet: identified as black bi-fold leather wallet
Notebook: identified as a blue and black spiral book.

General impressions:

Identification is good, but you need to focus a lot to get it right.
In this case, unlike Taptapsee, the positive thing is that the application reads the results without talkback activated, which is an advantage for people with reduced vision who do not use talkback.
One of the positive aspects compared to Aipoly is that it allows you to identify several objects in the same image.

The following table shows a comparison of the social validation criteria of the 3 applications compared.