DescribeThat is an accessibility utility for blind and vision-impaired users that provides object identification via cloud-based image recognition on iOS.
The App DNA
What makes this app unique?
The utility removes the cognitive friction of identifying objects in daily life by converting visual content into spoken descriptions.
For Blind and vision-impaired users seeking assistance with identifying objects in their daily environment.
What does it look like?
Key features
Uses recognition technology to identify and summarize objects found in images for vision-impaired users.
Provides spoken descriptions in 37 languages using Bing translation services.
Processes image recognition via internet connection to provide fast answers.
How much does it cost?
The utility is offered as a free tool without visible subscription or in-app purchase gates.
Velocity
Dormant developmentopaqueShow more...
The app has reached a state of total inactivity, with no updates or feature releases in over 3,474 days. Development has been effectively abandoned for nearly a decade, showing no signs of ongoing maintenance or support. The last available release provided only minor improvements, and the lack of any subsequent activity confirms its status as a zombie project.
Who built it?
KF PUN
4 apps tracked · Entertainment
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HK AQI / AQHI 香港空氣質素健康指數User Sentiment
What do users think recently?
The recent review mood reads frustrated.
How are ratings & reviews evolving?
What users say, by theme
- Sluggish application responsiveness following the latest update makes the interface feel unusable for daily tasks
1 of 1 recent reviews analyzed · limited sample
Read the full review analysisCompetition
Competitive landscape for DescribeThat:helps blind and vision-impaired users
How's the Entertainment market?
DescribeThat occupies a legacy position in the accessibility category, with a 2.67-star rating across three total ratings. The lack of updates for over 3,400 days signals a product that has been effectively abandoned by its developer.
The rivals identified
The Analyst's Read
Key takeaways for DescribeThat:helps blind and vision-impaired users
Where is it heading?
The accessibility market is shifting toward on-device, real-time AI recognition, leaving cloud-dependent legacy tools like DescribeThat increasingly obsolete. Continued maintenance-free operation will result in further rating decay and total user churn as modern alternatives become the standard.
- The nine-year development gap results in persistent performance issues, which compounds the negative sentiment reported by the remaining user base.
- The lack of feature expansion since 2017 leaves DescribeThat unable to compete with modern, AI-driven accessibility tools that offer faster recognition.
The SWOT
- Multi-language voice output via Bing translation services enables broad international accessibility
- Transitioning to on-device recognition would remove the internet-dependency barrier for users
Next best moves
Sunset the application because the nine-year development gap makes performance recovery unfeasible → stop user frustration
The counter-intuitive read
The app's reliance on cloud-based Bing translation is…
Read the full takeSince the last report: DescribeThat has undergone no functional or structural changes, remaining in a dormant state for over nine years. The current report refines the competitive narrative to highlight the specific shift toward on-device AI as the primary factor rendering the utility obsolete.
Bottom line
DescribeThat is a legacy utility that no longer meets modern performance standards, and its lack of updates since 2017 makes it a candidate for sunsetting. The current user experience is defined by frustration, which will continue to erode the remaining user base.
Unlock 2 critical frictions, 1 market threat and the analyst’s take.
Access the full report for freeFAQ
Is DescribeThat still receiving updates?
Does DescribeThat work without an internet connection?
Are there better alternatives for object identification?
Sources
- [1] App Store, source
Report last updated