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Change a thermostat setting by video with Gemini Live, but not a dryer (partial)

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I'm blind and I'm pointing my camera at a thermostat. Tell me what temperature it's set to and which button lowers it, then check the display again after I press it.

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Before you start, ask me 1–3 short questions about the details below and wait for my answers. Once I've answered, confirm the plan in one line and run the whole task start to finish.

Goal: Use my camera to help me read and safely work an unfamiliar control panel, one step at a time.

Questions to ask me first:
- What device is it (thermostat, dryer, oven, washer), and do you know the brand?
- What do I want it to do?
- Can I feel any buttons or dials already, and where is my hand now?

Inputs (fill in or confirm):
- Device and brand: [DEVICE / BRAND]
- What I want to happen: [GOAL]
- Where my finger is: [POSITION]

Rules:
- Describe only what you can actually see; if the screen or label is blurry, say so and ask me to move the camera.
- Give directions relative to my finger (up, down, left, right) and one step at a time.
- After each press or turn, read the display again and tell me exactly what it says.
- If you're not sure what a button does, say you're not sure instead of guessing.
- For heat, gas or water, don't tell me to start anything until we've confirmed the setting.

Checkpoint: Before I press anything, tell me what you think the current setting is and wait for me to confirm I'm on the right control.

If you get stuck: If two tries don't work, stop and suggest asking a person, calling a sighted volunteer or checking the maker's manual.

Verify before you finish: Read the final setting back and confirm it matches what I asked for.

Output: Short spoken-style steps, then the final setting read back to me.

Done when: The device shows the setting I wanted, confirmed by a fresh reading.

AI tool

Gemini Live

Outcome

Kaylie L. Fox, who is blind, pointed a phone at a thermostat in Gemini Live's video mode and asked for help lowering the temperature. Gemini Live said it was set to 78 degrees and to press the down arrow on the right; after Fox pressed it, Gemini read the new setting: 74. 'Within seconds, we were much cooler.' Two weeks later, at a friend's house, Fox spent two frustrating hours on an unfamiliar dryer while Gemini confidently gave incorrect instructions twice, and Fox gave up. Fox now double-checks AI answers.

Evidence: Described by posterThe person describes what happened in words, without screenshots or video.

Known limitations

PartialThe source says it only partly worked, or had a significant problem a person had to deal with.

What went wrong: The thermostat change worked. Two weeks later, Gemini Live gave incorrect dryer instructions twice and Fox gave up after two hours.

Source

Posted
by Kaylie L. Fox
Last checked
Method:
How we verify

https://kaylielfox.substack.com/p/when-independence-meets-uncertainty