Hi George, You miss the point completely. Alpha testers should be blind as well as sighted. I alpha test software, and with a modicum of common sense, it doesn't have to be as dire as you state. I would go further, even some of the programmers should be blind. All the best Steve -----Original Message----- From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of George Bell Sent: Monday 26 April 2010 22:43 To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: LookTel smartphone software As Glen has clearly stated, he only has alpha software, which is never considered anywhere near beta. And a golden rule with any alpha product is to never, ever, let alpha software out to critical end users like yourself, or you'll kill it stone dead. George. -----Original Message----- From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Steve Nutt Sent: 26 April 2010 22:14 To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: LookTel smartphone software Hi Paul, Interesting that Jackie hasn't seen it yet, so who has seen it who is VI? One of my biggest bugbears with any software is that it should be tested primarily by the target user group. All the best Steve -----Original Message----- From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Paul Leake Sent: Monday 26 April 2010 12:10 To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: LookTel smartphone software what about the quality of the voice? what are your visually impaired staff's thoughts? Cheers Paul paul.leake@xxxxxxxxxxxx ----- Original Message ----- From: "Glenn Tookey" <Glenn.Tookey@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Monday, April 26, 2010 9:20 AM Subject: [access-uk] Re: LookTel smartphone software Iphone, not yet, the developers think they have a better interface for low vision. Yes, the phone has its own screen reader, which should let you into the messages, calls etc. My alpha version does not have all of this functionality, but it handles the touchscreen in a very clever way which makes it really easy to use. Regards Glenn -----Original Message----- From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Steve Nutt Sent: 26 April 2010 08:04 To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: LookTel smartphone software Hi Will, You can bet it probably will, although the camera on the iPhone sucks big time, so OCR won't work so well. All the best Steve -----Original Message----- From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of william lomas Sent: Monday 26 April 2010 07:21 To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: LookTel smartphone software will it be on iphone s well? On 26 Apr 2010, at 07:15, Alistair wrote: > Hi Glen, > > this is very helpful, one other question please? Regarding subscription payments, will this be from card debit or will bank direct debit be possible? > > Thanks > > Alistair > > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Glenn Tookey" <Glenn.Tookey@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Sent: Monday, April 26, 2010 6:49 AM > Subject: [access-uk] Re: LookTel smartphone software > > > Hi Alistair, > > Yes, it will have its own screen reader which also drives the other phone functions. OCR should be up to KNFB standard, Symbian platform after 6 months i'm told. Not sure about GPS detail yet. The idea is to have a high quality all in one package that does not need the user to buy other products to make it work, such as a screen reader. The functionality is still taking shape. > > Regards > Glenn > > -----Original Message----- > From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Alistair > Sent: 25 April 2010 21:24 > To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [access-uk] Re: LookTel smartphone software > > Hi Glen, > > some questions: > > Will this be self-voicing? > > will the gprs be similar to wayfinder? > > Will the OCR be like bayo or KNFB? > > will it be ever available on the Symbian platform? > > I can see the benifit of purchasing one all-in-one package but only if the > quality and performance is compatible. > > Alistair > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Glenn Tookey" <Glenn.Tookey@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Sent: Sunday, April 25, 2010 8:48 PM > Subject: [access-uk] Re: LookTel smartphone software > > > I guess it has to be put into perspective. Products in this market tend to > be one off payments of £750 or more, so you can have 30 months at £25 a > month, and you do not have to pay up front. Often people buy upgrades in > that sort of timeframe so the outlay for this type of product could be lower > across the lifetime of the user and it is easier to actually get into as you > do not have to find a large sum to start with. > > As with everything, it does not suit everybody. Some people would happily > pay thousands for technology, others do not want or need it. There are many > ways to find out what is in your larder, LookTel is just one way. There are > many ways to find out where you are when you are out, LookTel is just > another method. > > When I came into the industry I wanted to find ways of using technology to > benefit this group of people, we search high and low for the best > technologies then offer them to the market, the market will decide if it is > good value or not. > > We also wanted to introduce subscription models so that people on limited > incomes can pay as they go for products. LookTel will be priced at around > the level of a mobile phones service and less than Sky. > > So, when it is ready, we will bring it to market and let the market decide > if it is good value or not. We will certainly do all we can to drive the > price down as far as we can. > > Regards > Glenn > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of > Paul Leake > Sent: 25 April 2010 18:31 > To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [access-uk] Re: LookTel smartphone software > > Glen, > > i'd be interested in what current blind and visually impaired employees of > sight and sound make of this product rather than the manufacturers' > perspective! £25 a month sounds overpriced too I think. > > Cheers > > Paul > > paul.leake@xxxxxxxxxxxx > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Glenn Tookey" <Glenn.Tookey@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Sent: Sunday, April 25, 2010 12:45 PM > Subject: [access-uk] LookTel smartphone software > > > Hi > > Sight and Sound Technology will be the exclusive provider of the LookTel > service when it launches in the UK, we are hoping that to be in June time - > but not confirmed yet. > > Firstly, it will be a monthly subscription service - around £25 (again not > finalised). We are not sure of it will have OCR or GPS at launch. > > Secondly, it is more than just taking pictures, it is a full object > recognition device. It means that once you have trained the mobile to > recognise something - say a can of Heinz Baked Beans or Tomato Soup or > currency... then whenever it is in recognition mode (live video over the > internet) to its base station (normally your home PC) it will announce to > you what it has seen when you point it at an object. This will be very > useful in the home or outside. It takes a minute or two to snap the images > that you want to recognise and then you are away. At a later stage we will > have bar code reading on it, so then you will be able to go into a > supermarket and find products from bar code. > > The GPS is coupled with live video / audio feed so that an assistant could > guide you if you are lost. You can nominate more than one assistant who can > log into your base station and help with recognition, training of object, > location etc. We are considering extending this to the Sight and Sound help > desk so that you could call us if you need some assistance. > > It will recognise more than just products, it will also recognise faces and > even places ( buildings) if you snap enough images to that they can be > recognised later. > > Like all of these type of products, they are not infallible, but we have > been working with the developers for over 6 months (as have 200 blind people > in USA)to make it the type of service that really gives independence and > mobility to those with low vision. I have one working in the UK, it does not > use much of my data package on my mobile, so it will not be expensive - > currently on a windows mobile phone, but the range of phones will expand > over the first 6 months. > > Products such as the KNFB reader still have their own place as does > Wayfinder, they all do a good job - Looktel is taking advantage of the > advances in recognition technology and the increase in computing power of > mobile phones. We want to be at the forefront of technology, bringing the > best of the best to the UK market. Looktel is the next step. > > Watch out for more information, I'm hoping that we will be up and running > for Sight Village. > > Regards > Glenn Tookey > CEO > Sight and Sound Technology > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of > Barry Hill > Sent: 25 April 2010 11:04 > To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [access-uk] Re: LookTel smartphone software > > Thanks for this, Peter. > > Sounnds good, although I can already do all this with my own mobile to a > large extent. It's got K-NFB reader on it for the OCR, Wayfinder for the > positioning, and a camera phone that I can send photo's to a friend. Not > quite the live video feed, but I reckon it could work just as well. > > Cheers > > Barry > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Peter Beasley" <pjbeasley@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Sent: Sunday, April 25, 2010 10:46 AM > Subject: [access-uk] LookTel smartphone software > > > I got this from an american list I am subscribed to so have no idea if or > when it willbe available in this country. > > We offer the following information, but caution that this is currently in > beta. Unfortunately, > as with most software of this type, it's quite expensive. This is all the > information > we currently have available. > A Smartphone that Sees For You > Software from LookTel on a Windows-based smartphone uses "augmented reality" > to help > the vision-impaired and elderly > By: > Sean Gallagher > April 23, 2010 > Leave a comment > Source: LookTel > This video > shows some of the ways the LookTel application can help people with visual > and other > handicaps. > A new set of software that works with relatively inexpensive smart phones > could help > visually disabled people and the elderly. Using a technology called > "augmented reality", > the software can help people by recognizing text, objects and places. > Augmented Reality, or AR, uses location and visual information from a camera > to supply > a smartphone user with extra information about their surroundings. For an > introduction > to AR, you can take a look at > my hands-on with Spyglass > , the augmented reality navigation application. > LookTel > takes AR technology and applies it to a very real problem. It was developed > by > Ipplex > , in partnership with the National Institutes of Health, the National Eye > Institute, > the Department of Veterans Affairs and a research organization for aides for > the > blind, to help people who can't see well or may become disoriented. > The Windows Mobile application uses character recognition technology and a > voice > synthesizer to read labels to the smartphone user. All that processing can't > be > done on the smartphone, so character and object recognition software are > part of > LookTel's "base station" software, which runs on a Windows-based home > computer. You > can also add coded labels to objects , as this > YouTube demonstration > shows, and associate those labels with voice descriptions of objects you put > them > on. > The app also can connect a user to a real person for assistance by > connecting back > to the application's Windows PC-based "base station" software: > For more complicated visual tasks such as locating a specific street corner > or bus > stop, LookTel enables you to remotely connect to another person for > assistance. Not > only can you talk to them, but you can also transmit live video from the > cell phone's > camera so that they can see your surroundings and help you with orientation, > recognizing > objects and media, and more. Your position will also be shown to them on > Google Maps > using the GPS services available on smart phones. These services aim to help > users > to independently go about daily activities with the confidence that they > will have > the assistance they need anytime, anywhere. > LookTel is currently in testing, and is available on pre-configured HTC > smartphones > and mobile Internet devices. Ipplex hasn't published the pricing for the > technology, > but is offering it at a discount during testing. > Original Article Source > http://www.techgoesstrong.com/smartphone-sees-you > LookTel Website > http://www.looktel.com/ > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: < > http://accessible-devices.com/pipermail/a-d_accessible-devices.com/att achmen ts/20100424/01348ba6/attachment.html >> > This is an Announce only list. Subscribers are not able to post to this > list. > To unsubscribe from the Accessible Devices list copy the line below. Paste > it inthe > To: line of a blank message and send it. > a-d-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > You may download our podcasts from this link, > http://www.accessible-devices.com/Podcasts.html > Or if you're using a podcatcher of some type the subscribe URL is. > http://www.accessible-devices.com/feed.xml > Visit our website at: > www.accessible-devices.com > Please feel free to pass this message on to a friend who might like to > subscribe. > To subscribe to Accessible Devices send a blank e mail to: > a-d-subscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > Just follow the directions in the confirmation message when it comes. > Please Note: Accessible Devices is not able to provide tech support for > software > or products that we supply information about. > _______________________________________________ > A-d mailing list > A-d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > http://accessible-devices.com/mailman/listinfo/a-d_accessible-devices. com > __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature > database > 5056 (20100424) __________ > The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > http://www.eset.com > > > __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature > database 5057 (20100424) __________ > > The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > > http://www.eset.com > > > > > ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- > ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] > ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: > ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > ** and in the Subject line type > ** unsubscribe > ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the > ** immediately-following link:- > ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] > ** or send a message, to > ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq > > ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- > ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] > ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: > ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > ** and in the Subject line type > ** unsubscribe > ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the > ** immediately-following link:- > ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] > ** or send a message, to > ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System. > For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email > ______________________________________________________________________ > ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- > ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] > ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: > ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > ** and in the Subject line type > ** unsubscribe > ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the > ** immediately-following link:- > ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] > ** or send a message, to > ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ ---- > > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 9.0.814 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2831 - Release Date: 04/23/10 > 19:31:00 > > > -- > I am using the free version of SPAMfighter. > We are a community of 7 million users fighting spam. > SPAMfighter has removed 32 of my spam emails to date. > Get the free SPAMfighter here: http://www.spamfighter.com/len > > The Professional version does not have this message > > > ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- > ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] > ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: > ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > ** and in the Subject line type > ** unsubscribe > ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the > ** immediately-following link:- > ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] > ** or send a message, to > ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System. > For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email > ______________________________________________________________________ > ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- > ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] > ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: > ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > ** and in the Subject line type > ** unsubscribe > ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the > ** immediately-following link:- > ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] > ** or send a message, to > ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq > > ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- > ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] > ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: > ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > ** and in the Subject line type > ** unsubscribe > ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the > ** immediately-following link:- > ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] > ** or send a message, to > ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System. > For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email > ______________________________________________________________________ > ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- > ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] > ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: > ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > ** and in the Subject line type > ** unsubscribe > ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the > ** immediately-following link:- > ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] > ** or send a message, to > ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq > > ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- > ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] > ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: > ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > ** and in the Subject line type > ** unsubscribe > ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the > ** immediately-following link:- > ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] > ** or send a message, to > ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq > william lomas follow me on twitter: billbow_baggins ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq ______________________________________________________________________ This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System. For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email ______________________________________________________________________ ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ ---- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.814 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2834 - Release Date: 04/25/10 07:31:00 -- I am using the free version of SPAMfighter. We are a community of 7 million users fighting spam. SPAMfighter has removed 32 of my spam emails to date. Get the free SPAMfighter here: http://www.spamfighter.com/len The Professional version does not have this message ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq