Hi Jackie,
my first thought was that if this is a scam then it is a very good one
indeed!
A lovely and thorough description of the product it looks like to me anyway.
Although I'm fairly proficient with the iPhone and it's apps a
stand-alone device such as the Lyric may be exactly what I require for
my reading choices.
Thanks for posting and do pls provide us with your article source and a
link if at all possible.
Cheers,
Tony
On 30/01/2024 08:11, Jackie Brown wrote:
I am posting this for interest. I think we've been here before with** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:-
something similar but thought those who prefer stand-alone devices to the
myriad of phone apps might find it useful.
Text begins:
Monday, December 18, 2023
By Kennedy Zimnik
In a world overflowing with technology, few innovations genuinely stand out
for their potential to change the way blind and low-vision users live
independently. The Lyriq Assistive Reader is one such device, which will
transform the way individuals with visual impairments access and enjoy
physical text. Let's cover the features of the Lyriq device and discover how
it seamlessly provides audio from physical text.
Describing the Device
The Lyriq is about one foot by one foot when folded, and is meant to be
placed on a table or counter-top. When unfolded, there is an arm with a
camera that is about a foot above the bottom platform. The front of the base
platform has a volume slider, with a play button to its left, and a pause
button to its right. On the left side of the base is the power button along
with an AC power hook-up. The right side of the base has two arrow buttons
that increase and decrease speech rate, as well as a USB slot (for
transferring scanned text into a file) and an HDMI slot (that doesn't yet do
anything). If you purchase the remote, you can attach it to the folding arm
via magnets. the remote has buttons that perform all the functions of the
Lyriq.
Enchanting with Text-to-Speech Technology: A Voice to Physical Text The
Lyriq Assistive Reader Device uses incredibly fast text-to-speech
technology. It converts printed text into speech, effectively breaking down
barriers for those with visual impairments or reading difficulties. From
beloved novels to essential educational materials, the Lyriq device brings
words to life, turning printed text into accessible audio.
Operating the Device
The Lyriq is as easy to use as it is powerful with multiple ways of using
its functions. The device is compact and can fold up when not in use. It is
three pounds, and is easy to slip into a backpack or laptop bag. It comes
with a case and power supply/charger. You can purchase a keypad that allows
you to control the device remotely, which has the same controls that are on
the device itself. Once you connect the power supply and unfold the camera,
you are ready to start reading.
The Lyriq asks you to place your text on the base. Just seconds later, the
device automatically begins reading. The pause and play buttons on the front
stop and start the reading. There are also a volume control slider and
reading speed controls.
One very cool feature is the hand gesture control. The user can pause and
resume reading by waving their hand over the text from left to right.
Swiping right to left lets users find previous sentences. The Lyriq is very
responsive to these controls, and I found myself using these hand gestures
often in my testing with little error.
Remote Control
While the remote is optional and offers only the functions available through
the buttons on the base of the device, I would still recommend purchasing
it. It makes operating and navigating menu items much easier. For example,
some commands require you to press two buttons on the base at the same time,
where the remote allows the user to press just one button for the same
functions. The remote also allows the user to not constantly sit directly in
front of the device.
The Reading Experience
The Lyriq Assistive Reader Device is highly customizable. Readers can make
the experience their own by adjusting reading speed to match preferred pace,
choosing from a variety of voices, and controlling the reading at one's own
pace. The remote allows the user to navigate by words, sentences, and
paragraphs. This level of customization ensures that the Lyriq device adapts
to individual preferences, creating a comfortable and engaging reading
experience for everyone. You can also connect a Bluetooth speaker or
headphones if the built-in speaker isn't enough, and there is also a 3.5mm
headphone jack.
Saving Your Spot
Another cool Lyriq feature is that the user can save up to four pages
without the use of a USB stick. Usually, the text must stay on the base, but
by saving a page using the "Save" key and one of the four directional keys,
you can read through saved pages without them being on the base. If you
would like to save more than four pages, connect a USB stick to the side and
wait for an announcement. You can then save as many pages as you want and
reopen them on your computer. The Lyriq will save the scanned pages into
text (.txt) and MP3 files.
Multilingual Support
The Lyriq can read twenty different languages. With its multilingual
support, Lyriq caters to a global audience, allowing users to explore
literature and information in a multitude of languages. It does not offer
translation features. If the Spanish voice is equipped with an English text,
it will read English with a Spanish accent, and vice versa. You can contact
the vendor to upload other language options.
Stress-testing the Lyriq
I tested the Lyriq on curved texts (bottles, cans) as well as in low-light
conditions. The Lyriq performed fairly well on curved texts, although
keeping curved objects still while they are on their sides can be tough.
Most of the time, the Lyriq scans and reads the letters that are visible to
the camera-the letters facing up. In low-light, because there is a light
attached to the camera, it also did fairly well. The device started having
issues when it started reading not well-lighted text on the edges of the
page. Overall, the Lyriq performed well in stress-tests by reading curved
text and text in low-light conditions (when the text was visible).
Concluding Thoughts and Pricing
The Lyriq costs 1,960 dollars without the keypad, and 2,195 dollars with the
keypad. These prices are very competitive to other Optical Character
Recognition (OCR) devices, and frankly, it is one of the fastest OCR devices
on the market. While it is expensive, you do get speed unmatched to most
similar technology. If you are blind or low-vision, and an avid reader of
physical text, I recommend purchasing the Lyriq. It represents a leap
forward in making the world of literature, information, and education
accessible to everyone. Its features, ranging from quick text-to-speech
technology and multilingual support to the ability to export files
revolutionize OCR technology. With Lyriq as your guide, the pages of
countless books, articles, and documents are no longer out of reach for
blind or low vision users. So, whether you're an avid sci-fi reader, or
studying for your next exam, the Lyriq Assistive Reader Device can help.
Happy reading!
Text ends.
Kind regards,
Jackie Brown
Email: jackieannbrown62@xxxxxxxxx
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