[bksvol-discuss] Re: Fw: Hand held Reading Machine
- From: "Jake Brownell" <jabrown@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 17 Jul 2005 20:51:42 -0500
I'm drueling already. I'm sure my luck is against me but any more beta
testers needed?
Jake
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rui" <goldWave@xxxxxxx>
To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2005 3:00 PM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Fw: Hand held Reading Machine
> Greetings.
>
> Since the knfb reader is a scanner, it is somewhat appropriate to discuss
on
> this list.
>
> I would still use a conventional scanner for books, but this reader
promises
> to bring a new level of portability for those who can afford it.
>
> I did see the unit and it is fairly small and light weight. I don't know
> about fitting in a shirt pocket. (but it would definitely fit in a purse
> comfortably)
>
> There will be a beta testing program going on with approximately 500 users
> from early october to early january of '06.
> The feedback from that testing will help shape the final product that goes
> on sale later next year.
>
> I am "cautiously" optimistic.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "siss52" <siss52@xxxxxxx>
> To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2005 3:57 PM
> Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Fw: Hand held Reading Machine
>
>
> >
> > Hey Allison,
> >
> > That forward is definitely interesting! Were you at either of the
> > conventions? We on the lists haven't heard much about either one of
them.
> > Smile.
> >
> > Sue S.
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Allison Hilliker" <allison.hilliker@xxxxxxx>
> > To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2005 2:41 PM
> > Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Fw: Hand held Reading Machine
> >
> >
> > Thought some may find interesting.
> >
> > Allison
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "David Andrews" <dandrews@xxxxxxxx>
> >
> >
> >>
> >>>
> >>>Kurzweil Technologies and National Federation of the Blind premiere the
> >>>
> >>>world's first portable reading machine for the blind KurzweilAI.net,
July
> >>>11, 2005 Kurzweil Technologies , Inc. ( KTI ) and the National
Federation
> >>>of
> >>>the Blind ( NFB ) introduced the world's first portable reading machine
> >>>for
> >>>the blind last week at the NFB's
> >>>
> >>>2005 National Convention in Louisville, KY.
> >>>
> >>>The portable reading machine , which can fit in a user's shirt pocket,
> >>>can
> >>>read print and text materials as users go through their normal daily
> >>>routine. It converts print into human
> >>>
> >>>-sounding speech and can read handouts at meetings, signs on a wall,
text
> >>>on
> >>>packages, and electronic displays. The hardware consists of a consumer
> >>>digital camera with a standard PocketPC, so the hardware cost is
expected
> >>>to
> >>>benefit from the rapid improvement of price-performance of consumer
> >>>electronic s. The camera and pocket computer are held together by a
> >>>snap-in
> >>>case.
> >>>
> >>>The technology was developed by Ray Kurzweil and his colleagues at KTI
in
> >>>close collaboration with the NFB, which is organizing a comprehensive
> >>>testing program with blind users. Ray Kurzweil was the principal
> >>>developer
> >>>of the first print-to-speech reading machine for the blind, also
> >>>developed
> >>>in close collaboration with the NFB. Ray Kurzweil noted that "The new
> >>>unit
> >>>is 10,000 times smaller than the original 1976 reading machine , yet
the
> >>>computer it's using is 2,000 times more powerful." This new portable
unit
> >>>is
> >>>expected to be available for sale in 2006.
> >>>
> >>>NFB Director of Strategic Projects Jim Gashel demonstrated the reading
> >>>machine to an enthusiastic audience of more than 2,000 blind delegates.
> >>>"There was cheering for several minutes while the machine read the
> >>>document," said Kurzweil, who followed the demo with a talk explaining
> >>>the
> >>>machine , KTI's collaboration with NFB on the project, and the future
of
> >>>this technology .
> >>>
> >>>The portable reader provides feedback to the user on what it sees,
> >>>guiding
> >>>the user to properly frame reading material. It can report, for
example,
> >>>if
> >>>one of the edges of a document is out of view. It is also capable of
> >>>stitching together portions of a document from multiple pictures taken
by
> >>>the camera. It can detect and correct any degree of document rotation
and
> >>>is
> >>>insensitive to three degrees of freedom of image tilt or rotation. The
> >>>software also includes image-enhancement techniques to compensate for
> >>>uneven
> >>>illumination and the low quality optics of inexpensive consumer
cameras.
> >>>
> >>>Future version will include scene-recognition capabilities to locate
> >>>objects
> >>>such as chairs, lamps and people.
> >>>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
> --
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>
>
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