[bksvol-discuss] Re: I have got to try this!!!
- From: Valerie Maples <vlmaples@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 8 Jan 2012 16:31:06 -0800 (PST)
I have been reading for hours and it would be a good fit for me since I could
take their PDF file and run it through any of my OCR softwares. From what I
can
tell the lost year was spent making it more sturdy. For my space, need and
budget, it would be a good fix. None of the DIY setups looked ergonomic enough
for me and there was still the lack of a cradle, further worsening handling for
me. Still, if you want inexpensive and are handy, it could cost less.
Valerie
Keep up with Nichole's recovery:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/nicholemaples
________________________________
From: Judy s. <cherryjam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sun, January 8, 2012 6:04:49 PM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: I have got to try this!!!
Thanks for posting about this Valerie! I hadn't heard about the Ion scanner. I
went out and looked at it, and then googled for reviews. I don't want to sound
too unenthusiastic because I love the idea. However, unless I'm reading the
reviews of the beta models wrong (it still hasn't shipped a year after being
announced), the Ion scanner only has primitive text conversion OCR software.
It's really intended for creating image-based PDFs.
This is really timely for me, though, as a few months ago I found the website
for an entire group of geeks who call themselves the "do it yourself book
scanners." They've been experimenting for several years now with the technique
the Ion scanner uses. They use two cameras, one for each page of an open book,
and simple lighting, over a book that's held in a cradle. They've got full
plans
of several different do-it-yourself designs to make one, even plans for one you
can make out of a cardboard box! This technique can only be used, I would
guess,
for sighted users as you would need to set up the focus for the cameras
manually
at the start of every book scan.
The group has also developed open-source OCRing software, but I haven't looked
at it to see what it can do, and don't know if it runs on a Mac. Some of the
stuff I read, though, says what many of the DIY crew does is take the images
with these cameras and then use standard OCRing software on their PCs and Macs
after they've photoed the entire book to then OCR it. They claim it's much
faster to photo a book this way than getting an image of a page using a
standard
flatbed scanner, and you get better images as you can get the pages to lie flat
easily without cutting the book apart or damaging its spine.
Here's the link to their site:
http://www.diybookscanner.org/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page
I'd sure love to talk to someone who has actually done this to see how well it
really works! smile.
Judy s.
Valerie Maples wrote:
The latest in digitizing books:
>
>
>http://www.ionaudio.com/news/press-releases/ion-announces-book-saver-book-scanner
>
>
>
>
>more information, a picture, and embedded video at:
>
>
>http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2011/01/scan-a-book-in-15-minutes.html
>
>
>
>
>It is not small, but looks VERY easy to use! Best part, it looks like I could
>then OCR on my Mac as easily as a PC.
>
>
>On another note, someone posted on MobileRead about the mother of all book
>scanners. I am not sure if you can read this without an account, and it may
>have
>been found by our new fearless leader since the poster is named Alisa, but if
>Bookshare is looking to spend serious bucks:
>
>
>http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23135
> Valerie, who would love to do ALL her work on a Mac!
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