[bksvol-discuss] Re: Scanner questions?

  • From: Guido Corona <guidoc@xxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Tue, 21 Sep 2004 07:52:32 -0500

Here are some answers:

1.  Leave scanner/printers combos alone.  They typically use lower quality 
CIS image sensors which do not yield the image quality needed for  best 
OCR results.  Even those that do have the high quality CCD sensors,  like 
the EPSON RX500,  have the wrong form factor.  That is they are too thick 
and may end up giving problems as you need to press down rather heavily 
with books to get the book spine down to the scanner platen.  In the long 
run they may develop mechanical problems, sags and cracks.

2. Stick to pure flatbed scanner.  The current brand of choice is EPSON. 
If you require the highest possible resolution for scanning pictures get 
the EPSON 4180.  Cost is $259.  I have just posted another note on info on 
the other EPSON scanners I would suggest. 


3. All scanners come with some variety of low-end scanning / OCR software. 
 This software is typically difficult to use with screen readers and is 
powered by older versions of commonly used text recognition engines.  I 
suggest you may want to consider the Kurzweil 1000 text recognition 
software instead.  It was created for blind and visually impaired people 
and has a lot of features especially created for Bookshare volunteers. 
K1000 v 9.0 can be purchased from Kurzweil at (800) 894-5374.  See also:
http://www.kurzweiledu.com.

Hope this helps.

Guido

Guido D. Corona
IBM Accessibility Center,  Austin Tx.
IBM Research,
Phone:  (512) 838-9735
Email: guidoc@xxxxxxxxxxx

Visit my weekly Accessibility WebLog at:
http://www-3.ibm.com/able/weblog/corona_weblog.html





"shannon work" <shannon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
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09/18/2004 08:38 PM
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[bksvol-discuss] Scanner questions?






        Hi Guys and Gals,
 
I have been thinking about getting a scanner.
I have a few questions about  them;
1. Can any scanner be used to scan a book?
2. I think that I understand that a  scanner is not the only thing one 
needs to scan text and be able to read it. you need an OCR program. Will 
the OCR programs that are out there work with any scanner or do you have 
to buy a special scanner to work with the software?
 
I'm asking because I need to be able to scan text and pictures as well. 
This will be a family purchase. I won't be the only one who wants to use 
it. I have seen at best buy, office depot. and the like, scanners and 
printer combos that are reasonably priced but, I don't know if that will 
do all I want it to do.
Any advise on this will be appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Shannon

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