# OCR aps

Category: Cell Phone Talk

## Post 1 by Christiangirl (Generic Zoner) on Tuesday, 19-Dec-2017 15:59:54

Hi,
What OCR aps are best for an Iphone 6 Plus, 7 or 8? I'm hearing good things about both KNFB reader, and Seeing AI. I scan a lot of documents for work, and would love a fast route than running them all through my scanner.
Also, is there an ap that'll scan a computer screen? I often get PDF documents as images, then have to scan them. Has anyone used KNFB reader for this, if so, how did it work?
I'm getting ready to upgrade my Iphone to one of the above-mentioned models. Thanks for your suggestions.

## Post 2 by Remy (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Wednesday, 20-Dec-2017 13:23:50

KNFB reader is decent, but it's not the leading choice like it was several years ago in my oppinion. And considering it's over $100, it might not need to be your first option. Seeing AI is very good, recognizing both printed documents, and even capturing small portions of documents in real-time. It also recognizes scenes (sort of), bar codes, colors (sort of), light sources, faces and even handwriting *sort of). I don't believe you can save multi-page documents with it however, which is one feature the KNFB reader does have. One nice thing about the Seeing AI app is it tries to keep the format of text, so, line breaks where there should be line breaks, headings etc. KNFB literally just dumps everything into one continuous text dump.
There's also Prismo Go and OCR Pro which are worth a look. They both do pretty good at scanning. Envision AI looks promising as well. It's a little like Seeing AI. You've also got Identifi, which is a scene recognizing app, but also had surprisingly decent OCR capabilities as well. With that, a three finger quadruple tap on the screen will copy what Identifi scans to the clipboard which can then be pasted into any text editor if you want to refer to it later.
Basically, there are lots of options, all which have various strengths. I have about seven or eight on my Iphone 6S Plus and they all work pretty well. Reading computer/tv screens is one area where most of these are a little limited, but with a little fiddling you can get it to work depending on the type of thing you're scanning on the screen. Hope that's a good starting point for you.

## Post 3 by maddog (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Wednesday, 20-Dec-2017 17:57:55

If you're using a screen reader on your computer like JAWS or NVDA, there is
a way for them to convert the scanned image into readable text. Tell us
which screen reader you're using, and I'm sure we can help you figure out the
right OCR method to employ. However, I would not recommend using a phone-
based OCR app to scan stuff that's on your computer. Not when there are
other, much simpler ways (see above).

## Post 4 by Remy (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Wednesday, 20-Dec-2017 19:14:16

That's a good point, as long as it's a computer and not any other screen. Other than the on again off again built in JAWS OCR, how else can this be done? Does NVDA now offer a similar ability?

## Post 5 by Siriusly Severus (The ESTJ 1w9 3w4 6w7 The Taskmaste) on Friday, 29-Dec-2017 10:10:21

I think we were talking about phones? what if the first poster wanted an iPhone
specific app? I think we need to respect this.
I have had no luck with anything else but KNFb reader and at that I have little
luck, but still better than the rest. I've never tried out seeing AI extensively
though.

## Post 6 by Christiangirl (Generic Zoner) on Thursday, 04-Jan-2018 10:43:33

I am still in the dark ages at work with Windows 7 and Jfw 14 or 15 ( can't remember right now). I would agree that scanning a computer screen from a phone might not be the best option. However, for printed materials, an OCR APP would be very helpful. Thanks for your suggestions.

## Post 7 by forereel (Just posting.) on Wednesday, 17-Jan-2018 12:22:55

Sense the latest iOS and update of Seeing A I, I'm simply in love with it.
You open the mailbox, grab all the credit card, food, insurance, and whatever else offers.
No need to be afraid of getting rid of something you really need anymore.
Point the phone, toss the junk.
Wow!
I never knew what I was actually getting until now.
Still haven't applied, but its nice to just read your own stuff.
I don't know how it works with any other phone except an 8, because I don't have access to others, but on the 8, it is marvelous.

## Post 8 by Christiangirl (Generic Zoner) on Wednesday, 17-Jan-2018 18:11:06

Sounds awesome, I'll have to check that it out.

## Post 9 by Remy (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Thursday, 18-Jan-2018 14:02:27

It's also completely free at this point. Definetly one of if not the best free OCR scanners out there for IOS. Heck, it's even on par with some of the paid ones.

## Post 10 by maddog (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Thursday, 18-Jan-2018 18:28:06

I would caution you about scanning personal information on Seeing AI. After
all, it does require an online connection to do its thing from what I
understand, which could very well mean that there is the use of a cloud
server going on, and just remember: anything can be hacked! As much
respect as I have for microsoft for making so many accessible things, their
security has never been overly impressive; it's always had many flaws.

## Post 11 by forereel (Just posting.) on Friday, 19-Jan-2018 13:41:43

Well, this ones not about money, its free.
However, I only scan things I don't mine being seen by anyone looking.
I don't know how secdure it is, but I don't think about that, because I'm not taking pictures of anything with a mobile device I don't think can be hacked.
A 20 dollar bill with money reader stays in my pocket for example.
Laughing.
I have used my ban app to deposit checks, but my bank claims there responsible, and I also still have the paper, so.

## Post 12 by vh (This site is so "educational") on Saturday, 20-Jan-2018 9:57:00

So, seriously, forereel, you use Sing AI to check out the outside of your mail, then if it say, a bill, you use something else to scan the contents?

## Post 13 by vh (This site is so "educational") on Saturday, 20-Jan-2018 9:57:24

Has anyone used an IPad with Seeing AI?

## Post 14 by forereel (Just posting.) on Saturday, 20-Jan-2018 12:19:28

No actually.
I use seeing A I to read the mail period. Most junk mail doesn't really reveal much outside. They want you to open it.
I scan whatever, but I understand your point.
Here's my setup. Anything serious, like bills, or banking comes to me via email. In an email, you only get a notice that your statement is ready, or your bill is due on a said day with the amount. To see it, you must log in to the secure website.
I don't click the link, I go directly with my browser.
Now, anything else that might be important, I have a different mailing address for that, and it goes to my sister. That is only two pieces or places. Soon as they get with it, I'll have them online too.
I also did this thing for the US postal service that minimizes the quanty of junk mail that comes in your box. Most times, I'll receive a credit card offer, or some sort of promotion from a already used company, or someone new after my business. These are pretty empty of personal information.
They'll have your name, address, the offer and terms, but never your SSN for example. Nothing that isn't already public.
To apply, or accept the offers, you either go online, or fill out the included application, or call a number to get the deal, or take the coupon to the place.
So that is my setup.
The app has helped me to not worry about missing something important that might slip by my setup net, and I don't any longer have a pile of mail sitting around until I can get assistants with it.
Really good.

## Post 15 by vh (This site is so "educational") on Saturday, 20-Jan-2018 13:33:38

So what did you do before the app? Did you use OpenBook or Kurzweil or something like that?

## Post 16 by forereel (Just posting.) on Sunday, 21-Jan-2018 0:39:24

Suffered.
No, I waited until one of the people I trust dropped by, tied them to the table and got out the sack or mail.
Laughing.
I guess I was spoiled kind of, because I had family, or seeing persons I dated that were around often.
I still, before, had as much as I could get coming to email, or accessable online.
Instead of buying a program, or something, I put the funding in to keeping my screen reader current.

## Post 17 by Remy (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Monday, 22-Jan-2018 13:12:52

I've used an Ipad Pro with Seeing AI. I'd say it works just as well honestly.

## Post 18 by forereel (Just posting.) on Tuesday, 23-Jan-2018 0:25:58

Camera on the iPad pros top notch though.
Its a good app. Microsoft did well, and is doing well.
I need to ask you pros how to fix my home page with the things I want on it.
I see its possible, but I can't figure out how to move the things already there.
I can see the add button for things that aren't by swiping right, but you have to remove some to put some up, and that's were it is not happening.
So, anyone have that move?
I've tried some colors, a little hand writing. The colors things doesn't seem to be ready quite yet. Maybe in the next update it will be as good as the reader.

## Post 19 by Remy (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Tuesday, 23-Jan-2018 12:29:56

Oh really? I didn't know you could customize it. I'll need to look into that myself. I know you flick up and down to move to different topics. Will look at it when I have a chance and report back. Also I love the handwriting feature. Doesn't always work, but it's the first one that is even close.

## Post 20 by forereel (Just posting.) on Wednesday, 24-Jan-2018 6:13:20

Yeah, it says so. Now doing it...
When you figure it out, post.