Is there an independent device for scanning and reading?

Category: Geeks r Us

Post 1 by ablindgibsongirl (the Zone BBS remains forever my home page) on Friday, 12-Jun-2009 10:05:43

Like the subject says I'm wondering if there's a semi portable device so one can take a print book and read it via speech or braille output? I seem to recall something like this that came out a few years back that was designed for people who just wanted to read. I'm hoping there's some other way besides being tethered to a computer. Thanks guys. Tiffany

Post 2 by motifated (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Friday, 12-Jun-2009 21:46:54

Well, fortunately, we have severalthings to choose from. A company called EVAS has a few systems out there. Freedom makes the Sara, and Guerilla Technology makes the Extreme Reader. These aren't exactly portable, as the feel like really fat scanners. The most portable is the KNFB Reader, but it might take a little getting used to, as you need to hold it a certain distance from the page. I just saw a new stand-alone scanner that I really like alot this week called the Solo. The company that makes it is called Abisee.

Lou

Post 3 by Blue Velvet (I've got the platinum golden silver bronze poster award.) on Saturday, 13-Jun-2009 17:23:47

Have you heard of the EyePal? It sounds like something you might like. There is a podcast on blindcooltech.com demonstrating this device. From an e-mail I got, I gather there are two versions: one that has to be connected to a computer and one that is a stand alone product.

Post 4 by motifated (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Sunday, 14-Jun-2009 7:28:57

Actually, the Solo is the stand-alone version of the IPal. I really like that device as far as a stand-alone goes. Its a bit cheaper than the others as well. I put a bunch of different materials on it, and in the worst case, I was at least able to identify it as a food circular. It did a respectable job of a bank statement, and I put an ATM recipt on it as well as a business card. It handled everything.

Lou

Post 5 by Big Pawed Bear (letting his paws be his guide.) on Sunday, 14-Jun-2009 8:37:30

if you have a mobile phone, the n82 and 6680 classic, try www.knfbreader.com that has info on the knfb reader mobile. dam good product for cellphones which makes phone into portable scanner.

Post 6 by Harmony (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Tuesday, 16-Jun-2009 13:57:44

I have also used the galileo machine which is a standalone scanner, but that's kind of old now in terms of technology. The knfb reader mobile also works on other phones now like the n95 apparently. I haven't tried any of the others that have been mentioned on here, but if you wanted to install something onto a computer, I'd say Kurzweil, which works with a normal scanner.