[gui-talk] Freedom Scientific Releases New and Improved OCR Recognition Software for JAWS and OpenBook, @ FreedomScientific News March 30 2012

Sun Apr 1 15:00:21 UTC 2012

Pretty good April Fool's effort!

Dean

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Subject: Re: [gui-talk] Freedom Scientific Releases New and Improved OCR
Recognition Software for JAWS and OpenBook, @ FreedomScientific News March
30 2012

The last line of that article said "April Fools." I have not heard of
this "press release" through any other official channels, and it was put
out on a Saturday.

On Sun, Apr 01, 2012 at 09:52:36AM -0400, Jude DaShiell wrote:
What would be most interesting to read is how this stacks up to the off 
the shelf competition both in terms of verified reviews and verified 
prices.

On Sun, 1 Apr 2012, Humberto Avila wrote:

> From: @ Freedom Scientific News
[mailto:freedomscientificnews at freedomscientific.com]
<mailto:%5bmailto:freedomscientificnews at freedomscientific.com%5d> 
> 
> Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2012 2:35 PM EDT
> 
> To: Humberto Avila [mailto:avila.bert.humberto2 at gmail.com]
<mailto:%5bmailto:avila.bert.humberto2 at gmail.com%5d> 
> 
> Subject: Freedom Scientific Releases New and Improved OCR Recognition
Software for JAWS and OpenBook
> 
>  
> 
> Having trouble viewing this email? Click
<http://www.freedomscientific.com/news/2012-03-31/fs-releases-new-improved-o
cr-software-openbook-jaws.html>  here to view in a browser. 
> 
>  
> 
> 
> For Immediate Release:
> 
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> 
> Freedom Scientific Releases New and Improved OCR Recognition Software for
JAWS and OpenBook
> 
> 
>  
> 
> Today, Freedom Scientific, one of the world?s leading screen reading and
blindness product makers, has just recently developed and released a new
breakthrough in its line of products of assistive technology for blind and
visually impaired computer users. 
> 
>  
> 
> Have you ever wanted to take OpenBook? with you at all times anywhere you
can possibly go with it? Or even better, have you always wanted to be able
to pick up a handwritten note on a piece of paper and be able to read it
instantly just like anybody else? Or maybe you are one of those frustrated
students that are inundated with printed or handwritten material that you
can?t read in or out of a classroom setting and you have to wait even hours
or days for somebody to read to you. Maybe you are at a conference, you are
given a business card or a simple handout that is important, and you need to
fill out or read along?
> 
>  
> 
> Well, wish and wonder no more! Freedom Scientific now has the solution!
> 
>  
> 
> Due to popular demand, and numerous emails and feedback requests from our
users, Freedom Scientific has decided to step forward.
> 
>  
> 
> We have released a new, updated, and improved OCR recognition engine for
both, our Openbook? and JAWS? products. This bran new release includes many
new features, which include, but not limited to:
> 
>  
> 
> *	The ability to recognize smaller type font and better recognition of
columns in sophisticated tables, which can easily be confusing to read.
> *	The ability to recognize print on smaller pieces of print paper,
such as note slips or contact cards on the spot, with better print focus and
not the scanner bed or camera.
> *	Finally, the ability to recognize handwriting with about 85-90%
accuracy!
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> Yes, that?s right! Our new OCR engine has built-in support for handwriting
recognition. That means that you can either scan or place a handwritten note
from a co-worker, a spouse, or from a door, into your camera or scanner of
your choice, and Openbook? will automatically recognize it and be able to
read it with speech and / or Braille output from your preferred synthesizer
or Braille display! Not only this. You can open a .pdf, .jpg, or .png image
that someone sent you with handwriting over the email on your computer,
perform the OCR recognition command (JAWS 13 and later only), and bingo! You
will hear the handwriting being spoken out to you or sent to your Braille
display. Please note that these new features offered by this improved
version of the OCR engine for JAWS? or OpenBook? software are only
compatible with Openbook versions later than 8.0 and JAWS version 13.0 or
later. Please note users of JAWS earlier than 13.0, we will release a
version of the new OCR engine t
 hat we released with JAWS 13.0 later this month, with the same features as
the ones offered now, so you aren?t left out on these new features! This
update to the OCR engine can work with both 32- and 64-bit operating
systems.
> 
>  
> 
> Want some even more awesome news from our OpenBook? development team? We
have released OpenBook Mobile?, a scanning and reading solution app for your
iOS device! This means that you can use our popular scanning and reading
solution right from your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, using VoiceOver and the
camera of your device! Yes, that?s right, OpenBook? is going mobile, and you
will be able to take it anywhere you go that you find printed material that
you cannot read. You will be able to go on a trip, be given an airport
boarding pass, and you will no longer need sighted assistance to see whether
your plane was gone before you knew it, or to see your flight information.
You will be able to go to a church service and be able to access printed
booklets of hymns or group prayers easily and independently without
requesting sighted help. Even more fantastic, you will be able to walk into
a classroom door that appears to have no one waiting with you, bump into a
little sticky note w
 ith your finger below or above the Braille marking of the classroom number,
and not have to wait so many hours and precious study time trying to find
out if the instructor canceled the class or whatever other scheduling
conflict that might have occurred with that instructor. If you have an
iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad, you will get it out, snap a photo of that little
sticky note, and you will be able to find out what?s wrong quickly,
independently  and immediately with the built-in handwriting recognition of
the OCR engine for OpenBook Mobile?! It?s so easy! 
> 
>  
> 
> Currently, OpenBook Mobile? for iOS platforms is available at the Apple
iTunes store and it costs $2.99. This app is designed to fit any budget. So,
what are you waiting for? Purchase your OpenBook Mobile? app for your iPhone
/ iPod / iPad now, and let your future shine today! The power of technology
and handwriting is in your hands, like never before!
> 
>  
> 
> If you have any questions regarding these two new initiatives, don?t
hesitate to give us a call at 1-800-444-4443 or e-mail us at
support at freedomScientific.com. We would like to hear from you and your
feedback!
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> The Freedom Scientific Team **************
> 
> P.S. April Fools! ? ? :)))
> 
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----------------------------------------------------------------
Jude <jdashiel-at-shellworld-dot-net>
<http://www.shellworld.net/~jdashiel/nj.html>

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-- 
Doug Lee                 dgl at dlee.org                http://www.dlee.org
SSB BART Group           doug.lee at ssbbartgroup.com
http://www.ssbbartgroup.com
"There's no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he
doesn't mind who gets the credit." Ronald Reagan

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