[Reader-users] KNFB Reader and Digital Displays

[Gary Wunder]

I have been able to read a flat screen and I believe Mike Hingson has a 
Reader she might try. I think there are many displays we cannot yet read, 
but it's worth investigating.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Peter Donahue" <pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net>
To: "Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader users list" 
<reader-users at nfbnet.org>
Cc: "Leisa Sekhon" <lsekhon at guidedogs.com>
Sent: Monday, November 20, 2006 12:51 PM
Subject: [Reader-users] KNFB Reader and Digital Displays


> Hello Jim and listers,
>
>    In your message to Kevin you mentioned that new features are being 
> added
> to the reader to permit it to read more forms of printed text. Does This
> include the digital read-outs of digital displays such as LCD devices? One
> useful application would be the ability to read the information displayed 
> on
> your stereo or home theater system's digital display. This issue came up
> during a discussion with a blind Canine Welfare Technician at guide dogs 
> for
> the blind. One of her duties involves weighing dogs and puppies under her
> care. While she's able to place the dog on the scale which displays the
> weight via a digital display she is unable to read the display. Right now 
> a
> sighted kennel person reads the weight for her to record in the dog's
> record. I suggested to her trying the KNFB reader to see if it could read
> the scale read-out. I suggested that if she can get access to a KNFB 
> reader
> she should try reading the scale's display and look at other possible uses
> for the reader on her job making the case for GDB or her state's 
> vocational
> rehabilitation agency to purchase the reader for her. I'd be interested to
> hear what kind of successes folks have had with the reader reading
> information on digital displays and will pass these on to Leisa. Talk to 
> you
> later.
>
> Peter Donahue
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Gashel, James" <JGashel at NFB.ORG>
> To: "Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader users list"
> <reader-users at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: <jgashel at NFB.ORG>
> Sent: Monday, November 20, 2006 7:53 AM
> Subject: Re: [Reader-users] knfb reader hardware
>
>
> Hi Kevin and all:
>
> Thank you for your comments and suggestions about expanding
> functionality of the Reader.  Although the camera and PDA we use in the
> Reader are separate, off the shelf components, each of these components
> was chosen because of its unique qualities to perform the functions of
> this particular product.  They were not chosen because of their
> excellent qualities as either a digital camera or a PDA or for any other
> reason whatsoever.  The goal we set out to achieve from the very
> beginning was to create a reading device and develop it to perform as
> many reading functions as possible.
>
> As you probably know, we conducted an extensive beta test prior to
> releasing the Reader for sale.  The question of enabling certain PDA
> functions was definitely discussed by participants across the country.
> Nothing is cast in stone on this, but the prevailing view has been that
> we should remain true to the original mission of creating and developing
> the reading machine, rather than devoting development effort to expand
> functionality of this device to do things already achievable by other
> technology.
>
> While it is certainly true that we are using a digital camera as part of
> the Reader, we are not using the camera to perform the typical function
> of taking pictures of objects.  In fact, we are using the camera in its
> remote mode and not in its normal picture taking mode.  Likewise, we are
> only using the PDA to perform the function of a computer needed to run
> the software for the Reader.  We are not using the PDA as a PDA.  Your
> comments about a combination product are helpful, but this explains our
> current thinking.
>
> Also, we are sensitive to the concerns of some that this product needs
> to be as simple and straight forward as it possibly can be.  Adding new
> features and functionality is definitely desireable, but this will also
> add more complexity.  For example, we are presently working on changes
> to add new features, but these are aimed at reading different kinds of
> printed things which the Reader does not now read.  This responds to the
> prevailing demand and our mission to continue to develop this product as
> a reader first, rather than letting our focus drift into creating a
> multifunctional information device.
>
> Thanks, J. G.
>
> ******************************************
>
> James Gashel
> Executive Director for Strategic Initiatives
> NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
> 1800 Johnson Street
> Baltimore, Maryland  21230
> Telephone:  (410) 659-9314, ext. 2227
> Fax:  (410) 685-5653
> Email:  jgashel at nfb.org
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kevin Jones
> Sent: Friday, November 17, 2006 9:13 PM
> To: reader-users at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [Reader-users] knfb reader hardware
>
> Someone wrote on this list they talked to tech support about what the
> reader was made of, wonder what they learned. Here's what I learned, and
> I have the newer version of the hardware. The camera is a canon
> powershot sd20. It sells for about $250 has auto focus but no zoom, 5
> mega-pixels.
> The pda for th ereader is the loox 560n from Fujitsu-siemens, a very
> nice pocket pc. The pcocessor runs at 624mhz which is the fastest
> processor for a pocket pc to date. The ppc also has built-in gps, too
> bad we can't use it. They picked this model because out of all the
> pocket pcs only those by Fujitsu have usb host, all the rest only have
> usb client. The other interesting thing is Fujitsu doesn't even sell any
> of their pocket pc line in north America, you can only buy them in
> Europe and Asia.
>  The ppc sells for about $700. I would love if the knfb reader could
> co-exist with a screen reader like mobile speak pocket, so you could
> both use the pda, and use th ereader even if that decision was made
> during a soft reset.
> Kevin
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