[Reader-users] KNFB Reader and Digital Displays

Mon Nov 20 21:39:55 CST 2006

Hello Mr. Donahue:

A short time ago I heard Dr. Maurer report that, in fact, the K-NFB Reader 
could read certain LED displays. This is not a consistent application of the 
Reader however. It seems that it would be more cost effective for your 
friend to acquire a digital scale with voice output. I know they exist for 
people scales; I would venture to guess the same is true for animal scales.

I do believe that it won't be long before the K-NFB Reader will be able to 
read many more types of print media.

Mark Feliz

>From: "Peter Donahue" <pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net>
>Reply-To: Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader users 
>list<reader-users at nfbnet.org>
>To: "Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader users 
>list"<reader-users at nfbnet.org>
>CC: Leisa Sekhon <lsekhon at guidedogs.com>
>Subject: [Reader-users] KNFB Reader and Digital Displays
>Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2006 12:51:49 -0600
>
>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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