[Reader-users] knfb reader hardware

[Gashel, James]

Hi Kevin and all:

We are working on currency identification right now.  That will
certainly be done quite soon.   

-----Original Message-----
From: reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kevin Jones
Sent: Tuesday, November 21, 2006 1:45 AM
To: Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader users list
Subject: Re: [Reader-users] knfb reader hardware

Will reading more kinds of print, mean it can identify currency?

Gashel, James wrote:
> 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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