[Reader-users] KNFB Reader and Digital Displays

Tue Nov 21 08:20:18 CST 2006

It might be hard to get a dog to sit still long enough to get the reader
lined up and take the picture, especially if the dog is a pup.  I know I
have some trouble getting my dog to sit still on the scale long enough for
the vet to get her weight, and the vet is quicker at reading than I am
with the Reader.
Tracy

> 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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