[Reader-users] knfb reader hardware

Tue Nov 21 16:05:29 CST 2006

I agree. I would definitely like the reader to do a better job reading cans, 
jars and boxes of food items and such.

Grace
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stanzel, Susan - Kansas City, MO" <susan.stanzel at kcc.usda.gov>
To: "Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader users list" 
<reader-users at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 21, 2006 11:39 AM
Subject: Re: [Reader-users] knfb reader hardware

> Hi Everyone,
>
> I just want the reader to read cooking instructions on cans and frozen
> food.
>
> Susie Stanzel
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Gashel, James
> Sent: Tuesday, November 21, 2006 10:35 AM
> To: Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader users list
> Subject: Re: [Reader-users] knfb reader hardware
>
> Hi Kevin and all:
>
> Levels of advancement have certainly been discussed.  At this point we
> are very much focused on making the Reader as responsive to reading
> needs as we can make it.  All of our development effort is going in that
> direction.  Other things that are not central to that mission are
> possible but not as priorities.  I am pretty sure many more functions
> will emerge as this technology develops further in the next few years.
> Remember that the product was only launched five months ago, so we have
> a lot to do to support this initial role-out.  Our "to-do" list is very
> long, and I thank you very much for adding to it.  Your hopes are
> definitely being heard.  I was only trying to explain the constraints we
> are under in doing lots of things all at once.  Our first priority is
> the reader functions, which we will continue to develop with as much
> talent as we can muster.
>
> -----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 1:44 AM
> To: Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader users list
> Subject: Re: [Reader-users] knfb reader hardware
>
> Could we have a simple mode and an advanced mode. Not everyone needs
> things simple. I often feel keeping things as simple as possible in the
> end just hold us back. Because th pda is already a full pda why not make
> it usable to those who would like to use it, it wouldn't make th ereader
> any less a reader.
> Kevin
>
> 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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