[Reader-users] new KNFB reader user poses questions

[Cindy Handel]

You know, all this discussion about a tripod and extra cables, etc. is kind 
of defeating the portability purpose of the Reader.  It was intended to be a 
portable unit, easily used and carried about.  When you have to come up with 
all these extra accessories to carry around and take apart the Reader and 
add this or that, the portability factor is diminished.  It really isn't 
that hard to use it as it was intended and isn't necessary to drag around 
all these other things.

Cindy
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kim Morrow" <morrowmediakc at yahoo.com>
To: "'Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader users list'" 
<reader-users at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 11:06 AM
Subject: Re: [Reader-users] new KNFB reader user poses questions


A thought: I wonder if NFB has ever thought about manufacturing a
tripod-like device specifically for the KNFB Reader. If not--why not?

Kimberly


-----Original Message-----
From: reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lewis, Graham
Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 4:02 AM
To: Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader users list
Subject: Re: [Reader-users] new KNFB reader user poses questions

Wow you have rich and or generous friends!  Please introduce me to them!

When it was working, I was getting quite amazing resultseven at angles of
around 10 to 12 percent off the virtical.  It struggles with low text to
backgprund contrast such as grey text or coloured text on colured
backgprunds but then a desktop scanner would too.

I did notice that the camera seems to have a screw nounting on the bottom
which might be useful as the device could be attached to the bottom on a
camera tripod.  Not sure why I would do that rather than use my dektop
scanner but just a thought.


Graham Lewis
Centre for Academic Practice
University of Warwick
University House
Kirby Corner Road
Coventry CV4 8UW
UK
Email: graham.lewis at warwick.ac.uk
Tel.: (+44) (0) 24 765 72737
Mobile: 07703100401
Fax.: (+44) (0) 24 765 72736
Blog: http://blogs.warwick.ac.uk/glewis/



________________________________

From: reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org on behalf of Kim Morrow
Sent: Tue 28/11/2006 08:20
To: reader-users at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Reader-users] new KNFB reader user poses questions



            A few days ago, I had the honor and privilege of receiving a
KNFB Reader as a gift. Since that time, I have logged in quite a number of
hours reading the manuals cover to cover and experimenting with the device.
While the KNFB Reader appears to be a marvelous tool, I am experiencing
challenges in taking consistently effective pictures of material that would
render the material legible. I'm quite confident that such is the case with
many a new KNFB Reader user, expecially those who, like me, are totally
blind from birth and have thus not experienced the opportunity to learn
about conditions that make for optimal picture-taking environments.



Here is the greatest challenge I am currently experiencing: No matter how
clear the text I am attempting to scan may be, I am discovering that there
is little consistency in how the scan will turn out. I have attempted to
always orient myself from the same portion of the page, e.g. always from the
upper righthand or lefthand corner or always from the middle), with very
mixed results ranging from an almost perfect scan to totally illegible. I
have attempted to cover one side of a text-filled book (containing no
pictures), with a white sheet of typing paper, so that I am sure the correct
side of a page is read. I have asked sighted friends to assist me in
minimizing glare and to assist in the location of optimal scanning
environments e.g. surrounding surfaces that are not too dark, Etc.)-still
with extremely mixed results.



My question, then: What are some rules of the road not listed in the manuals
that might make the scanning experience for a first-time user more
consistent and effective? My expectations for the capabilities of this
device are much higher than what I have thus far been able to achieve, since
I am attempting to scan texts with no pictures with very standard print. If
I were attempting to scan CD covers or cereal boxes, I believe my
expectations for excellence would be quite out of line.



Are there any consistent guidelines I can follow beyond those listed in the
manual in terms of taking effective pictures of material?



Sincerely,



Kimberly Morrow



morrowmediakc at yahoo.com






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