[Reader-users] new KNFB reader user poses questions

Tue Nov 28 19:47:41 CST 2006

I personally don't see the need, or at least little need for a batch 
mode.  This device is not intended to be used to read long documents 
like books, and I think people who do will be disappointed.

Dave

At 06:44 PM 11/28/2006, you wrote:
>it's so basic though, you're already almost separating them when you
>change the camera battery.
>James was saying they're working on the next update.
>Something we reall yneed is a batch mode. If the knfb reader is ever to
>be efficient in scanning multi-page documents, we really need a scan in
>batch mode, every ocr program has it.
>I would also like to see a more automated way to update the units.
>Having to send the sd card back to the dealer is very time costly and
>inconvenient for many I would think? I'm sure some kind of registration
>could be figured out.
>hey I'll be hoping for the batch mode first; but wonder what some of the
>rest of you think.
>Kevin
>
>Mike Freeman wrote:
> > I'd bet that would void the warranty.
> >
> > Mike
> >
> > On Tue, 28 Nov 2006, Kim Morrow wrote:
> >
> >> The thing is--if you're really sure of what you're doing,  then 
> removing the
> >> camera and the PDA into separate entities is fine. . . but you 
> have to have
> >> a fair amount of confidence that you can keep the unit functioning. The
> >> manual doesn't recommend doing this. Then again--if you can do 
> it with great
> >> results, more power to you!
> >>
> >> Kimberly
> >>
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org
> >> [mailto:reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kevin Jones
> >> Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 6:43 AM
> >> To: Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader users list
> >> Subject: Re: [Reader-users] new KNFB reader user poses questions
> >>
> >> ye I wasn't lucky enough to be born into a family that rich either.
> >> The reason why you would want to use a  tripod, to use the reader on a
> >> large say 100 page or more document. The problem is because of the pda
> >> attached, it won't fit on a tripod.
> >> I actually have a special cable made so i can remove the camera from the
> >> case and connect the cable between the camera and the reader case so
> >> that I can use tripods. Cable is new so I haven't played too much yet.
> >> Kevin
> >>
> >> Lewis, Graham wrote:
> >>> [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: mailto:graham.lewis at warwick.ac.uk 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/
> >> 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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