[Reader-users] new KNFB reader user poses questions

Gashel, James JGashel at NFB.ORG
Wed Nov 29 08:27:56 CST 2006 

Hi Kevin and all:

Please don't under estimate the challenge of adding what may appear to
be relatively small functions.  We are definitely committed to adding
new functionality, like batch processing, but we also want to do it
right when we do it.  

Compared to many software products, I believe this Reader is quite
stable in its performance.  Every time we add something, we need to be
sure that everything else in the programs still works right before we
release the new version.  We aren't going to make our valued users, who
count on the reader doing what they need, into ginny-pigs.  The time for
beta testing is over.  

That said, you can count on our best efforts to add new functionality in
response to user needs.   

-----Original Message-----
From: reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kevin Jones
Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 2:18 AM
To: Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader users list
Subject: Re: [Reader-users] new KNFB reader user poses questions

The problem is people only care about the features they want, and not
anything else. I feel if an added feature won't in any way detract from
what the device is meant to do, then it should be added. It would be
extremely easy to add the batch mode in the time all these messages have
been being posted a programmer probably could have it done already. 
Making it read light text on dark backgrounds, something also important,
will take actual testing and possibly some research and much more
programming. Try to think in the big picture. I actually never use the
view finder, I basically get perfect orientation every time without any
help, but I fully understand why some people may need it and may use it
all the time, so I wouldn't say it shouldn't have been added.
Kevin

Mike Freeman wrote:
> Neither proposal is of top priorityfor me. I'd rather see effort put 
> into reading white-on-black print so things like my glucose meter
would show up.
> To me, the Reader isn't designed to be (and should not be) an 
> equivalent to a desk scanner. So I see no need for a batch mode, 
> particularly as it assumes that one gets the orientation correct for
every page.
> 
> Mike
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Kevin Jones" <kevin at kevinrj.net>
> To: "Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader users list" 
> <reader-users at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 4:44 PM
> Subject: Re: [Reader-users] new KNFB reader user poses questions
> 
> 
> 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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