[Reader-users] Program Philosophy Changes Needed
MARK FELIZ
felizfamily5 at msn.com
Wed Nov 29 21:24:05 CST 2006
Hello Nick:
Now, Now, remember, we live in a I want society. We not only expect our
microwave to cook our meal in ten seconds or less but we expect the
microwave to get the food out of the freezer, unwrap, defrost, cook, keep it
warm till we are good and ready to eat, remind us our meal is waiting, serve
the meal in proportions to our body mass, and ...
What do you think?
Mark Feliz
>From: "W. Nick Dotson" <nickdotson at bellsouth.net>
>Reply-To: Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader users
>list<reader-users at nfbnet.org>
>To: "Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader users
>list"<reader-users at nfbnet.org>
>Subject: Re: [Reader-users] Program Philosophy Changes Needed
>Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2006 12:28:17 -0600
>
>There are "General Purpose" and "Special Purpose" systems. Your desktop or
>notebook PC is General Purpose in nature and intent. The PDA in the
>KNFBR is being used specifically to provide a hardware platform on which
>images captured by the camera are to be recognized, and the recognized text
>read aloud. What don't you understand about the nature of this "Limited
>Purpose" system, as exemplified in the name for it, the Kurzweol National
>Federation of the Blind Reader"?
>
>Nick
>
>On Wed, 29 Nov 2006 10:23:50 -0700, Cory Martin wrote:
>
> Hi,
> As for CPU processing power, when it comes to this software like any
> software should there not be a min system requirements list? Like say,
>you
> can't run it on a PDA that isn't at least 500 or 600 MHZ with 200 Megs of
> on-board memory and some form of storage media? Ovbiously if I had a
>4-year
> old PDA and wanted to run the reader on that I might be asking for a lot,
>I
> just feel that a device is wasted if all it can do is run one program
>like
> the reader. There should at least be a means to exit the application so
>the
> PDA can be used normally, such as with MSP installed to provide speech to
> other areas.
> As for batch scanning, I believe it deserves a place on a new
> features request list if maybe a lower place then say, being able to
> recognize black on white text which is, a more important and much more
> fundamental requirement.
> My only suggestion was that the scanning software not dominate the
> PDA so that it can be used for other things. That way those who want to
>use
> it strictly for reading can do that and those who want to integrate it
>with
> other add-ons or software have that option.
> Cory
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mike Freeman
> Sent: November 29, 2006 8:45 AM
> To: Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader users list
> Subject: Re: [Reader-users] Program Philosophy Changes Needed
>
> Corey:
>
> The problem is procesor power. It takes a helluva lot of power to analyze
> images. So a run-of-the-mil PDA won't cut it.
>
> As far as batch processing goes, there's an inherent inconsistency or,
> rather, assumption in the thinking of many: that is that one will always
>get
>
> the orientation right as one scans pages. To a certain extent, this is a
> matter of practice. But there's always the odd page that doesn't scan
>well.
> And one won't know until long afterward. And, given the limitations of
>the
> PDA and the constraints upon the complexity of the Reader software, it's
>not
>
> feasible at present to go back and edit pages on the PDA. Moreover, it's
> like the old saw of not getting a job without experience while needing a
>job
>
> to get that experience. One needs to analyze the image to know if one got
>a
> good scan and this is the antithesis of batch processing.
>
> Finally, NFB does not have unlimited time, manpower or resources; we must
> put these to work in areas where other devices are not available. While
> reading books with the Reader would be nice, there are other systems that
>do
>
> this more efficiently. In my view, Reader development should concentrate
>on
> making the Reader do what other devices -- yes, even money identifiers --
> don't do. And the more one complicates a device, the more avenues one
> introduces for errors. This is great for tech support people but not so
> great for the rest of us!
>
> That's my take, anyway.
>
> Mike
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Cory Martin" <cory_martin at shaw.ca>
> To: "'Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader users list'"
> <reader-users at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 9:29 PM
> Subject: [Reader-users] Program Philosophy Changes Needed
>
>
> Hello List,
> First off before I get started I would like to point out that I do
> not have one of these devices so thus cannot comment on the overall
> functionality of the device itself. From what I understand of it the
>Reader
> sounds like a very exciting advancement in the way the Visually Impaired
>can
> access information. Keep in mind that the Visually Impaired are not
>really
> capable of reading or writing technically anyway and without technology
>such
> as this that problem becomes almost unsolvable. We finally have a device
> that is hand held no longer tying one to a desk and flatbed scanner.
> When it comes to features why would a batch option be anything but a
> bad idea? In all reality it's not likely one would take the time to scan
>a
> book with the reader unless they could have a way of orienting the camera
> correctly to the page with each page, but just because it might not work
> doesn't mean it shouldn't be there to use if needed.
> My last and final comment is directed more at the developers of the
> Reader itself. It's not really anything more than a suggestion but, for
> those of us who do not need a device that is simplified down to one
> interface, why not design the reader in such a way so that it can be an
> add-on application to the rest of an already existing PDA? I have a PDA
>and
> it works fine but I know I wouldn't want to carry a PDA strictly for
> scanning documents, one specifically for GPS and one for general media
>and
> note taking functions. Can you imagine trying to remember to charge all
>the
> batteries? I believe that there should be a version of the KNFB reader
>made
> available for one who wishes to add it to a standard PDA based on a
> licensing system, and then one can provide their own input device, such
>as a
> recommended camera perhaps sold with the software optionally. Just a
> thought...A PDA should be universal.
> Cory
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Rob Monitor
> Sent: November 28, 2006 10:14 PM
> To: Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader users list
> Subject: Re: [Reader-users] Joined today
>
> Hi, I was wondering how the optacon worked I seen one back in the early
>80's
>
> but did not have the chants to really look at it...Some one was using it
> in a ofice and when I asked about it they said they just got it and did
>not
>
> know that much about it...
> thanks rob
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Evelyn Weckerly" <weckerly at i2k.com>
> To: "Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader users list"
> <reader-users at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 9:54 PM
> Subject: Re: [Reader-users] Joined today
>
>
> > Hi,
> >
> > I had an Optacon thanks to the Mott Foundation. I had it from 1980
> > until I got version 2 of what is now k1000. I finally sold it to
> > someone who desperately wanted a spare because his job depended on
> > that technology.
> >
> > Evelyn
> >
> > At 07:55 PM 11/28/2006, you wrote:
> >>Hi users of the new Kurzweil NFB reader, Ken Lawrence Central Chapter.
> >>Just
> >>joined the list today looking forward to the dialog and the latest
>news
> >>concerning the reader. I'm a bit of an old timer so I go back to
> >>the Optacon's
> >>glory days. just wondering how many users of the new reader used to
>use
> >>the
> >>Optacon? if you did, hope you saw the item in the October monitor
>about
> >>the
> >>Optacon survey. they're looking for users, and people who don't use
> >>there
> >>Optacon any more. they are thinking of putting nonuse Optacons back
>in
> >>to
> >>circulation. if they get enough response to it, they may relaunch
> >>the Optacon
> >>with updated circuitry to make it possible for it to read modern
> >>print formats
> >>and font sizes used today. forget the email address off hand, but
> >>does anyone
> >>on list remember what happened to the voice output that was developed
>at
> >>around the same time as the First Kurzweil readers that was mente for
>the
> >>Optacon? also on a related question, oops, 2 questions, will
> >>future portable
> >>readers have a Braille display incorporated in to it? and also if a
>Car
> >>is
> >>developed for the blind, it seems a form of the Kurzweil reader could
>be
> >>incorporated in to it so that a Street sign could be read or even
> >>the menu at a drive
> >>through. Yeah, it's a great time to be blind Huh? Ken.
> >>
> >>I pledge to participate actively in the efforts of the national
> >>federation
> >>of the blind to achieve equality, opportunity, and security for the
> >>blind; to
> >>support the policies and programs of the federation; and abide by it's
> >>constitution.
> >>
> >>
> >>_______________________________________________
> >>Reader-users mailing list
> >>Reader-users at nfbnet.org
> >>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/reader-users
> >
>
>
>
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