[Reader-users] My Impressions After Hands-On

[James Gashel]

Barbara and all:

The new software has reverse contrast text recognition, which now reads
light letters on a darker background.  It is really cool.  

Several weeks ago, when I first tried it out, I took a picture of the wall
beside the ATM I normally use.  The wall is blue and has silver colored
letters to tell you what services are available.  The letters are about an
inch or more high, quite large.  The whole sign starts about 8 feet high and
comes down to about 4 feet off the ground.  It stops where the envelope slot
is.  

Anyway, I decided to try the Reader, so I stood back about 8 feet and simply
snapped the picture.  What do you know, it read the entire sign flawlessly,
and even read the words on the envelope slot.  I was absolutely
flabbergasted.  

Also, I should mention that the new software has an express mode, which you
obtain by turning on the Reader with F1, F4, rather than F1, F2, which we
use for standard mode.  In express mode, which is really neat, all of the
arrow buttons and enter become one large button.  Pressing any of them alone
or in combination takes a picture.  They are used as pause and resume
reading after the picture has been taken and text is being read.  This will
be a really great mode with the Reader up on the stand.  It is very very
fast.  

See you in Atlanta.  

-----Original Message-----
From: reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Barbara Loos
Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 11:57 PM
To: Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader user list
Subject: Re: [Reader-users] My Impressions After Hands-On

Yea!  Thank you!

Barbara Loos


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "James Gashel" <jim at knfbreader.com>
To: "'Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader user list'" 
<reader-users at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 10:10 PM
Subject: Re: [Reader-users] My Impressions After Hands-On


> Evelyn and all:
>
> My intention is to perform upgrades at the NFB's reader sales and
> demonstration area in the exhibit hall, beginning on Sunday, July 1. 
> Please
> be sure to bring your SD card so we can trade it for a new one.
>
> Thanks, J. G.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Evelyn Weckerly
> Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 12:59 PM
> To: Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader user list
> Subject: Re: [Reader-users] My Impressions After Hands-On
>
> Jim,
>
> Will we be able to pick up the upgrade at convention? I don't mean online
> either. It would be great if we could.
>
> Evelyn
>
> At 07:54 AM 6/26/2007, you wrote:
>>Hi joe and all,  I believe we are only days away from release 3.8,
>>which includes reverse contrast text recognitionl  I have read lots of
>>things that our present software will not read.  Please Stand by for
>>more info.
>>thanks, James Gashel
>>
>>sent from my wireless dash
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: "Joseph LaFauci" <joeleah at iquest.net>
>>To: "Reader-Users at Nfbnet. Org" <reader-users at nfbnet.org>
>>Sent: 6/26/2007 7:02 AM
>>Subject: [Reader-users] My Impressions After Hands-On
>>
>>Hi all,
>> >From my perspective, the KNFB reader has pros and cons.  I was able
>> >to get
>>my hands on one yesterday after having read all of the available
>>on-line info.
>>It is certainly the most portable device currently available and when
>>you get a good picture,  it does a good job of recognizing and reading
> text.
>>I was disappointed in the lack of reverse text capability.  I think
>>that should have been in place by now.
>>The 16 or so inches focusing distance is understandable due to the use
>>of a digital camera, but I personally would have opted for a scanning
>>wand.  I know this would make the unit a two-piece system, but when in
>>a case, the overall size wouldn't be any greater.
>>I have been a user of the Optacon for many years, so I guess I'm
>>telling my age, but the flexibility of that old machine was hard to
>>beat.  Its primary disadvantages were its size and the line-by-line
>>reading makes it much slower.  However, you could read almost anything 
>>with
> it.
>>A PDA with something like a Docu-Edge scanner and robust OCR such as is
>>in the KNFB Reader would be my dream machine.
>>
>>Joe
>>
>>
>>
>>Joseph LaFauci
>>
>>E-Mail: joeleah at iquest.net
>>
>>Web: http://www.joeleah.com <http://www.joeleah.com/>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>[truncated by sender]
>>_______________________________________________
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>>Reader-users at nfbnet.org
>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/reader-users
>
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