[Reader-users] An Introduction And A Question About Positioning Document For Reading

[James Gashel]

Hi Pam:

The best advice is to be far enough away from the target, about 18 inches
for a full size page.  

The reader is very forgiving.  It takes care of focus itself.  Shaking or
excessive movement at the time the picture snaps could be a problem.  It is
also important to have the Reader level.  Don't be too concerned with being
rotated relative to the page, but being tilted end to end or side to side
can decrease the quality of the result.  Being too close to the target will
also decrease quality.  

Other than that, practice is a good idea.  Try working with the field of
view report as a training tool.  Listen for the values it gives you.  If you
have the image filled to 75 percent or above on a full-size page, you are
generally too close.  Below 50 percent filled would be a bit too far back.  

If you are rotated more than ten percent relative to the page, this might be
an indication of being tilted, not just twisted.  Work at the field of view
report until it tells you that the image on a full size page is about 60
percent full and you are between zero and five degrees relative to the page.




Thanks, J. G.
*************
James Gashel
Vice President of Business Development
K-NFB Reading Technology, Inc.
telephone (443) 854-0854
toll free (866) 836-9988
fax (781) 263-9999
jim at knfbreader.com

-----Original Message-----
From: reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Pam Drake
Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2007 1:00 AM
To: 'Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader user list'
Subject: [Reader-users] An Introduction And A Question About Positioning
Document For Reading

Hello To All,

My name is Pam Drake, and I purchased the Reader a few weeks ago.  Due to a
small problem I got myself into and which was quickly solved with the help
of James Gashel and some sighted friends, I have not been able to practice
as much as I would have liked.  The problem was that somehow I managed to
get the camera in backwards.  No, they say it can't be done; but leave it to
me to be the first one to accomplish something weird!  <sigh>  <lol>  

For the first time last Sunday I was able to get a sighted person to watch
me position the camera and text for reading.  My distance judgment is a bit
off, and I really don't want to have to buy a stand unless absolutely
necessary, as I don't want to compromise the current portability.  

Dave's mother was watching me and helping me position the camera for reading
various pages; one a birthday card, the other a standard sheet.  I used the
view finder to allow her to help me position the camera.  She noticed that,
on at least two occasions, just as I was about to take the picture my hand
moved slightly and the focus was lost.  I was unaware of this.  Once I got a
very good reading, another time not so good.  Dave's mother was very
impressed, but came away with the impression that positioning the Reader can
be tricky.  With my distance judgment I know it may be a little rougher for
me than for some, but I'm determined to learn to take good pictures.  

Does anyone have any suggestions to help me gauge judgment and focus?  I
have been told that the field of view report, while a good tool, isn't a
truly accurate predictor of how the picture and ultimate quality of the
resulting text will turn out.  I would really be interested in anyone's
suggestions.  I have been reading the list and know that people are using
the machine successfully, and I am a rather proficient Optacon user; so I am
looking forward to doing so myself.  

Many thanks in advance, and I want to thank my friend Shannon for giving me
some pointers, and Cindy for showing me the Reader for the first time.  




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