Reading Printed Material

Introduction

It is very useful to have some way to independently read printed material such as letters and bills. There are several options depending on your residual vision and how and where you want to read print:

• Video magnifiers. These are great if you have adequate residual vision. They magnify and enhance the contrast of text such as inverting it to bright characters on a dark background. They do not rely on Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and so can handle handwriting and even diagrams. Some models are read only while others have space for you to use a pen and thus write as well as read. There are portable models, models which connect to a computer, and desktop models with large monitor screens. The most sophisticated models will fold the magnified text so that you do not have to move it or the magnifier around while you read the text.


• Scanner attached to a computer. Most scanners come with basic Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software which converts print into a text format which you can read and edit using a screen reader on your computer. This basic OCR software can handle print in normal fonts with simple layout but cannot handle complex layouts or handwriting. You can buy extra software which performs useful functions like doing optical character recognition for documents with complex multi-column layout and embedded images. They can scan such documents even if the page is upside down and they can scan multiple page documents. But even this extra software cannot understand handwriting.


• Digital camera attached to a computer. These do a better job of scanning bound books than the usual flatbed scanner. For most flatbed scanners the scanner glass is surrounded by a frame so that you cannot position bound books so that the scanned area extends to the edge of the page adjacent to the spine of the book. You can instead use a digital camera to capture an image of a book page and then use optical character recognition to convert that page into text.


• Digital camera in a mobile phone. If you own a suitable high end mobile phone which runs the Symbian Series 60 operating system you can install software on your phone which will help you take a picture of the printed material and will then do optical character recognition on that picture to turn it into synthetic speech. You can take this anywhere and so read material like restaurant menus and bus time tables. You can buy bundled packages which include the mobile phone and all the software pre-installed and ready to use.

Video magnifiers

Video magnifiers, or CCTVs as they are sometimes called, use a camera and a screen to magnify things electronically. They are mostly used for reading and writing but can help with any task where magnification would help. There are several kinds of video magnifier, including models that can share a monitor with a computer, portable models and units that can focus on distant objects such as signs and notice boards.

The Royal National Institute of Blind people (RNIB) supply a wide range of video magnifiers. Below are details of representatives of each type of video magnifier:

• MAX Black and White TV based video magnifier.
  This is the cheapest video magnifier in the RNIB catalogue. It is typical of the low cost TV-based video magnifiers. It is about the size of a computer mouse and connects to a domestic television. This simple, yet effective tool enables you to use your existing TV set to read printed items, bills, newspapers, books, recipes, instructions and much more. It has three video modes, grey scale monochrome, inverted i.e. white characters on a black background, and enhanced contrast black characters on a white background. The effective magnification is between 15X and 28X depending on the size of your TV screen. You scan the "mouse" across the source material. It takes some practice to accurately scan a line of text. You cannot use this magnifier to help with writing as the camera is in direct contact with the material you are reading. The monochrome model costs about £90 and a colour model costs about £120.


• SenseView Light portable video magnifier
  The RNIB sell 12 different portable video magnifiers ranging in price from £350 to £1,195. The SenseView Light costs £385. It is the first video magnifier to use a new type of screen, AMOLED, which has greater brightness and contrast than LCD. This AMOLED screen is of particular benefit to portable video magnifiers as they can still be used in high ambient light such as when you are outside. It is also very compact, roughly the same size as a pack of cards so it will easily fit in your pocket or handbag, enabling you to carry it with you wherever you go. It magnifies from 3.5X to 10.5X. It has a large depth of field camera, meaning that you can lift it away from the page to around 5cm and it will still remain in focus. It has viewing modes of colour, monochrome and three high contrast display modes including white text on a black background. The built-in LED lights can be turned on, off or to half brightness enabling you to adjust it to different types of paper. This is particularly useful when looking at glossy paper and images which are best viewed with the LED's turned off to prevent reflection. It has an image capture feature which lets you freeze the image at arms length and bring the screen closer to read. Perfect for checking price tags, noticeboards or timetables. The battery lasts about 3 hours before needing a re-charge.


• Optelec FarView portable video magnifier.
  The Optelec FarView is the most expensive portable video magnifier from the RNIB and costs £1,195. It is a lightweight video magnifier for both close up and distance magnification. It can be used to enlarge magazines, newspapers and books as well as objects in the distance such as arrivals boards, posters or bus numbers. When using close up mode it has a magnification from 3X to 12X. In distance mode magnification is from 2.7X to 42X. The TV-out socket enables you to connect it to a TV to give even greater magnification and more comfortable reading. For example, a 20 inch TV will give close up magnification of between 14X and 56X. It has five high contrast colour modes; black on white, white on black, yellow on black, yellow on blue, and blue on yellow. These high contrast colour modes remove shades to leave clearer text that is easier to read. Its LED lights help give a bright, clear image regardless of the surrounding light. They can also be turned off so you can look at glossy images such as a photograph or magazine without the reflection from the LED lights. Its auto focus image capture function allows storage and recall of 100 images. The automatic scroll feature enables you to read an A4 or letter size document quickly and easily. The FarView enables you to manipulate the image and adjust it so the lines of text are parallel to the screen. Then by indicating the left and right margins you can read line by line and move to the start of the next line at the touch of a button. Images can be transferred to your computer using the included USB cable. Its fold out stand enables you to handwrite underneath the camera and view your writing on screen. When reading a book or document the stand can be used to hold the screen at an angle and provide a more comfortable reading position. The rechargeable battery provides up to four hours of continuous use.


• BigReader desktop video magnifier.
  The RNIB offers 9 desktop video magnifiers ranging from £500 to £3,000. The BigReader monochrome at £500 and colour at £650 are the cheapest. It is an easy to use magnifying device that is complete with a 17 inch TFT viewing screen and camera. With 17 times magnification users see a crisp image that is easy to read. Developed initially with libraries in mind it has a robust design to cope with daily use. The BigReader has two versions; monochrome and full colour. The colour model has three display modes; full colour, black text on a white background and white text on a black background.


• myReader desktop video magnifier.
  At nearly £3,000 the myReader is the most expensive desk top video magnifier offered by the RNIB. It is a mains operated, low vision, autofocus, full colour, auto-reader which scans and captures the entire page and presents it to users for reading. myReader enables people with low vision to go beyond reading bills and writing shopping lists, to read their favourite books with ease. With one touch of a button myReader captures an image of whatever is on the viewing table and displays it on the screen according to your settings. You can display either a column layout (wrapped paragraph), row layout (continuous line) or word layout (one word at a time). You can scroll in one direction without going back and forth to find the next line. You can scroll automatically at the speed you select, or you can set it to scroll through your document manually a screen at a time. It has a super sharp built-in 15 inch LCD screen giving a magnification of 7-45 times. The height and tilt angle of the screen can be adjusted for comfortable viewing. myReader folds up into a compact unit and is easily transportable.


• onoMouse computer based video magnifier.
  The MonoMouse USB (£275)and ColorMouse USB (£370) video magnifiers connect to any Windows XP or Vista computer using a USB 2 port. They are simple to use, simply install the included software and plug it into a spare USB port. Perfect for reading schoolwork, magazines, books, receipts, instructions and much more. the MonoMouse USB and ColorMouse USB are hand-held video magnifiers that are similar in size and shape to a computer mouse. MonoMouse USB enables you to see a black and white monochrome image of material you are viewing, ColorMouse USB gives a full colour image of material you are viewing. You size the viewing window in the normal way and scan the mouse over the material to be viewed. YOU cannot use this to help with writing.


• Clearview video magnifiers for PC.
  There are three models in the Clearview range that are specifically designed to work alongside your computer. Prices range from £1,350 to £2,300. All three models display the magnified image on your computer screen. Two of the models allow you to switch between computer view and magnifier view. The third model allows you to view both at the same time. All three models have large, centrally located, controls mounted on the reading table and a large magnification range making it suitable for a wide range of needs and reading material. Its auto focus camera makes it suitable not just for reading but to examine three dimensional objects such as your prescription, mobile phone or food packaging. Magnification 2.6X to 50X. Easy glide reading table which can also be fixed in position at a touch of a button. Simply place your book or object on the table and the magnified image will appear on the screen. All models offer an extensive range of display modes including bright characters on a dark background. You can use this model to help with writing as well as reading.

Scanner attached to a computer

If you are blind the cheapest way to read print is to use a low cost scanner attached to your computer, in conjunction with Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software and a screen reader. You can buy scanners or all-in-one printer/scanners for around £60. However be careful in your choice as some scanners and all-in-one printer/scanners have a built-in screen which you use to choose what you want to do. These screens are inaccessible so be sure to avoid such models. The author uses a Cannon MP260 all-in-one printer/scanner which Amazon will sell you for about £70. This comes with basic optical character recognition (OCR) software for both the Apple Macintosh and Windows computers. On the Apple Macintosh this software (MP Navigator) does a good job with good quality print with simple layout, but you do have to put the document the right way round on the scanner glass, which could be a problem if you are not sure which way up the document is. If you get nonsense results try turning the document upside down. Using this basic software you have to scan multi-page documents a page at a time and combine the results. The basic software did not cope well with a typical page of the "Radio Times". This basic OCR software is inaccessible on Windows, even using a full function screen reader. However the author used to own a Lexmark all-in-one printer/scanner and the basic OCR software in this package was accessible on Windows.

You can purchase Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software for both the Apple Macintosh and Windows which is fully accessible and which copes with the typical "Radio Times" page even if it is put on the scanner glass upside down. On Windows ABBYY fine reader version 10 works well with the free screen readers to convert printed material into various document formats. It costs about £90 and you can download a 15 day free trial version. On the Apple Macintosh ABBYY fine reader Express edition for MAC is accessible using Voice Over and costs about £80. There is no downloadable time limited free trial version. It does not support all scanners so if you have an old scanner you may also need to install VueScan scanning software for the MAC. This supports nearly all scanners and costs about $40. You can download a trial version. You can direct the result of the VueScan scan to ABBYY fine reader to do the OCR processing. VueScan alone provides limited OCR capability but cannot cope with upside down documents or the Radio Times page.

One problem of standard flatbed scanners is that they are not good with bound books, especially thick books. This is because they have a frame around the scanner glass which prevents you positioning the book so that the scanner will scan right up to the edge of the page adjacent to the spine of the book. Xerox used to supply the Reading Edge scanner whose glass extended right to the edge of the scanner but that is no longer available. The solution is to use a digital camera with optical character recognition software.

Digital camera attached to a computer

If you want to convert bound books, especially thick books, into text using optical character recognition software you should look at using a digital camera with your OCR software. This is because the frame around the glass of a flatbed scanner prevents you positioning a thick bound book so that the scanner can scan right to the edge of the page adjacent to the spine of the book. With thin paper back books you can usually open the book enough to place the page of interest flat on the scanner, but this is not possible with thick bound books without risking damage to the book.

The ABBYY fine reader software mentioned in the prior section will convert images from a digital camera into text. You could thus perhaps connect a standard autofocus digital camera to your computer, photograph each page of a book, and use your OCR software to convert the images into text. However the mechanics of reliably doing this could be difficult.

The Eye-Pal is a commercial device which uses a digital camera connected to OCR software on a computer. It claims that blind users know exactly where to place the material to be scanned because they can touch and feel L-shaped edges. The foldable stand designed for the blind holds a digital camera over the printed matter. The camera is always at the exact distance needed to create a clear image. Eye-Pal's patented motion detector allows scanning a bound book at 20 pages per minute. You turn a page over; wait half a second for the shutter sound, turn again and again, it's that easy. However, it costs about $2,000.

Mobile phone based readers

Perhaps the most flexible and useful reading device for the blind is the KNFB reader mobile. This is software which you can install on a high end mobile phone which uses the Symbian Series 60 operating system to read aloud printed material of all types, such as pages of a book, instructions on packaging, collection times on a post box, menus in a restaurant, and so on. The software first helps you to use the phone to take a photograph of the material of interest. It tells you which edges of the material are in view and advises you how much to rotate the phone to properly align the material. You then take the photograph and a few seconds later the phone will start reading the text aloud using high quality optical character recognition and speech synthesis. The software is very forgiving and will cope with material in columns, or that is upside down or sideways on. If you also buy the screen reader option you can use all the phone's other functions such as contacts list, text messages, appointments calender, global positioning system, voice recording, and music player.

Sight and Sound Technologies will sell you a complete package of the KNFB reader software plus an appropriate mobile phone plus the Talks 60 software to enable you to access all the other features of the mobile phone for around £1200. Everything is pre-installed and ready to go. If you also install the Loadstone free GPS software for mobile phones your mobile phone also becomes a navigation aid.