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Intel spins text-to-speech device for the visually impaired
2009-11-10 Article Rating:   / 8
Intel announced a Linux-based device with optical character recognition and text-to-speech technology. Designed for visually impaired or dyslexic users, the Atom-based Intel Reader is equipped with a five-megapixel camera for snapping photographs of text, which it then simultaneously displays and reads aloud, says Intel.
Developed by the Intel Digital Health Group, the Intel Reader is the brainchild of Intel researcher Ben Foss, one of an estimated 20 percent of people in the U.S. with dyslexia. The device also targets users with learning disabilities or vision problems. In the U.S. alone, some 55 million people have dyslexia, vision problems, or other serious reading handicaps, the company says.  Intel Reader The Intel Reader is equipped with 512MB RAM and a 4GB solid state drive (SSD), of which 2GB is available for user storage. This is said to be enough to hold 600 image-enhanced "processed pages" (with up to 20 pages waiting to be processed), or up to 500,000 text-only pages.  Intel Reader detail The five-megapixel autofocus camera is designed to offer a focus range of four inches to 1.1 yard (10cm to 1m), says Intel. An optional Intel Portable Capture Station is available for scanning larger amounts of text, the company adds.
Additional features include speakers, earphones, a USB 2.0 port, and a mini-USB port for charging. A six-cell lithium-ion battery supports four hours of text-to-speech activity or five days' standby, says the company. The Intel Reader supports a variety of text formats, as well as MP3 and "DAISY" digital talking book audio formats. Specifications listed for the Intel Reader include:
Intel Reader demo on YouTube Stated key Intel Reader developer Foss, director of access technology, "As someone who is part of this dyslexic community, I am thrilled to be able to help level the playing field for people who, like me, do not have easy access to the printed word. Feelings of loneliness are often the experience of not being able to read easily. We hope to open the doors for people in these communities." Availability The Intel Reader will be available in the U.S. for a suggested price of $1,500 through select resellers, including CTL, Don Johnston Incorporated, GTSI, Howard Technology Solutions, and HumanWare, says Intel. More information may be found here. Related Stories:
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