For the Blind: Talking Camera Can Help Read From: Associated Press By: Jamie Stengle A whole new world opened up for Tommy Craig as he tested a new handheld device for the blind that converts print ot audio. Craig was able to "read" everything from menus to cooking directions by positioning the readers over print and taking a picture. In seconds, the device's synthetic voice read the printed message to him. "The reader provides access to materials that a lot of times you just didn't read," said Craig, 51, of Austin, who was one of about 500 blind people who tested the device over the past few months. "It certainly makes you more independent." The National Federation of the Blind plans to put the device on sale July 1, 2006 when its annual meeting gets underway in Dallas. "It's not quite like having a pair of eyes that work, but it's headed in that direction." said James Gashel, executive director for strategic initiatives at the Maryland-based National Federation of the Blind. The device, combining a personal digital assistant and a digital camera, was developed by by inventor Ray Kurzweil and the membership organization of more than 50,000 blind people. It's been dubbed the Kurzweil-National Federation of the Blind Reader. "This is really the hottest new technology to be developed for blind people in the last 30 years," said Gashel, who calls it "the camera that talks." About three decades ago, Kurzweil invented the first device that could convert text into audio. It was about the size of a washing machine. That gave way to software that could be used by a computer and scanners to perform the same function. Thge latest device, about the size of a peperback book, introduces portability. "It's always been considered desirable to have a reading machine that a blind person could carry along with them," Kurzweil said. "We're getting phenomonela feedback." There are about 10 million blind and visually impaired people nationwide, and that number is expected to double in the next 30 years as baby boomers age. The device also can be useful for those who have limited vision, said Marc Maurer, president of the National Federation of the Blind. The federation expects that the reader, which costs about $3,500 , will be a big hit among the 3,000 participants at the annual meeting. It will be sold through Massachusetts-based Kurzweil Educational Systems and will be available on the Internet and in stores. --- Launching the Kurzweil - National Federation of the Blind Reader Members attending the 2006 convention of the National Federation of the Blind will participate in the historic launch of the Kurzweil-National Federation of the Blind Reader. This is the most exciting new technology to become available for blind people in the past thirty years. Using the combined power of a small computer and a digital camera to create this handheld reader, the world of the printed word is now being opened to the blind in a way it has never been before. From: http://nfb.org/convent/agenda2006.doc --- Handheld device helps the blind read From: Associated Press - 06/26/2006 For the blind, it's another tool to help them lead independent lives. A new handheld device is out that converts the printed word to audio. It also includes a personal digital assistant and a digital camera. Texas man Tommy Craig was one of about 500 blind people who tested the camera that talks. He found he was able to read everything from menus to cooking directions by positioning the reader over print and taking a picture. The head of the National Federation of the Blind calls the device the hottest new technology for blind people in two decades. It will go on sale next weekend at the group's annual meeting. Read this short article at: http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/14905204.htm Links: Tommy Craig http://www.nfb-texas.org/contact.html The Kurzweil-National Federation of the Blind Reader http://nfb.org/blind/bof_sum06.htm Technology to Help the Blind Read http://www.kpvi.com/print/printnews.cfm?ID=33910&name=headlines Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader http://www.osdesk.org/projects/webappfx/pages/index.cgi?action=viewnews&id=22 http://www.nfb.org/knfbreader/ http://www.knfbreader.com/ --- Camera reads for the blind 07/10/2006 Technology that scans and reads printed material to the blind is not new. But having that technology available in the palm of your hand is a new innovation that will allow the blind to "read" restaurant menus, ATM receipts, or an airline seat assignment. Combining a digital camera with a personal data assistant housed in a small case, the Kurzweil-National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Reader uses character recognition software and text-to-speech conversion. The reader's camera is held over any piece of print and the user snaps a picture. In seconds, the contents of the printed document is played in clear, synthetic speech. Thousands of pages can be captured, read, and discarded, or stored for later reading. The device can transfer files to a computer or Braille- aware PDA, and has a headset jack for quiet playback. The device will be sold through Kurzweil Educational Systems for about $3,500, and soon will be available in stores and through the Internet.