Hi Folks I had an oppurtunity to have a look at it. I'll give my observations: 1) It is not a stand alone device, it has to be connected to a computer. 2) It is using Fine Reader as the OCR 3) It is using Microsoft SAPI as its synthesizer. 4) The device has a camera like the web cam fitted on the top and is like a lamp shade like a pyramid structure.
Frankly, I can't understand the portability aspect made in the claim nor can I figure out in what way device is different. The only thing I can conclude is in making of the pyramid shaped casing as far as inovation front is concerned. It is all that can be claimed for. They were not able to tell how they were proposing to make a multi lingual OCR with the existing Fine reader. Rest I'll leave it to you'll to make a judgement of it. Harish. ----- Original Message ----- From: "sameer latey" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Access India" <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, December 18, 2006 6:26 AM Subject: [AI] CSIO develops mobile scanner > > > Dear Friends, > > > > I am reposting an article from Express India regarding > what is a mobile > scanner developed by CSIO, Chandigarh. > > > > I also have a request to Mr. Ramkrishna in particular > and to the members in > general. > > > > In case anyone has the contact details of CSIO, could > you please forwardd > them to me at [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > Thanks in advance. > > > > Express India > > Sunday, December 17, 2006 > > > > Braille outdated, city institute out with device that > scans, reads text > > > > By Neelam Sharma > > > > Chandigarh, December 17: IN an effort to provide > reading material and help > visually impaired persons from depending on Braille, > city-based Central > Scientific > > Instruments Organisation (CSIO) has developed a new > Hand Held Reading > Machine that can scan and read out texts. > > > > Developed over three years, the Ministry of > Communications-funded project > has been built in collaboration with C-DAC, Noida. > > > > According to CSIO scientists, two pre-fitted cameras > in the device scan the > text matter, which is then read out by a special > software. > > > > The CSIO has already filed a patent for it, and > scientists there said it is > likely to cost less than Rs 50,000. > > > > The machine's inventor, Dr H K Sardana, told Newsline: > "The device can be > held with ease by a visually impaired person as the > text is scanned by the > two > > cameras. And even as the text is being scanned, one > can listen to it at the > same time." > > > > According to the CSIO scientist, one does not need to > learn Braille to use > the device. > > > > Sardana said the device weighs less than 500 grams, > and a visually impaired > person just needs to hold the machine vertically, > place it on a book and > move > > it as per the text. The cameras scan the text as the > device moves on paper. > > > > According to scientists, the device can at present > read English and Hindi, > though work is on to make it adaptable to regional > languages, too, in > collaboration > > with C-DAC. Interestingly, the scientists are also > developing a version to > read "Indian accent English", as the feedback received > says "pure English > accent" > > is a little difficult to understand. > > > > "We have conducted first-phase trials at the Institute > of Blind in Sector 26 > here, and the results were satisfactory," Sardana > said. "We are at present > > conducting second-phase trials at the National > Institute of Visual Handicap, > Dehradun." > > > > Sardana said CSIO is also working on enlarging the > device's scope so that it > can scan and read newspapers as well. The current > version cannot read > columns, > > as found in newspapers. > > > > Concept already a big hit > > > > The invention is yet to move out of CSIO's laboratory, > but that does not > stop the target group from sending in requests. K > Ramkrishna, a general > manager > > with IDBI Bank in Mumbai, told Newsline over telephone > that he has written > to CSIO, inquiring about the device since "it is more > advanced and > user-friendly > > than anything we have in the country at present". > > > > A visually impaired person, Ramkrishna said he got his > professional > qualifications - an MBA and MA Economics and > Statistics - without learning > Braille. > > > > "Visually challenged people would want to own this > machine," Sardana said, > reacting to the plethora of requests, "now we only > need a suitable marketing > > agency to take the machine from our laboratory." > Sardana said CSIO is > receiving a majority of the requests from teachers, > advocates and trainers > from across > > India. > > > > http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=213588 > > > > Regards > > Sameer Latey > Mumbai, India > Mob. 9867414004 > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around > http://mail.yahoo.com > > To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > please visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
