[access-uk] Re stand alone scanners - Fw: [jaws-uk] Re: talking scanners
- From: "Amro Bilal" <amro_bilal@xxxxxxx>
- To: "Access-UK" <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2007 22:53:59 -0000
This very good message was posted on the Jaws list by Tristram today. I
thought it would be of an interest following the recent discussion on this
topic. I'm sure that Tristram wouldn't mind me forwarding it.
Cheers,
Amro
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tristram Llewellyn" <tris-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <jaws-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, January 22, 2007 1:35 PM
Subject: [jaws-uk] Re: talking scanners
> This doesn't really belong on the Jaws list, but I shall give you a quick
> run down as it may be of interest to some others and we do that sort of
> product as a company also.
> There are two broad types of scanning system that turn printed text into
> speech around currently. The first is a dedicated single hardware unit of
> the type made famous years ago by Robotron with its Rainbow unit that
> George Bell's company used to sell. This type of scanner is most popular
> with people who do not wish to interact intensively with a PC for reasons
> of complexity or dexterity. Another market would be public access in
> library where typically a user would typically not always be PC literate
> enough to user the next type of product below. Their advantage is that
> they are simple to user, but a disadvantage is their relative cost and
> lack flexibility. We sell a Freedom Scientific unit called the SARA which
> is a free standing unit of the type mentioned above. Also available but
> from elsewhere is the Portset reader from Portset systems.
>
> The second broad type of product available are software solutions attached
> to a conventional flatbed scanner peripheral device. This type of product
> sub-divides into those solution aimed specifically at visual impairement
> and those that are what might be described as mainstream both these routes
> are cheaper than a dedicated hardware scanner and generally more flexible.
> The solutions targeted at visual impairment attempt to make the priorities
> of accessing material top of their list so frequently will provide one
> button scanning and automatic speech read out of scanned text. Of these
> Sight and Sound sell Kurzweil 1000, which is a very feature rich product.
> Other solutions include Freedom Scientific OpenBook 7.0 which is broadly
> similar although it hasn't been updated so recently, also Dolphin Cicero
> is availabe which does pretty much the same job. The mainstream solutions
> such as Fine Reader or even Omnipage are quite usable with screen readers
> but perhaps less immediatel
> y intuitive, however if cost and occasional use is your main motivational
> factor then these might be worth a look. Kurzweil, Openbook and Cicero
> are worth looking at where speed and usability are important. Kurzweil
> particularly is rather more than just a scanning application as it has
> become partially a reference tool with other productivity aids added on to
> the basic scan and read feature set.
>
> Flatbed scanners are still quite cheap, both Kurzweil and OpenBook like
> Epson scanners so they are generally a good bet anyway but check with the
> software supplier before you buy a specific model for your software.
>
> Regards.
>
> Tristram Llewellyn
> Sight and Sound Technology
> Technical Support
> www.sightandsound.co.uk
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Susan Curry
> To: jaws-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Monday, January 22, 2007 11:17 AM
> Subject: [jaws-uk] talking scanners
>
>
> hi folks,
> can any one advise me on a talking scanner, either worked through the
> computer or a stand alone, which is the best, and if any one has either
> one of these how do they find them.
>
> also has any one ever heard of a talking house alarm? where do i purchase
> one? are they any good? and how much do they cost?
>
> susan
> ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:-
> ** [mailto:jaws-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe]
> ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to:
> ** jaws-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> ** and in the Subject line type
> ** unsubscribe
> ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the
> ** immediately-following link:-
> ** [mailto:jaws-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq]
> ** or send a message, to
> ** jaws-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq
>
>
> ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:-
> ** [mailto:jaws-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe]
> ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to:
> ** jaws-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> ** and in the Subject line type
> ** unsubscribe
> ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the
> ** immediately-following link:-
> ** [mailto:jaws-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq]
> ** or send a message, to
> ** jaws-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq
>
>
** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:-
** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe]
** If this link doesn't work then send a message to:
** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
** and in the Subject line type
** unsubscribe
** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the
** immediately-following link:-
** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq]
** or send a message, to
** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq
Other related posts:
- » [access-uk] Re stand alone scanners - Fw: [jaws-uk] Re: talking scanners