[access-uk] Re: Scanner recommendations
- From: Glenn Tookey <glenn.tookey@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2011 13:56:05 +0000
Hi Larry
No problem with you opinion, just trying to make sure that I understand what is
going on so that I can drive better solutions out of the manufacturers,
solutions that actually meet people's needs.
Control L turns on the camera light on the Pearl, this normally offers a decent
solution for all but the smaller or fainter text. The camera height should not
be adjusted on the Pearl, it is set up at the height for optimal results on a
document up to about 1.5 to 2 inches thick, above that you may need to raise
the camera to offset an usually thick document / book.
You are correct about the scanner - with no sight the only sure way of knowing
the scan environment is correct is to put in under the lid of a scanner.
Thanks for the feedback
Regards
Glenn
-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
LaMcAs
Sent: 22 June 2011 22:54
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Scanner recommendations
Hi Glynn
I didn't dispute the fact that Open Book does an incredibly quick capture and
presented results within 3 seconds.
What I was getting at with both the Pearl and the Hovercam that you could not
keep the images to reproduce, either to print out or to email or scan to others.
When I recently emailed a problem to S & S I got a reply saying that there was
not enough ambient light in the room, but OB still managed to do its job. The
same would apply to the Hovercam, but how on earth is a blind person supposed
to know how much light there is where they are scanning? I myself live in a
basement flat, and have a very badly lit room, but for me I like it like that,
I hate light and therefore only put a light on when absolutely necessary. Even
with a daylight lamp on whilst capturing images, it didn't really improve the
retained image file.
Ultimately the only sure way a blind person is going to get a 100% good scan
suitable for reproduction and storing on their pc is with a scanner, because
the light is kept within the unit and outside light is kept out. Also with a
scanner the object will be correctly placed. Ok with the Pearl you at least
have an edge to line up with, but with the Hovercam you only have the markings
on a flimsy rubber mat, which wouldn't last long, and you have to have
everything placed just right. I thought I had the Hovercam in the correct place
but that wasn't what the screen told me, even though I used the cropping
facility in the Hovercam software.
Furthermore there was a quote in the manual "you may have to adjust the height
of the camera to get better results", excuse me what? How on earth is a blind
person supposed to be able to do this?
I'm not disputing what the Pearl can do, and this is just my honest opinion.
I have lost out with the Hovercam, but someone has to try it else we will never
know. I'm sure that all through our lives we buy things thinking they will do
that job exactly, and often we find that we've wasted money because it didn't
do what we thought it would. I'm glad I only spent £240 on the Hovercam as
opposed to the price of the Pearl. But it is still something we've all done
sighted or non-sighted, and we learn from our lessons, and many VIP's have
"VIP" specific stuff in their loft for that same reason.
This is just my honest opinion.
Larry & Flax GD (Guide Dog)
& Elliot RTG (Retired Guide Dog)
London, UK
-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Glenn Tookey
Sent: 22 June 2011 09:58
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Scanner recommendations
Hi All,
I am surprised at the comments regarding the Pearl / Open Book. As the UK
distributor we have sold many and demonstrated countless times. It is true with
any OCR product that there are a number of issues that can affect the quality
of the output, but I have found the Pearl image to be pretty consistent and
Open Books feature of being able to set up the screen to have the font size,
colour, spacing etc to be useful for those with Low Vision.
The capability to switch from exact view of the document to text view is also
helpful.
I am very willing to demonstrate the Pearl / Openbook for anyone seriously
looking to purchase this type of product - or anyone visiting Sight Village in
Birmingham should come to the Sight and sound Technology stand and have a play.
Even better, bring the document / book type that you are trying to read and we
can see how it does. It does not do everything well, but it does plenty and is
more portable and far faster than a scanner.
OpenBook cannot save a document directly to PDF. It can save to .doc; .txt;
.html; .rtf and some others.
Regards
Glenn
(Sight and Sound Technology)
-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Ibrahim Gucukoglu
Sent: 21 June 2011 22:52
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Scanner recommendations
Hi Jim.
Sure, the scanner I use is the LiDe 200, though I think this has now been
superceeded by an updated model, the 201. As these are colour photo scanners,
unless you need the highest resolution the 201 supports, any of the LiDe range
will be absolutely fine for document scanning. They're fully Windows 7
compatible and will auto install, you dont even need to use the software that
comes with them unless you need to use the easy function buttons. You can also
stand the scanner on its edge with the included stand for a space saving
solution.
All the best, Ibrahim.
-----Original Message-----
From: jim mcauslan
Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2011 9:03 PM
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Scanner recommendations
Hi Ibrahim,
Yes I take your point. It's not portable at all.
Could you give me the details of your scanner. Sounds neat!
Jim McAuslan from sunny Findhorn
jim.mcauslan@xxxxxxx
minds are like parachutes
work best when open
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ibrahim Gucukoglu" <ibrahim_gucukoglu@xxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2011 8:54 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Scanner recommendations
> Hi Jim.
>
> Yes, but how portable is your scanner. My Canon is stoe and go, it
> only needs power from a USB port to give me full page scans in under
> 20 seconds. That might seem a long time, but believe me when your
> going too and fro in college as I will be doing from this September,
> I'll need that portability.
>
> All the best, Ibrahim.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: jim mcauslan
> Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2011 8:16 PM
> To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [access-uk] Re: Scanner recommendations
>
> Hi Ibrahim,
>
> I have been using the Optibook flat bed with the book edge and I
> haven't been so pleased since I got my first "reading edge" scanner
> all those years ago.
>
> Jim McAuslan from sunny Findhorn
> jim.mcauslan@xxxxxxx
> minds are like parachutes
> work best when open
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ibrahim Gucukoglu" <ibrahim_gucukoglu@xxxxxxxx>
> To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2011 8:12 PM
> Subject: [access-uk] Re: Scanner recommendations
>
>
>> Hi Larry.
>>
>> Thanks very much for this, I appreciate your frank and honest views.
>> I'll stick to using my Canon flatbed which is USB powered and has
>> never let me down yet. I use it in combination with Fine Reader and
>> I get excellent results every time straight in to Microsoft Word.
>>
>> All the best, Ibrahim.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: LaMcAs
>> Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2011 3:13 PM
>> To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Subject: [access-uk] Re: Scanner recommendations
>>
>> Hi Ibraham
>>
>> Well after working with the Pearl with Open Book 9 and the Hovercam
>> T5V I'm convinced the way for VIP's to go is to stick with flatbed
>> scanners.
>>
>> I've just spent 2 hours "trying" to get paper straight with the
>> Hovercam and it is all guesswork and trying to line things up with
>> the flimsy mat (for which they ask an extra $20 for) whereas the
>> Pearl at least gives you a clean straight edge to line up with.
>>
>> The results were rubbish, to me I couldn't even see the image that
>> clearly on screen but scanned (took the pictures) set at the highest
>> resolution and then ran the images through Abby FineReader 10 and
>> Paperport 12 and I did not get any properly recognisable text.
>>
>> Remembering that most VIP's will also possibly want to keep the
>> images on their pc for later use, neither images taken using the
>> Pearl nor T5 are suitable for reproducing - still the only sure way
>> to get an exact copy, providing items are put on the scanner
>> properly, is
to scan!
>>
>> So as I don't have a need for a colour printer of any sort I'm
>> sticking with the Samsung AIO Laser printers as they save on space
>> too.
>>
>> Hope this helps you make up your mind, all negative I know but that's
>> the honest truth.
>>
>> Larry & Flax GD (Guide Dog)
>> & Elliot RTG (Retired Guide Dog)
>> London, UK
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
>> Behalf Of Ibrahim Gucukoglu
>> Sent: 27 March 2011 05:46
>> To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Subject: [access-uk] Re: Scanner recommendations
>>
>> Hi Larry.
>>
>> I for one am extremely interested in this, so let us know how you get
>> on with it. I do however have reservations about ordering from the
>> US because of a recent bad experience, so let us know also how much
>> it all costs when UK import taxes are taken in to account.
>>
>> All the best, Ibrahim.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: LaMcAs
>> Sent: Saturday, March 26, 2011 7:05 PM
>> To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Subject: [access-uk] Re: Scanner recommendations
>>
>> A new camera just out is the HovercamT5V (similar to that of the
>> Pearl by Freedom Scientific)(and soon to be sold by Serotek for $500
>> when it is $319.99).
>> www.thehovercam.com
>>
>> I'm awaiting mine to arrive!
>>
>>
>> Larry & Elliot GD (Guide Dog)
>> London, UK
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
>> Behalf Of chris hallsworth
>> Sent: 26 March 2011 18:00
>> To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Subject: [access-uk] Scanner recommendations
>>
>> Good evening all.
>> I would like recommendations on a portable scanner that is USB
>> powered only please. I need the ability to scan images and save to a
>> PDF file.
>> The reason I am asking is I need to print a form, scan it in, and
>> send the scanned image via e-mail.
>> Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
>> Many thanks.
>> Take care.
>> --
>>
>> Chris Hallsworth
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