The National Federation of the Blind in the United States has recently unveiled a groundbreaking device – a reading machine for the blind. This handheld device will capture images and read any printed text aloud to users with just a push of a button.
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Blind Reader Product |
The product was developed by the National Federation of the Blind in collaboration with inventor Ray Kurzweil. Blind Reader – the name of the product – combines a digital camera with a personal data device.
The captured images will be sent to a computer, from which specialized software will convert any characters displayed on the screen into spoken words.
“This is truly the latest technology developed specifically for the blind in the past 30 years,” said James Gashel, the executive director of strategic initiatives at the Federation, based in Maryland. Gashel referred to it as a “talking camera.”
About three decades ago, Kurzweil introduced his first invention that converted characters into sound. That device was roughly the size of a dishwasher. However, the latest product has a significant advantage: it is portable.
Currently, there are approximately 10 million blind or visually impaired individuals in the United States, and this number may double within the next 30 years as the current younger generation ages. Therefore, with a price tag of around $3,500, the potential market for the Blind Reader device is substantial.
Kurzweil expressed hope that in the future, the device could decode more complex forms of information, and eventually identify objects and people.
For now, participants in the product testing have reported their excitement at being able to read publications they had never encountered before, such as in-flight magazines.
A familiar form of reading for the blind has long been the Braille system. However, these books are often limited in quantity and content due to slow production and high costs.
T. An
