Technology

What is a reading aid – technology information sheet

Summary: How people with no useful vision can get access to standard print material. Information about the specialist and mainstream products available.

• How does a reading aid work?
• Choosing a reading aid
• Case Study – Stuart
• Standalone reading aids - availability and cost
• Specialist PC software – availability and cost
• Case Study – Joanne
• Mainstream PC software - availability and cost
• Where can I buy a reading aid?
• Further information

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How does a reading aid work?

Reading aids are used to scan and translate printed text into a computer readable file. This can then be read with synthetic speech, magnification software or a braille display. The Reading Aid consists of two main components:

• A scanner which is used to scan the text to be processed. The scanner has a glass surface on which the book or paper to be scanned is placed. A light then passes across the glass, in a manner similar to a photocopier and an electronic picture is taken of the item.
• Recognition software which can be in the form of a printed circuit board or software stored on disc. This software converts the scanned image into a computer readable file. An OCR program examines the image produced by the scanner and attempts to match the images produced from the scanned page to known text characters. Once the image has been converted to text it can be read via a speech program, displayed on screen or edited via a word processor.

Choosing a reading aid

You need to decide which type of reading aid would suit your requirements best. There are two types of reading aid and they are a standalone, all in one system and a PC based system.

Standalone

Standalone machines are an integrated unit with a scanner, Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software and speech software. The document is scanned by the scanner, changed into text by the OCR software and then read out in synthetic speech all by the same machine. This option is very easy to use and can be moved around the house or office. This type of system is often very popular with people who want something very simple and do not want a PC.

Features that distinguish the different Standalone models are:

Ease of operation

Some reading aids are operated by a mixture of buttons, keypads or use a qwerty keyboard. The buttons and keys may be identified by size, shape and dots.

Storage

Reading aids can come with a hard disk, floppy drive and facility for a tape recorder which enable you to store the information you have scanned to read back later.

Type of documents

Some reading aids will allow batch scanning, others provide a “book edge” to ensure bound materials are scanned without distortion.

Languages

Make sure the reading aid works with all the languages you want to read, some will read multiple languages in the same document.

Voice

The speech synthesisers vary and so the sound of the reading voice will differ from machine to machine.

Other features

These include contrast adjustment, spell checkers, background scanning and support for columns. The size of font reading aids can scan will differ and so will the paper size. Some Standalone Reading Aids will connect to a computer.

PC-based system

This type of reading aid consists of a PC (containing OCR software) connected to a scanner. There are two types of OCR software, mainstream packages designed for general use and specialist software with integrated speech or magnification, designed for use by people with sight problems. If you decide to use an OCR package designed for general use you would also need speech or magnification software to read the text back, as mainstream OCR software does not come with integrated speech feedback.

Features that distinguish the different PC Based Systems are:

Ease of operation

Chose a system that suits your level of experience with a computer

Type of documents

Some PC-based systems will have sheet feeders for scanning; others provide a removable lid.

Languages

Make sure the PC-based systems work with all the languages you want to read.

Voice

The sound of the reading voice will differ between PC-based systems. Make sure you like the reading voice.

Other features

These include dictionary, thesaurus, spell checkers and support for columns. Many of the products designed for users with sight problems have built in speech. Some will read inverse text (white on black).

Speed

Speed of scanners and the individual OCR software will vary.

Magnification

Some packages will offer magnification others will need magnification software to be used in conjunction with the OCR package.

Braille

Compatibility with braille displays needs to be checked before purchasing software (Mainstream OCR software may work in conjunction with a screen reader and braille display).

System requirements

Check your PC specification against the system requirements, OCR packages will require varying operating systems, disk space and memory requirements.

Case Study – Stuart

Stuart is a retired gentleman who goes to the library to pursue his reading interests which include astronomy, space flight and the history of flight. As he reads specialised reference books, it is unlikely that the material he requires is available in audio format. So Stuart uses a standalone reading aid, which he is fortunate enough to have in his local library, to get access to these books. He finds it easy to use as he doesn’t have to get to grips with a PC to begin reading!

Standalone reading aids - availability and cost

The following products are the all-in-one scan and read machines with simple controls.

Chatterbox and Chatterbox Pro

A scanner in an attaché case (though requiring mains power), it is designed to be easy to use, with a choice of a male or female voice. The Chatterbox Pro includes facilities for storing documents either on an the hard drive or on a memory stick or floppy disk drive.
Price £1,085
Available from Modern World Data

K-NFB Reader

This is a portable reading machine. It uses software developed by Kurzweil Technologies installed on a PDA connected to a camera. The K-NFB Reader can be brought to the print, rather than having to use a flatbed scanner so can be used to read notice boards, print on packaging and so on.
Price £2,625
Available from Sight and Sound Technology.

LlSAcompact

LlSAcompact read print in a human sounding voice, can store documents and With a seven symbol key pad, LlSAcompact is extremely simple to handle. Pressing the wrong key is avoided by context sensitive help which instructs the user automatically.
Price £1,680
Available from Vis-Ability

ScannaR – Scan, Read and Narrate Document storage with voice tagging for naming stored documents, natural voice and braille output option. Approx £1,695 Available from HumanWare

Picture of the ScannaR

Portset Reader

Document storage, natural voice, reads fonts from 8 point, floppy disk drive and reads talking newspapers.
Approx £1,650
Available from various suppliers including Portset Systems and Techno-Vision

SARA

A reading machine that can connected to a monitor to provide magnification for low vision users and can read Daisy for talking books. SARA can also connect to a USB memory stick and includes a CD writer.
Approx £1,750
Available from Sight and Sound Technology and Blazie.

ReadEasy

Has four voices, can store scanned documents, and create single documents from originals that more than one page long.
Price Approx £1,595
Available from Visionaid

ReadAnywhere

Is a portable stand-alone scanner that weighs just less than four kilograms. Has five hours rechargeable battery life. The controls are similar to ReadEasy, it can also play and write CDs.
Price Approx £2,995
Available from Visionaid

CleaReader Document storage, can connect to an MP3 Player to read back documents, can be updated to read some European languages Approx £1,695 Available from Optelec

Picture of the CleaReader

Bookworm

Different kind of device as it is a portable braille reading device only. It does not scan text but stores and reads electronic files. It has an 8 cell Braille display.
Approx £995
Available from Computer Room Services

Specialist PC software – availability and cost

The following software products are designed for people with sight problems and may include speech output. They should be installed on a PC and used with a scanner.

Kurzweil 1000

Speech output, choice of voices, dictionary, talking scientific calculator and MP3 file creation. Check with supplier for PC requirements and compatible scanners.
Approx £695
Available from various suppliers including RNIB and Sight & Sound Technology

Cicero

Language options and speech output. Check with supplier for PC requirements and compatible scanners.
Approx £295
Available from various suppliers including Dolphin Computer Access and HumanWare.

Open Book

Includes speech and magnification options, can create MP3 or WAV files and supports braille displays. Check with supplier for PC requirements and compatible scanners.
Approx £695
Available from various suppliers including Blazie and T & T Consultancy

Scan and Read Lite and Pro

Low cost product with speech output, choice of voices and automatic page orientation. Pro version also has language options, creates MP3 files and will work with automatic document feeders. Check with the supplier for PC requirements and compatible scanners.
Scan and Read Lite Approx £75
Scan and Read Pro Approx £120
Available from Modern World Data

Text Cloner Lite and Pro

Low cost product, no speech output as it is designed to work with screen readers, can deal with columns, automatic page orientation. Pro version has language options and includes legal and medical dictionaries.
Check with the supplier for PC requirements and compatible scanners.
Text Cloner Lite Approx £60
Text Cloner Pro Approx £90
Available from Modern World Data

Case Study – Joanne

Joanne is studying Law. She regularly uses a computer with speech output to research her essays and to complete her work for her university course. She also uses a PC and scanner to get access to the printed material which she needs for her coursework. She uses Textbridge OCR software to scan the print document and then gets her screen reader to read the text back to her. This works really well for her as she can use the same PC for reading, writing and research!

Mainstream PC software - availability and cost

There are many OCR packages sold for sighted people most of which are accurate enough to be used by people with sight problems as a text reader, in combination with the magnification, speech or Braille output software used to access the PC. This mainstream software is cheaper than those products designed for users with sight problems but because they are designed for sighted users they could prove difficult to operate with magnification, speech or Braille. Some can be set to output to a word processor, which simplifies their use.

OmniPage 15

Omnipage should work with most Windows speech output systems; check with your screen reader supplier before buying.
Approx £55
Available from Insight

Where can I buy a reading aid?

Read our list of suppliers contact details

Further information

This information sheet is intended as an introduction to the subject for blind and partially sighted people and their supporters. It is not intended as a complete list of all products and services available, nor should it be inferred that products and services mentioned in this information sheet are recommended or endorsed by RNIB.

Technology Information Service
Email: technology@rnib.org.uk
Web: Technology homepage
Tel: 0870 013 9555

Information sheet written May 2006.

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Content author: technology@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 20/11/2008 11:13