Today : Wed, 27 Aug 2008
Scanners and specialized software can allow students and adults with low vision to scan books, letters, magazines, and other text and have the computer read it aloud.
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Open Book and Kurzweil 1000 are two of the most popular scanning programs for the blind and visually impaired. Both programs are very sophisticated and are very accurate in reading text as well as allowing users to edit text. They have very similar features and cost approximately $995.00.
Both programs are easily installed by inserting the CD into the computer. They have voice installation, which allows blind users to install the program without the use of other specialized software. Both programs are equally easy to install.
Kurzweil 1000 and Open Book are fairly easy to use. Like any computer program, there is a learning curve in which one must learn which keys perform various tasks. Users simply need to turn on their computer, turn on the program, place the book or reading material on their scanner, and begin scanning.
Open Book uses many function keys that control various tasks. Pressing the F4 function key on the top row of the keyboard begins the scanning process. Within 20 to 30 seconds, Open Book begins reading the text aloud. Pressing the CTRL key stops the reading while pressing ENTER resumes reading. To increase the speed of reading, users simply hold the CTRL key and press 2 while pressing CTRL 1 to slow down the reading rate. Open Book allows readers to save the documents scanned in a variety of formats, including in Word format for Microsoft Word, MP3 audio format, and Rich Text Format. These documents can be saved in various folders, including Bills, Books, Articles, etc. However, the ease of navigation to save text in the various folders may be a bit complicated for novice computer users.
Kurzweil 1000 also uses function keys to perform various functions. In addition, Kurzweil allows users to use the number keypad on the right side of the keyboard to perform scanning, reading, and many other tasks very easily. This is very useful because users can simply use one hand to control the program. The design of using the keypad makes it very easy for users to change the volume, rate of speech, scanning, reading, deleting pages using the dictionary, having words spelled aloud, and going to other pages very easily.
In comparing the two programs for ease of use, I found Kurzweil 1000 to be easier to use than Open Book. I especially enjoyed the ability to delete pages, go to specific pages, and use the dictionary with the use of the number keypad.
The most important functions of both Open Book and Kurzweil 1000 are the speed and accuracy of scanning. These factors are also dependent on the computer hardware and scanner. I tested these programs on the most affordable computer system that I could find at Circuit City, the e Machine 3985 with a 2.8 Celeron processor and 512 MB RAM ($M? MSRP $429 with 17 inch monitor and printer). The scanner used was the Epson 1670 photo scanner, which I purchased for $99.00. Higher speed computers and scanners will increase the speed of processing.
Kurzweil and Open Book both scanned letters, mail, memos, magazines and books very accurately and quickly. The accuracy of the ability to read text reduced when the print size was smaller than 4-point type. Both programs were able to recognize print on glossy paper of magazines. They also performed excellent when reading columns of text in magazines and journals. There were no significant differences in the speed and accuracy of scanning and reading text.
Kurzweil and Open Book have many special features that allow users to scan and read text, edit documents, and take notes on their reading materials. Kurzweil 1000 incorporates many features that are present on the Kurzweil 3000 program which is designed specifically for educational purposes Users can easily edit documents or take notes on what they have read by simply typing. There is no need to change from reading mode to edit mode as with Open Book. The number keypad makes it easy for users to quickly access the dictionary, have words spelled letter by letter, and quickly go from one page to another without pressing additional keystrokes.
Kurzweil also allows users to continually scan additional pages while listening to the text. This is a feature that allows text to be scanned more quickly into the computer. Open Book does not have this feature and users must either listen to the page being scanned before scanning the next page or they must scan all pages continually without being able to listen to the pages.
Open Book has a very useful feature which is called the Freedom Import Printer. This allows users to send a document such as a Microsoft Word document or a PDF file found on the Internet to the Freedom Import Printer to be read aloud. This is very helpful for users who do not have screen reading software programs such as JAWS, ZoomText, or MAGic.
Both Kurzweil and Open Book have the ability to change the appearance of the text displayed on the screen for users with low vision. Letters can be magnified and the spacing between the letters can also be easily modified. This is very helpful for patients with blind spots in their central vision.
Users are able to change the color of the background and the color of the text with both programs. This reduces glare while increasing contrast. Users can modify the settings such that the word being read is highlighted. This allows users to track and follow along with their eyes. Both programs performed equally well in being able to modify the display.
Both programs have a currency-scanning mode, which allows users to place currency on the scanner and have the currency denomination read aloud. Unfortunately, I found both programs to have some difficulty performing this function. The currency needed to be scanned three to four times before the software was able to recognize the bill.
Photocopy and FAX features Kurzweil and Open Book both have special features that allow users to use their scanner as a photocopy machine as well as a FAX machine. They both worked excellently as a photocopy machine. As a FAX machine, I found the Kurzweil 1000 to be a bit easier to set up but both worked extremely well.
Open Book and Kurzweil 1000 are excellent programs to help people with vision impairment to access written print very efficiently. Both programs are very accurate when scanning types print and their speed of processing is very similar I believe students who will be editing documents or taking notes from the text they have scanned will appreciate the number keypad function of Kurzweil 1000 while college students and researchers who do not have screen reading software such as JAWS, MAGic, or ZoomText will truly appreciate the Freedom Import printer that reads documents and PDF files.
The SARA is an excellent option of those who do not want to use a computer, keyboard, and mouse to scan text and have it read aloud. The SARA is a scanner that has a computer built-in. Users can simply plug the SARA into an electrical outlet, place the text on the scanner and press a button to have the print read aloud. The SARA uses the Open Book Software and performs very similarly to the Open Book system on a computer. It allows users to change the voice, speech rate, and languages spoken. In addition, users can store files on the SARA.
We evaluated the SARA to find it to be an excellent choice for those who do not want to use a computer to scan text and have it read aloud. The SARA was very accurate in reading mail, letters, and other printed text. The buttons were easy to feel and see, making it very user friendly. MSRP: $2795
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