Intel is rolling out a device aimed at helping people with reading disabilities or blindness hear the written word. The Intel Reader takes printed text and reads it aloud, and can be combined with Intels Portable Capture Station, which collects and stores large amounts of text, such as book chapters or entire books. The goal is give the 55 million U.S. citizens with reading disabilities access to the books and other printed texts that everyone can read, according to Intels Digital Health Group.Intel is introducing a mobile device designed to help people who have difficulty reading printed text.
Intels Reader device, which is about the size of a paperback book
and is powered by Intels Atom processor, takes printed text, converts
it to digital text and then reads it out loud to the reader.
The Intel Reader, introduced Nov. 10, can be used in conjunction
with the chip makers Portable Capture Station, which can take and
store large amounts of textsuch as the chapter of a book or an entire
bookto be read later.
The Reader includes a high-resolution camera that lets users point, shoot and listen to the printed text being read.
The device is aimed at helping those with such reading impairments
as dyslexia or who have vision problems, including blindness. There are
about 55 million people in the United States with disabilities that
make difficult or impossible to read printed text, according to Intel.
The idea for the Intel Reader came from Ben Foss, an Intel
researcher who was diagnosed in elementary school as having dyslexia
symptoms. According to Intel, he got through high school, college and
graduate school by having people read the text to him or by struggling
to read himself.
As someone who is part of this dyslexic community, I am thrilled to
be able to help level the playing field for people who, like me, do not
have easy access to the printed word, Foss said in a statement.
Feelings of loneliness are often the experience of not being able to
read easily. We have to open the doors for people in these communities.
The device was built by Intels Digital Health Group. Its been
endorsed by the International Dyslexia Association, and Intel is
working with a host of groupsincluding the Association of Assistive
Technology Act Programs and the Council for Exceptional Childrenin
developing technologies to help people with reading disabilities.
The Intel Reader will be available through a number of resellers,
including CTL, Don Johnson Inc., GTSI, Howard Technology Solutions and
HumanWare.
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