SnapVision Reading Machine

SnapVision is an assistive technology reading application that is made for people with vision related reading disabilities. It has a very easy to learn Accessible User Interface. This User Interface is combined with our own OCR engine and AT&T's text to speech processing system to provide state of the art image processing, document layout analysis and optical character recognition. These features are enhanced with high quality "human sounding" audio output that can be played on a headset or saved to an MP3 player.

SnapVision doesn't require high-priced specialized imaging hardware and instead uses readily available consumer grade scanners or cameras giving it a price/performance ratio unmatched by any other Accessible OCR product. If you live in a household that already has a computer, you can use SnapVision for a combined cost of between $120 to $270 in hardware and software depending on your choice of scanning device.

SnapVision supports more types of image scanning devices that any other assisitve reading application. You can choose from the following:
  1. Conventional Flat Bed Scanner
  2. PlusTek OpticBook Scanner
  3. Digital Camera plus Eye-Fi wireless image card
  4. Document Camera
SnapVision includes two high quality Text To Speech English voices (Audrey/Lauren) based on AT&T's Natural Voices© text to speech synthesis technology.



Click here for a short sample of UK English voice Audrey.
Click here for a short sample of US English voice Lauren.

What is Accessible OCR?

In a word, simplicity. According to the dictionary, this means a "state of being simple or uncomplicated". It's simple to use the SnapVision Accessible User Interface. Just position your document under your camera and press the "Esc" key. No need to worry if the document is in the proper orientation. SnapVision takes care of this automatically with it's Auto-Rotation capability. If the document is a page from a book with a curled or skewed page surface, SnapVision's document layout analysis will automatically straighten all the major text regions. This is what we mean by simplicity!

SnapVision is launched automatically each time you turn on your computer (it's installed in the Startup folder). You may optionally configure SnapVision to always be the top DeskTop Window. When you're finished using SnapVision, just press the F7 key to automatically exit the program and to optionally turn off your PC. SnapVision also announces whenever it gains or loses the Window "focus". This makes it easier to use on PCs that may have multiple concurrent applications with random "pop-up" windows. If SnapVision loses the Window Focus, simply press the "Alt"+"Tab" keys until you hear the Audio prompt, "SnapVision Has Focus", and then you can enter SnapVision keyboard commands. This means the only switches/buttons a user has to memorize are the ON/OFF switch for the computer, Alt+Tab to switch window focus, and the Esc through F8 keys for the SnapVision application. This transforms an ordinary PC into something that is dramatically easier to use for people with vision related disabilities.

Accessibility Keys and their Functions:

Esc - Scan, OCR and read a page of text
F1 - Pause/Resume reading
F2 - Replay the last text page from the beginning
F3 - Read the entire text buffer (multi-page)
F4 - Clear text buffer (to start a new document)
F5 - Save text buffer as MP3 audio and copy to MP3 Player
F6 - Help function - announce description of commands
F7 - Exit SnapVision and optionally turn off PC
F8 - Convert color image to high contrast image

It's easy to find each key on your keyboard, just slide your finger across the top row of keys on your keyboard and count them off, "Esc, F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7, F8", just press the F6 key if you need a reminder about what each key does.

In addition to the function keys, the Accessible User Interface has two extra keys (+,-) easily located on the right side of the keyboard to control image magnification. This feature is perfect for those with reduced vision who would like a magnified image of the document while listening to the audio output.

Using SnapVision's GUI

If you're the parent, spouse or teacher of someone with a visual disability you can easily convert printed material into proof-read audio books using the GUI Mode Interface instead of the Accessible Mode Interface. The GUI Mode Interface not only provides full image and text display, but also built-in spell correction and sophisticated Text To Speech output control using SnapVision's high quality Text To Speech voices. You can easily switch between the Accessible Mode and the GUI Mode by turning on or off the Settings->Accessibility Mode menu item in the SnapVision Image Window.

Just How Easy is it Really?

Here is a sample image from a children's book, note the use of inexpensive paper clips to hold the pages flat.

Click here for the full size image.

To scan, OCR the image, and listen to the speech output in a headset or speakers, just press the "Esc" key on the top left of your keyboard. To copy the audio to an MP3 player plugged into a USB port on your PC, just press the "F5" key. Here's the actual unedited audio output MP3 file. That's how easy it is!