Low-cost portable text recognition and speech synthesis with generic software, l

Abstract

Blind persons or people with reduced eyesight could benefit from a portablesystem that can interpret textual information in the surrounding environment and speakdirectly to the user. The need for such a system was surveyed with a questionnaire, and aprototype system was built using generic, inexpensive components readily available. Thesystem architecture is component-based so that every module can be replaced with anothergeneric module. Even though the system makes partly incorrect recognition of text in aversatile environment, the evaluation of the system with five actual users suggested that thesystem can provide genuine additional value in coping with everyday issues outdoors.