---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 27 Oct 1998 17:26:08
From: [log in to unmask]
Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
To: PBD-L For users of paperless braille devices
<[log in to unmask]>,
[log in to unmask]
Subject: Optical Braille recognition.
Hi all,
I thought many of you might be interested in this new OCR type development.
The software is not exactly cheap, costing $895 or 590 Pounds, but for
anyone with large quantities of Braille, that is not in computer format, it
is an excellent solution.
We have tested it here with an HP5100C, and the accuracy is exceptional.
And before anyone asks, at this point in time, there is no demo version,
though I'm sure in time there will be one available.
We have suggested that it be developed for A3 scanners, thus allowing one
pass. However such scanners are not cheap either.
OBR is, available from Index Braille printer distributors such as ourselves
here in the U.K. and Sighted Electronics in the States.
Kindest regards,
George Bell
Managing Director
Techno-Vision Systems Ltd
England
OBR - Read Braille with your scanner
OBR - Optical Braille Recognition - is a Windows software that allows
you to ”read” single and double sided Braille document at a standard A4
scanner.
The retrieved information can be used in all types of Windows
applications or directly on an Index Braille Embosser.
The scanning process is simple and quick, you can process two sides of a
Braille-sheet in a single scan. Pressing the SCAN icon, starts the
process of scanning. After less than thirty seconds the information is
presented at the screen. Continue to scan the next page or start to use
the information.
The Braille information in a small letter or a complete Braille Book can
be retrieved into computer form in the same easy way, even if you do not
read Braille at all.
The recognition from a good quality Braille document is excellent. But
even scanning an old worn-out Braille document, the fault frequency is
surprisingly low. By using standard Windows functions your Braille
handling system will be complete and effective.
Do you need OBR?
Everyone that work with Blind people and do not read Braille will
benefit from OBR. For example: teachers who do not read Braille, public
organisations communicating with Blind individuals and Computerised
Braille Libraries.
Read Braille in one minute
The scanning and decoding of an A4 page will normally take about one
minute. You can select scan single or double sided, a single page or
several pages and different Braille cell sizes. If the Braille document
has been placed in a faulty direction at the scanner it can be corrected
with a SWAP and ROTATE command without re-scanning the document.
OBR software consists of the original software diskette, manual in
Braille and ink and a special yellow correction filter to be placed on
the scanner surface.
It runs on a standard Pentium PC with Windows 95, 98 and Windows NT.
Copy old Braille Books
The recognition function of OBR is stable, even if the source Braille
document is of low quality.
In combination with spell checking and other Windows functions, almost
all Braille document can easily be retrieved into computer format.
Double sided Dot to dot Embossing
The OBR Software can be used with any type of Index Braille Embosser for
direct embossing of a scanned document. Independent of language or type
of Braille code, the copy will be embossed without the involvement of
any translation program.
Wide Braille pages-OK!
A normal Braille page of 29 lines, 42 characters is too large for a A4
scanner. It, and even wider pages, can still be scanned by the MERGE
function at the OBR.
Start with scanning of a part of the large page, continue with the rest
of the page. The merge function will map this two
pictures and present the whole page as one document.
OBR Technical data
Computer: Required: PC with Pentium 90MHz or better, min 32MB RAM.
Recommended: PC with Pentium 200 MHz or better, min 2MB RAM. 2MB of hard
disk space.
Scanner: Scanner drivers supports ALL Hewlett-Packard models from
ScanJet II. Check Index home page for new drivers.
Braille type: Single and double sided Braille 2.5, 2.2 and 3.2mm dot-
distance within the cell.
Calibration: Automatic calibration using a calibration sheet included in
the software.
Editor: A simple editor with standard features is included in software.
Rotate, swap: Functions to for correcting a page scanned in faulty
direction. Auto Rotate function - the program can automatically find the
correct rotation of the page.
Direct Embossing: Dot to Dot transparent embossing to Index brand of
Embossers.
Braille: Single and double sided Braille 2.5 and 2.2 mm dot distance
within the cell. Braille translation codes: 17 standard tables.
ASCII: The scanned information can be saved in an ASCII file for use by
other applications.
Programmer: Developed by Neovision s.r.o. http://www.neovision.cz
Exclusively distributed by Index Braille
Kindest regards,
George Bell
Managing Director
Techno-Vision Systems Ltd
England
[BS EN ISO 9002 : 1994 Certified]
(Here's to the child, and all he has to teach us!)
Join the Bridge Club - it's fun!
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