DigitEyes recently had a demonstration of a bar code scanner device
which shows some promise but still would benefit with improvements in
design and features.  Here's another product on the general market which
may show promise for access for blind persons, if the company can see
the light.

Steve

---------- Forwarded Message ----------
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: "Portable Shopper"
To: [log in to unmask]
Reply-To: [log in to unmask]

Sorry friends, this is not a sales pitch nor a spam.

Symbol Technologies, Inc  <http://www.symbol.com/ST000270.HTM> (Home Office One
Symbol Plaza, Holtville, NY.  11742 800-722-6234) has a product called "Portable
Shopper" that is being used in many stores across the U.S.

"Portable Shopper" is a bar code scanner.  A customer picks one up from the rack
near the entrance to the store.  As the customer goes around the store they scan
the bar codes on the merchandise and price and other information appears in the
window on the scanner.  If you want the item you press the plus button and put
it in the cart, if not you press the minus button and when finished you press
the equals button and the portable shopper gives you a printout slip.  The
customer goes to the checkout counter gives them the slip and "portable shopper"
and pay the bill and leave.

The bottom line reason for my posting this??  With the addition of a speech chip
and speaker, this device can talk and provide all those with visual impairments
a TRULY INDEPENDENT shopping experience.  I for one, would like nothing better
than to be able to SHOP MYSELF. Doing this is really as simple as I have stated
it to be, for many years many cash registers at the checkout have been able
"talk" and when an item is scanned it actually tells what the item is and the
price.  The company is not interested in making a talking portable shopper.
Maybe someone reading this will know a way to convince them how truly important
a device this can be and the positive PR the company can gain by this simple
modification. WHY NOT ACCESSIBLE SHOPPING???

Suggestions??  Ideas???  Letters to the Company CEO??



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