A handheld real-time text reader

Author

Minoni, Umberto ; Bianchi, Mauro ; Trebeschi, Vittoria

Author_Institution

Dept. of Inf. Eng., Univ. of Brescia, Brescia, Italy

fYear

2011

fDate

30-31 May 2011

Firstpage

354

Lastpage

359

Abstract

A novel device developed as a rehabilitation tool for people having difficulties in reading printed text is presented. The proposed system enables the user to randomly access the words of a printed text by directing a handheld pointer that is similar to a pencil. The application of modern information technologies makes it possible the implementation of a device that combines effectiveness, robustness, and friendliness of use. A micro camera is fixed to the pointer and frames the word the user wants to read. A voice synthesizer reproduces the word just recognized. A suitable measurement of the device motion based on real time image processing allows determining when the user has stopped the pointer thus indicating the wish to hear the pointed word(s). A trial run with a selected group of pupils shows the potential of the novel system.

Keywords

biomedical equipment; cameras; image processing equipment; image sensors; medical computing; optical character recognition; patient rehabilitation; portable instruments; speech synthesis; speech-based user interfaces; text analysis; voice equipment; word processing; handheld pointer; handheld real-time text reader; information technology; microcamera; printed text reading; real-time image processing; rehabilitation tool; voice synthesizer; word recognition system; Cameras; Decoding; Motion detection; Pixel; Prototypes; Software; Tracking; binarization; dyslexia; handheld text reader; motion detection; reading aid; rehabilithation;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Medical Measurements and Applications Proceedings (MeMeA), 2011 IEEE International Workshop on

Conference_Location

Bari

Print_ISBN

978-1-4244-9336-4

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/MeMeA.2011.5966658

Filename

5966658