[Blindvet-talk] New technology approved for Blinded Vets by VA.

[dswinson]

Greetings, fellow Blinded Vets!

I recently have gone through the process of getting approval for the iPal
from my VIST here in Little Rock.  The iPal, if you don't know about it, is
a camera on a tripod that takes the place of a flatbed scanner for scanning
documents with a computer, especially a laptop.  The camera can be set to
automatically detect motion and click a new image when you stop moving a
book or document under its precisely held lens, enabling up to 20 images or
pages to be captured per minute.  OK, this may depend a bit on your manual
dexterity, but that is not the fault of the technology! *GRIN*

Then, like other OCR software, it will recognize the image and convert it to
text of some format.  It handles multiple languages and even will scan and
OCR Russian!  This device just recently passed scrutiny by a VA panel for
technology for the Blind, so if it seems like something useful for you, ask
your VIST coordinator!  I would recommend this for anyone who uses a laptop
for work or school and has the need to recognize more than a single page of
text at a time.  It is very portable, the tripod of the camera is foldable,
light weight, and easy to install (just a USB connection).  So, with a
laptop, the iPal, and a USB cord, you are set to go to the college or local
library, or scan that 20 page memo somebody just plunked down on your desk,
or at a meeting when you are away from your more bulky equipment.  Just dang
handy!

The VA might try and give you a hassle if you have a KNFB reader, especially
the 2nd version or later, as they mistakenly believe they are comparable
devices.  The iPal requires a laptop to function and is meant for greater
volumes of scanning.  The KNFB reader seems to me like an "on the go and in
my pocket" sort of solution for extemporaneous scanning of smaller amounts
of text.  Very different and meant for different uses.

That's just my opinion, but I'm willing to discuss this with anybody who is
interested.  OH, and I don't sell the thing, so no conflicts of interest!
*GRIN*



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