[Electronics-talk] Reviews and Some Suggestions for Two Accessible Apps

Wed Jul 23 11:07:38 UTC 2014

iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch 5 (actually, they may work with earlier 
versions since I think they can run on older IOS versions though do not 
quote me on that).

Have a great rest of the day!
Chris
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Christopher Chaltain via Electronics-talk" 
<electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances" 
<electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2014 7:00 AM
Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Reviews and Some Suggestions for Two 
Accessible Apps

> What device are these apps for?
>
>
> On 07/23/2014 05:23 AM, Christine Szostak via Electronics-talk wrote:
>> Hi All,
>>    I just thought I would mention two apps that I have found really 
>> helpful. Some here may be familiar with one or both so feel free to add 
>> your own comments about them or their accessibility.
>>
>> The first app is Recognizer (note that to find this app in the app store, 
>> you may have more luck searching for LookTell than Recognizer).
>>
>> -This app has two main components:
>>
>> 1)  Item entry/recognition.
>>
>> a)  This allows you to take a picture of something and add an audio 
>> label. Then, in the future, whenever Recognizer is opened (on the main 
>> screen of the app) it  will immediately recognize that object when in 
>> comes in contact with the camera and will repeat the label.
>>
>> b)  Think of this just like LookTell's Money Identifier app as it works 
>> pretty much in the same way except that you enter the labels.
>>
>> 2)  A barcode scanner.
>>
>> a)  I have had little success using this to find the barcodes and would 
>> love any suggestions if people have used this and found it successful.
>>
>>    The second app is Text Detective. They talked about this on SPN 
>> recently on the SeroTalk Podcast (I think it was either episode 203 or 
>> 205) and they did not have too much positive to say.
>>
>>    However, I have actually had pretty good luck with this and have thus 
>> far been able (in 1.2 days practice) been able to get relatively clear 
>> scans of several different things without  any vision such as a can 
>> label, a frozen food box label, cards such as grocery store cards, and 
>> mail.
>>
>>    The main complaint that they were noting on SPN was that you need to 
>> figure out the orientation yourself.
>>
>>    I want to provide a quick tip that I have found to be useful in doing 
>> so:
>>
>>    I find that if I tilt the camera just a couple of degrees (probably no 
>> more than about 3-5) I often get a clearer scan than when I hold it 
>> perfectly strait.
>>
>>    Once you hit scan, the camera continues to re-scan the item until it 
>> gets an image it can identify and it lets you know this. It will tell you 
>> if there is no text or if it is processing and preparing the text.
>>
>>    It is very fast (usually scanning in about 1-3 seconds).
>>
>>    I have also found that using the helpful hints they provide in their 
>> help really do help a lot. As soon as I started reading through these, my 
>> scans got much clearer:).
>>
>>
>>    The primary reason I wanted to mention these two apps together in one 
>> email, is that I have found that they are incredibly helpful when used in 
>> conjunction.
>>
>>    Something I have started doing so as to need less sighted assistance 
>> to add pics to my Recognizer, is to initially scan items that have text 
>> on them and if I can get a clear read, then I open Recognizer and add it 
>> to the library. this way, I can use Recognizer in the future to identify 
>> the item without having to wait for the scans since just like the Money 
>> Identifier from LookTell, the Recognizer app is instantaneous in its 
>> scanning and identifying.
>>
>>    Sorry for the very lengthy email but I have just found these to be 
>> quite helpful as someone living alone with no vision.
>> Have a wonderful week everyone!
>> Chris
>> Christine M. Szostak, PhD
>> Assistant Professor
>> Department of Psychology
>> Shorter University
>> Rome, Georgia
>> szostak.1 at osu.edu
>>
>> If you are interested in a professional consultation for a vision loss 
>> related issue see:
>> http://findingthevision.wikidot.com
>>
>> If you are in need of a professional consultation for general 
>> research/statistical related issues see:
>> http://researchconsulting.wikidot.com
>>
>> If you are looking for professional proof reading or editorial review 
>> services see:
>> http://researchconsulting.wikidot.com
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>
> -- 
> Christopher (CJ)
> chaltain at Gmail
>
>
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