[nabs-l] Fw: [braille-n-teach] Freedom Scientific Releases New and Improved OCR Recognition Software for JAWS and OpenBook

[David Andrews]

You can tell it is a hoax because of how poorly it is written.  FS 
can write a much better press release!

Dave

At 01:55 PM 7/18/2012, you wrote:
>This is a hoax. Please look at the bottom of the message, the PS.
>Sincerely,
>Hope Paulos
>
>Sent from my iPhone
>
>On Jul 18, 2012, at 2:45 PM, "Brandon Keith Biggs" 
><brandonkeithbiggs at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Hello students,
> > I thought this would be quite a happy piece of news. I know this 
> has happened to me, and I think I may really consider bringing my 
> Ipad with me to school now.
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Brandon Keith Biggs
> > -----Original Message----- From: Sonja Biggs
> > Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2012 11:36 AM
> > To: brandonkeithbiggs at gmail.com
> > Subject: FW: [braille-n-teach] Freedom Scientific Releases New 
> and Improved OCR Recognition Software for JAWS and OpenBook
> >
> >
> > Sonja Biggs, MA, TVI, COMS
> > Vista Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired
> > 2470 El Camino Real, Suite 107
> > Palo Alto, CA  94306
> > 650-833-9766
> >
> > "Dream the impossible dream...then live it!" --Brandon Keith 
> Biggs, Age 19, Blind Performer, LCA-CRB1
> >
> > NOTE:  Confidential.  This FAX/Email and any attachments are 
> private and are intended only for the use of the addressee(s), may 
> contain privileged and/or confidential information.  If you are not 
> the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that the use, 
> dissemination, distribution, or copying of this FAX/Email and/or 
> the attachments is strictly prohibited and in violation of the 
> Federal Law (HIPAA).
> > ________________________________________
> > From: Keith Christian [keithchristian at roadrunner.com]
> > Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2012 6:22 AM
> > To: Sonja Biggs
> > Subject: [braille-n-teach] Freedom Scientific Releases New and 
> Improved OCR Recognition Software for JAWS and OpenBook
> >
> > For Immediate Release:
> >
> > Freedom Scientific Releases New and Improved OCR Recognition 
> Software for JAWS and OpenBook
> >
> > Today, Freedom Scientific, one of the world's leading screen 
> reading and blindness product makers, has just recently developed 
> and released a new breakthrough in its line of products of 
> assistive technology for blind and visually impaired computer users.
> >
> >
> >
> > Have you ever wanted to take OpenBook? with you at all times 
> anywhere you can possibly go with it? Or even better, have you 
> always wanted to be able to pick up a handwritten note on a piece 
> of paper and be able to read it instantly just like anybody else? 
> Or maybe you are one of those frustrated students that are 
> inundated with printed or handwritten material that you can't read 
> in or out of a classroom setting and you have to wait even hours or 
> days for somebody to read to you. Maybe you are at a conference, 
> you are given a business card or a simple handout that is 
> important, and you need to fill out or read along?
> >
> >
> >
> > Well, wish and wonder no more! Freedom Scientific now has the solution!
> >
> >
> >
> > Due to popular demand, and numerous emails and feedback requests 
> from our users, Freedom Scientific has decided to step forward.
> >
> >
> >
> > We have released a new, updated, and improved OCR recognition 
> engine for both, our Openbook? and JAWS? products. This bran new 
> release includes many new features, which include, but not limited to:
> >
> >
> >
> > * The ability to recognize smaller type font and better 
> recognition of columns in sophisticated tables, which can easily be 
> confusing to read.
> > * The ability to recognize print on smaller pieces of print 
> paper, such as note slips or contact cards on the spot, with better 
> print focus and not the scanner bed or camera.
> > * Finally, the ability to recognize handwriting with about 85-90% accuracy!
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Yes, that's right! Our new OCR engine has built-in support for 
> handwriting recognition. That means that you can either scan or 
> place a handwritten note from a co-worker, a spouse, or from a 
> door, into your camera or scanner of your choice, and Openbook? 
> will automatically recognize it and be able to read it with speech 
> and / or Braille output from your preferred synthesizer or Braille 
> display! Not only this. You can open a .pdf, .jpg, or .png image 
> that someone sent you with handwriting over the email on your 
> computer, perform the OCR recognition command (JAWS 13 and later 
> only), and bingo! You will hear the handwriting being spoken out to 
> you or sent to your Braille display. Please note that these new 
> features offered by this improved version of the OCR engine for 
> JAWS? or OpenBook? software are only compatible with Openbook 
> versions later than 8.0 and JAWS version 13.0 or later. Please note 
> users of JAWS earlier than 13.0, we will release a version of the 
> new OCR engine tha  t we released with JAWS 13.0 later this month, 
> with the same features as the ones offered now, so you aren't left 
> out on these new features! This update to the OCR engine can work 
> with both 32- and 64-bit operating systems.
> >
> >
> >
> > Want some even more awesome news from our OpenBook? development 
> team? We have released OpenBook Mobile?, a scanning and reading 
> solution app for your iOS device! This means that you can use our 
> popular scanning and reading solution right from your iPhone, iPad 
> or iPod Touch, using VoiceOver and the camera of your device! Yes, 
> that's right, OpenBook? is going mobile, and you will be able to 
> take it anywhere you go that you find printed material that you 
> cannot read. You will be able to go on a trip, be given an airport 
> boarding pass, and you will no longer need sighted assistance to 
> see whether your plane was gone before you knew it, or to see your 
> flight information. You will be able to go to a church service and 
> be able to access printed booklets of hymns or group prayers easily 
> and independently without requesting sighted help. Even more 
> fantastic, you will be able to walk into a classroom door that 
> appears to have no one waiting with you, bump into a little sticky 
> note wit  h your finger below or above the Braille marking of the 
> classroom number, and not have to wait so many hours and precious 
> study time trying to find out if the instructor canceled the class 
> or whatever other scheduling conflict that might have occurred with 
> that instructor. If you have an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad, you 
> will get it out, snap a photo of that little sticky note, and you 
> will be able to find out what's wrong quickly, independently  and 
> immediately with the built-in handwriting recognition of the OCR 
> engine for OpenBook Mobile?! It's so easy!
> >
> >
> >
> > Currently, OpenBook Mobile? for iOS platforms is available at the 
> Apple iTunes store and it costs $2.99. This app is designed to fit 
> any budget. So, what are you waiting for? Purchase your OpenBook 
> Mobile? app for your iPhone / iPod / iPad now, and let your future 
> shine today! The power of technology and handwriting is in your 
> hands, like never before!
> >
> >
> >
> > If you have any questions regarding these two new initiatives, 
> don't hesitate to give us a call at 1-800-444-4443 or e-mail us at 
> support at freedomScientific.com. We would like to hear from you and 
> your feedback!
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Sincerely,
> >
> > The Freedom Scientific Team **************
> >
> > P.S. April Fools! ? ? :)))
> >
> >