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

[David Andrews]

Yes, they send out press releases whenever they have something new, 
new release, price change etc.

Dave

At 08:42 PM 7/18/2012, you wrote:
>Has FS ever given out press releases?
>I've never seen one and I've had Jaws for at least 8 years! 
>(Goodness I feel old...)
>Thanks,
>
>Brandon Keith Biggs
>-----Original Message----- From: David Andrews
>Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2012 6:33 PM
>To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Fw: [braille-n-teach] Freedom Scientific 
>Releases New and Improved OCR Recognition Software for JAWS and OpenBook
>
>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! ? ? :)))