[nfb-talk] Freedom Scientific Releases NewandImprovedOCRRecognition Software for JAWS and OpenBook, @ FreedomScientific News March 30 2012
Constance Canode
satin-bear at sbcglobal.net
Mon Apr 2 02:05:52 UTC 2012
Tears of laughter are streaming down my
face. That was amazing. Thanks for sharing. I
guess I have a warped sense of humor.
At 07:24 PM 4/1/2012, you wrote:
>Hi Constance: Well, you asked. So, here it
>was. And, you'll note that I didn't even tell
>them it was April Fools because I did start out
>by saying, "considering the date." Sent:
>Wednesday, April 01, 2009 10:32 AM Subject:
>[nfb-talk] Blindness Research Considering the
>date, this is well written. Mike Blindness and
>Sexuality: Researching Myths and Facts Summary
>Report: Distributed by: National Data
>Distribution Center (NDDC) April 1, 2009 Atlanta
>Georgia The two hundredth anniversary of the
>birth of Louis Braille is being celebrated by
>the US mint with the production of a silver coin
>commemorating the man who created the modern
>reading system used by many blind people.
>Unfortunately, although blind people work and
>live normal lives, they are still different in
>many ways and their experiences are a matter of
>curiosity amongst the sighted population. For
>most of us, the question, "What is it like to be
>blind?," has entered our minds more than once.
>Research, some of it useful and much of it not,
>about how people who are blind perceive the
>world, abounds. One of the more interesting
>topics of study is sexuality among the
>blind. The story, goes that blind people are
>incredible sexual partners--somehow being
>extremely sensitive to their partners and, being
>able to stimulate them far more than the average
>person. Masters and Johnson were so intrigued by
>this subject that they collected data over
>several years from those who had had sex with
>blind people. Surprisingly, what they thought
>would be myths, turned out to be true. The
>results were stunning. On average, women rated
>their blind partners 9.1 on a scale of 10. The
>average rating was five for sighted partners.
>"This research has been duplicated several
>times," says Author Mary Roach, author of, 2008
>best seller, Bonk: the Curious Coupling of
>Science and Sex. The data hasn't attracted much
>attention because blindness is such a low
>incidence event. "We usually print things that
>have broad interest. And, even though this
>indicates that blind people are incredibly
>sexual, there aren't really enough of them to go
>around." Comments from sighted partners were
>astounding. "He seemed like he knew my soul,"
>from a 23 year old female. "Her tongue knew
>just how to touch every part of me if you know
>what I mean," from a college male. One woman
>commented, "The things he could do with his
>fingers were beyond description in this
>survey. It's not that he was built bigger than
>other men, it just seemed like he touched me
>inside with it all over," she said with a shy
>smile. When William Masters was asked, in a 1971
>interview, why he didn't draw more attention to
>these findings he said, "I didn't know anything
>about blindness. We were publishing information
>of general interest about sexuality and this
>just didn't fit that mold. Perhaps some day
>researchers will help us understand why blind
>people have such incredible sexual capacities
>and we'll be able to use that information to
>increase the abilities of others. Until then, a
>very few lucky men and women will experience the
>phenomena of sex with a blind person." There is
>a down side to this research. When interviewed,
>blind people generally expressed frustration
>about sexuality. Broadly speaking, they divided
>sighted people into three groups. First is the
>group who simply want to have sex with them for
>the thrill and experience of it. "We feel
>used," was the most common thing
>reported. second, was the group who simply
>couldn't see themselves with a blind husband or
>wife. "They want to be with us, but don't see
>us as fathers and mothers, for example," was
>often heard. the third group were those who "get
>it" as one blind man put it. "They can see
>beyond blindness and except us for who we
>are. Blindness just fades into the background
>and becomes another characteristic." The sad
>truth is that although blind people work, raise
>families, travel independently and generally
>speaking, live normal lives, the public
>perception is the opposite. The image of the
>helpless beggar still lurks in our
>minds. Sighted people report that the fear of
>blindness overwelms their rationality. "I know
>that I shouldn't let blindness interfere with
>how I think about my partner, but, I can't help
>it," said a young college student engaged to a
>blind physicist working at NASA. "Yes, he has
>money, and yes, he's sexy, and oh, my god, can
>he please me, if you know what I mean. The
>hardest thing is getting over this image of him
>as a helpless blind man. We sail, bike ride and
>horse back ride. I can't think of anything he
>can't do except drive, but, I'll admit, the
>image of a helpless blind man still haunts
>me. People look at him with such pity and I
>just want to scream, "You don't get it you
>fools."" But she admits that making the
>decision to mary is difficult. Chad, a young
>blind college student says he finds the whole
>sex thing a bit distracting. "Sure I can please
>women more than my sighted friends can, and
>frankly, it's because they just don't pay
>attention to women and what their bodies and
>hearts are saying. Women will tell you
>everything you need to know if you just listen
>and feel." We give you all of this information
>with the caviat that perhaps only one in six
>thousand people is an eligible blind man or
>woman, so, happy searching. This email was
>cleaned by emailStripper, available for free
>from http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm
>-----Original Message----- From:
>nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>[mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
>Of Constance Canode Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2012
>7:31 PM To: NFB Talk Mailing List Subject: Re:
>[nfb-talk] Freedom Scientific Releases
>NewandImprovedOCRRecognition Software for JAWS
>and OpenBook, @ FreedomScientific News March 30
>2012 Loved the joke, and would love to see the
>sex and blind people joke. I don't remember
>ever seeing it...smile and happy April Fool's
>Day to all! At 05:17 PM 4/1/2012, you
>wrote: >Congratulations on an excellent april
>fools day >post. Haven't seen anything this
>good since my >article on sex and blind people
>several years >ago. And, if it's any
>consolation, many people >complained about that
>as well. Apparently there >are lots of people
>who just don't read carefully >on this list
>(laugh). Again. Congratulations. >Mike Bullis
>-----Original Message-----
>From: >nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org >[mailto:nfb-t
>alk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf >Of Ray Foret
>Jr Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2012 >5:41 PM To: NFB
>Talk Mailing List Subject: Re: >[nfb-talk]
>Freedom Scientific
>Releases >NewandImprovedOCRRecognition Software
>for JAWS >and OpenBook, @ FreedomScientific News
>March 30 >2012 Well, irrisponsible though it
>was, it was >well written. Sincerely, The
>Constantly >Barefooted Ray!!! Now a very proud
>and happy Mac >user!!! Skype name: barefootedray
>Facebook: >facebook.com/ray.foretjr.1 On Apr 1,
>2012, at >4:38 PM, Humberto Avila wrote: >
>Brian, I can >agree no more! Life should be
>taken soft, and >humor should be in our lives,
>and yes, an april >fools day joke perhaps, once
>a year. > > > >-----Original Message----- >
>From: >nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org >[mailto:nfb-t
>alk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf >Of Brian
>Miller > Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2012 >12:44
>PM > To: 'NFB Talk Mailing List' > >Subject: Re:
>[nfb-talk] Freedom Scientific >Releases
>NewandImprovedOCRRecognition Software >for JAWS
>and OpenBook,@ FreedomScientific News >March 30
>2012 > > Peter, > With all due respect, >it says
>April Fools right at the bottom of the >message
>-- any tech company that went after a >prankster
>like this would be laughed out of >court. > > I
>admit to having been suckered in at >first too
>until I red the last bit -- it's the >sign of a
>superior April Fools product! > > >Laugh, it's
>just life! > > Brian M > > >> >-----Original
>Message----- >>
>From: >nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org >> >[mailto:nf
>b-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf >Of Peter
>Donahue >> Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2012 >2:26
>PM >> To: NFB Talk Mailing List >> Subject: >Re:
>[nfb-talk] Freedom Scientific Releases >New >>
>andImprovedOCRRecognition Software for >JAWS and
>OpenBook,@ >> FreedomScientific News >March 30
>2012 >> >> Hello Humberto
>and >everyone, >> >> If I owned an adaptive
>tech >company and you pull >> something like
>this >related to one of my products you'd
>be >> >looking for an attorney by now. I don't
>care >what day it is >> this is really not
>funny >particularly when the person who did >>
>it >freely admits doing so. >> >>
>Peter >Donahue >> >> >> ----- Original Message
>----- >> >From: "Humberto
>Avila" ><avila.bert.humberto2 at gmail.com> >> To:
>"'NFB >Talk Mailing List'"
><nfb-talk at nfbnet.org> >> >Sent: Sunday, April
>01, 2012 11:40 AM >> >Subject: Re: [nfb-talk]
>Freedom Scientific >Releases New and >>
>ImprovedOCRRecognition >Software for JAWS and
>OpenBook,@ >> >FreedomScientific News March 30
>2012 >> >> >>> >Did you read the bottom of my
>message? >>> >>> >-----Original Message----- >>>
>From: >nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org >> >[mailto:nf
>b-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] >>> On >Behalf Of
>Peter Donahue >>> Sent: Sunday, April >01, 2012
>4:50 AM >>> To: NFB Talk Mailing >List >>>
>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Freedom >Scientific
>Releases New and >> Improved >>> >OCRRecognition
>Software for JAWS and >OpenBook,@ >>
>FreedomScientific News >>> March >30
>2012 >>> >>> Hello Joshua
>and >everyone, >>> >>> Did you check their Web
>site >to verify if this is indeed >> the
>truth >>> or >an April fool? Before declaring
>this thing a >joke it's best to >>> check the
>technology >vendor's Web site to determine
>if >> >announcements >>> like this are indeed
>fact or >if they're fiction. >>> >>>
>Peter >Donahue >>> >>> ----- Original Message
>----- >>> >From: "Joshua
>Lester" ><jlester8462 at students.pccua.edu> >>>
>To: "NFB >Talk Mailing List"
><nfb-talk at nfbnet.org> >>> >Sent: Sunday, April
>01, 2012 3:28 AM >>> >Subject: Re: [nfb-talk]
>Freedom Scientific >Releases New and >>
>Improved >>> OCR Recognition >Software for JAWS
>and OpenBook, @ >FreedomScientific >>> News
>March 30 >2012 >>> >>> >>> Lame joke! >>>
>Blessings, >Joshua >>> >>> On 4/1/12, Humberto
>Avila ><avila.bert.humberto2 at gmail.com>
>wrote: >>>> >From: @ Freedom Scientific
>News >>>> >[mailto:freedomscientificnews at freedoms
>cientific.com]
> > >>>> ><mailto:%5bmailto:freedomscientificnews
>@freedomscientific.com%5d> > >>>> >>>> Sent:
>Saturday, March 31, 2012 2:35 >PM EDT >>>> >>>>
>To: Humberto
>Avila >[mailto:avila.bert.humberto2 at gmail.com] >>
> >> ><mailto:%5bmailto:avila.bert.humberto2 at gmail
>.com%5d> > >>>> >>>> Subject: Freedom
>Scientific Releases >New and Improved OCR >>
>Recognition >>>> >Software for JAWS
>and >OpenBook >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Having
>trouble >viewing this email?
>Click >>>> >> ><http://www.freedomscientific.com/
>news/2012-03-31/fs-releases-new-imp
> > >>>> >roved-ocr-software-openbook-jaws.html>
> >>>> here >to view in a
>browser. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >For
>Immediate >Release: >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>
> >>>> >>>> >Freedom Scientific Releases New and
>Improved >OCR >> Recognition Software >>>> for
>JAWS and >OpenBook >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>
>Today, Freedom >Scientific, one of the
>world̢۪s leading >> >screen en 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 can̢۪t
>rearead 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 forr >>>>
>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 >that we released with JAWS >> 13.0
>later >this >>>> month, with the same features
>as the >ones offered now, so >> you aren̢۪t
>left >>>> >outout 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, that̢۪s
>right, >OpenBookÃok® 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 >with 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 >> what̢۪s >wrong >>>> quickly,
>independently y and >immediately with the
>built-in >> >handwriting >>>> recognition of the
>OCR engine >for OpenBook Mobile®! It’s
>so >easy! >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Currently, Op
>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 ¢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!
>â˜Âº >â˜Âº
>:))) >>>> >>>> >_________________________________
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