[Njtechdiv] new print to braille reader

[Janie Degenshein]

Good post Lester!


From: Lester Cameron via Njtechdiv
Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2017 12:13 PM
To: njtec
Cc: Lester Cameron
Subject: [Njtechdiv] new print to braille reader

here is a new print to   braille reader  IInstant Braille translator can fit 
in your hand Instant Braille translator can fit in your hand - CNET
  An all-woman team of six engineering undergraduate students at MIT has 
created an inexpensive, hand-held device prototype that provides real-time 
translation of printed text to Braille -- which could greatly increase 
accessibility of written materials for the blind.

  Team Tactile was one of the winners of the Lemelson-MIT Student Prize this 
year for their creation, which translates printed text into the raised-dot 
language.

  Here's how it works: The device has an internal camera that takes photos 
of the printed text, which is then converted into digital text using optical 
character recognition software. Next, the text is translated into Braille, 
and a mechanical system raises and lowers pins on the surface of the Tactile 
that form the characters to be read by one's fingertips.

  Though the current version is limited in the number of characters it can 
translate and display, the team hopes to make the device capable of scanning 
an entire page at a time and displaying two lines of text at once.

  Credit: Team Tactile

  In a world of audiobooks and text-to-audio technology, why is Braille 
still important? Though audio systems are easier to use, they don't instill 
the same understanding of language as a written system like Braille does. 
Studies have shown that Braille literacy significantly improves employment 
opportunities for the blind -- but right now, less than 10% of blind 
Americans can read it.

  Part of the problem is that creating Braille texts is costly, greatly 
limiting choices for the visually impaired. The Tactile device has the 
potential to open up entire libraries of books to the blind. And while there 
are products on the market that translate digital texts to Braille, there 
are some drawbacks. Not all documents are available electronically. Also, 
these devices are very expensive and are designed to work with laptops and 
computers, making them less than portable. Team Tactile hopes to make their 
handheld translator available for less than $200.

  The six women -- Chen Wang, Chandani Doshi, Grace Li, Jessica Shi, 
Charlene Xia and Tania Yu -- met freshman year at MIT. The original Tactile 
was the result of a hackathon they entered "as a team of friends just for 
fun."

  Now, they're receiving patent help and mentorship through Microsoft's 
#MakeWhat'sNext, a program that encourages talented women who are creating 
technology for positive change. Though all six team members are graduating 
this year, they hope to continue working on the Tactile -- and their larger 
ambition: to "improve the world, one innovative solution at a time."



  ATTENTION  THIS IS A DISCLAIMER
  I Mr Lester  take any responsibility  for any  miss spelled words or any 
miss leading comments
  sent out as received


  http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/vbjFt0dccic/


from the desk of Mr lester cameron
remember life is what it is
it is what you do with it that matters
do all you can with it
I do that each day of my life

from the desk of Mr lester cameron
remember life is what it is
it is what you do with it that matters
do all you can with it
I do that each day of my life



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