[stylist] Scanning of Books

Sun Feb 19 11:35:08 UTC 2012

Jackie and Linda and others
RE: Scanning verses handling hard-copy books 

Having been a sighted guy, I too have that wonderful feeling that comes with
handling a print book. And I bet some of the folks on this list who grew up
reading hard copy Braille books would have a similar tale to tell. And yes,
I have scanned a few books in my time- boy what a process and then having to
listen to it via a synthesized voice! Not my first choice  in reading, but
it is a worthwhile option --- I do greatly appreciate the job BookShare
does, the option it provides we blind folk. [Most of the bookdshare books I
read are through my braille display on my PAC Mate])

But jackie, what Linda has, as many of us on this list have, are flatbed
scanners used with a specialized scanning software program like Kurzweil or
OpenBook and maybe someone else here may have the newer scanning systems
called Pearl and MMM, I'm not coming up with its major competitor. And what
is different than your KNFB reader is --- the flatbed scanner allows you to
lay the book down on its scanning surface and depending upon the size of the
book, you can do one page, like the right or the left one as you have the
book open, or you can lay the entire open book on the scanner and do both at
once. And in general, the process of scanning a page and getting it read to
you takes --- 30 up to 60 seconds (you can read as you scan or scan and read
it all later). [The scanning software costs right at $1,000.00] It basically
works good, the scanning is not perfect but okay. 

The newer systems like the Pearl (which is the new version of OpenBook by
Freedom/scientific) it scans via a camera that is on like a tripod and it is
so much faster than the flatbed scanners --- like doing the job in a couple
of seconds. (And yes, it too is pricey) 

And as for the KNFB reader --- I had one and gave it away --- it worked as a
down and dirty last resort type of thing --- yeah, it was portable --- but
slow and okay if there was no other way. (And yes, maybe that I just wasn't
the best user of that piece of technology) 

So enough on this- but it's great to share info and experience. 

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Jacqueline Williams
Sent: Saturday, February 18, 2012 6:44 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Collecting Books

Linda and Henrietta,
Though I only buy new books for others now, I am guilty of having kept about
500 books of the one thousand five-hundred I needed to get ride of. Even
now, I know in what room and bookcase those books are located. I loan them
out, and sometimes ask friends to read portions to me. Some are too precious
and rare to just haul to the thrift shop. Most trigger memories. Many are
small poetry books published by even my mother's friends from perhaps 85
years ago.
A question from your most recent e-mail, Linda, is about your KNFB scanner.
Would that be like my KNFB Reader that is a cell phone also. I have tried to
use it so many times, but usually I cannot get it focused properly because
the book will not lie flat, and I cannot cover the other page, hold it in
place, hold the book open, and also hit the right buttons. I need at least
three hands. 
Any suggestions?
Jackie

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Lynda Lambert
Sent: Saturday, February 18, 2012 5:17 PM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] Collecting Books

Henrietta, you and I are surely kindred spirits - two peas in a pod. I
thought I was the only crazy blind lady who still bought real books that I
cannot read or see. I am not alone!  I seldom have ever mentioned this to
anyone at all - and my husband never has questioned me when the books show
up on the Visa statement. One of these days, I think he just might ask a
question about it.

Lynda
----- Original Message -----
From: "Henrietta Brewer" <gary.brewer at comcast.net>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 18, 2012 3:54 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] Collecting Books

> OH, Hi, LInda,
> It has been so many years since I could read an actual book. I think I was

> in eighth grade. Then they were large print. but the books i have 
> purchased since then would probably pay for a college education. Well, 
> maybe a couple years. lol
>
> I love my book shelf. I love the feel. You are right, the heft and smell 
> are wonderful. I love to sit in the library and just enjoy. There is 
> always the hope someone you love will want to read your books. Then you 
> can share them with a special meaning.
>
> Don't feel bad about buying books. But I will say, we need to keep this in

> check. If we spend so much on print books that we can't afford things that

> would help us as people who are blind we might need help. lol
>
> When the Grand Kids were young, I would check books out of Grandma's 
> library. No, I rarely saw them returned but I knew where they were.
> Henrietta
> On Feb 18, 2012, at 12:01 PM, Lynda Lambert wrote:
>
>> This morning, i was checking out some books for sale on www.amazon.com 
>> and I ordered a few. I ordered books by Irene McKinney, a WV poet who 
>> passed last week. I ordered the new Dorianne Laux book; and a couple of 
>> Robert Bly books.  After I ordered them, I began to think about WHY I 
>> still order actual books for my collection. I cannot read them, of 
>> course. There is something in me, still, that needs to hold a book in my 
>> hands, feel it's heft, and it's smell, and put it on my book shelf in 
>> alpahabetical order.  Does anyone else here do this?  I am thinking that 
>> when my box of new books arrives, my husband must surely wonder why a 
>> blind person still buys books she can never read. He has never said 
>> anything about it, but he HAS to be curious. I am curious myself.
>>
>> Lynda
>> Lynda Lambert
>> 104 River Road
>> Ellwood City, PA 16117
>>
>> 724 758 4979
>>
>> My Blog:  http://www.walkingbyinnervision.blogspot.com
>> My Website:  http://lyndalambert.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
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