[Nfbf-l] LookTell technology the future of mobile

[TaraPrakash]

-----Original Message-----
From: msp_mailing-bounces at codefactory.cat
[mailto:msp_mailing-bounces at codefactory.cat] On Behalf Of Kliphton A.M.
Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2010 11:27 PM
To: 'Mobile Speak/Magnifier Smartphone Users List'; 'Mobile Speak/Magnifier
Pocket Users List'
Subject: [MSP] LookTel: The Future of Mobile Accessibility

Technology - LookTel: The Future of Mobile Accessibility

LookTel is a company whose aim is to sell software than can be
downloaded onto mobile devices, making them completely accessible to the
visually impaired in ways that are truly incredible.

The software they've designed will be tethered with camera enabled smart
phones and features artificial sight programs used to identify objects
and landmarks. For example, by pointing the phone's camera at a can of
peas, the phone will speak aloud to its user, "Peas." If you move the
phone to the next can which happens to be corn, the phone will say,
"Corn." Beyond that, you can actually create custom labels for the
software to recognize. So if you have a Tupperware container of salad in
your fridge, you can stick a unique label onto it and teach the phone
that that label means salad. Whenever it sees that label, it will say,
"Salad." It can also recognize every denomination of US currency.

Another feature is that the software will be able to recognize
landmarks, namely street signs and storefronts, to help the user
navigate. It even goes so far as allowing the user to access assistance
if they need it. By using the GPS imbedded in most smart phones, the
user could connect to someone else, transmit live video of where they
are, and the other person could see what the phone sees, as well as
their location on a map, and guide them to their intended destination.
This feature gives added comfort to those who may be able to navigate
most places with ease, but will require help from time to time.

The software also incorporates a text-to-speech feature, allowing the
user to take a picture of any text and listen to the phone read it back
to them. Beyond that, it makes touch screens entirely accessible by
using a different operating system that gives spoken feedback and relies
on easy to remember pattern placement of common phone functions.

This is a huge step forward in accessible mobile technology that can
literally open up the world to people with visual impairment. The
software is being released in spring of this year as a beta test, and
will most likely be available for purchase late this year. It will be
compatible with every major US cell phone carrier.

To read more about the LookTel software, go to http://www.looktel.com/