Low-cost portable text recognition and speech synthesis with generic laptop computer, digital camera and software

Abstract

Blind persons or people with reduced eyesight could benefit from a portable system that can interpret textual information in the surrounding environment and speak directly to the user. The need for such a system was surveyed with a questionnaire, and a prototype system was built using generic, inexpensive components readily available. The system architecture is component-based so that every module can be replaced with another generic module. Even though the system makes partly incorrect recognition of text in a versatile environment, the evaluation of the system with five actual users suggested that the system can provide genuine additional value in coping with everyday issues outdoors. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.