technology

Intel's Document Reader
I'm excited you are looking at the newest technology for students with disabilities for your new school! I have been using this document camera for several weeks now and am impressed with its accuracy and high quality voice. I am an Occupational Therapist, Assistive Technology Practitioner and a dyslexic myself, and this is the easiest way I have found yet to transfer books to spoken word. It is portable and easy to use on a moment's notice for visually impaired and learning disabled students.

I have been compiling a list of strengths and weaknesses of the device and the document stand: Strengths: With standard fonts, accurate up to 95% and sometimes higher Able to adjust for two columns of text (common in textbooks)Does well with hyphenated words split between two linesAccuracy impressive with titles, different colors of textEasy to useHigher accuracy when used in the standWhen handheld accuracy is strong, although it does lose top and bottom of page occasionallyIf you take all pictures at the same time you have a merged document of a book or short story Weaknesses:Non-standard fonts are less accurateLess accurate with font variations within words, and with big first letter of a line or paragraph and the rest of the word smallLess accurate with smaller textHeaders and footers are read as textDoes not understand section "breaks" in textbooks in columns; will merge text with questions following the textWill skip charts if it sees them as a pictures I'm excited you are looking at the newest technology for students with disabilities for your new school! I have been using this document camera for several weeks now and am impressed with its accuracy and high quality voice. I am an Occupational Therapist, Assistive Technology Practitioner and a dyslexic myself, and this is the easiest way I have found yet to transfer books to spoken word. It is portable and easy to use on a moment's notice for visually impaired and learning disabled students. I have been compiling a list of strengths and weaknesses of the device and the document stand: Strengths: With standard fonts, accurate up to 95% and sometimes higher Able to adjust for two columns of text (common in textbooks)Does well with hyphenated words split between two linesAccuracy impressive with titles, different colors of textEasy to useHigher accuracy when used in the standWhen handheld accuracy is strong, although it does lose top and bottom of page occasionallyIf you take all pictures at the same time you have a merged document of a book or short story Weaknesses:Non-standard fonts are less accurateLess accurate with font variations within words, and with big first letter of a line or paragraph and the rest of the word smallLess accurate with smaller textHeaders and footers are read as textDoes not understand section "breaks" in textbooks in columns; will merge text with questions following the textWill skip charts if it sees them as a pictures

stand:Page holder arm is not adjustable, so thicker books can't be held downLove the capture button on the stand Great portability

I have found that many of the "weaknesses" of the device can be overcome by creative text capture methods. For example, when it is merging headers and footers into the body of the text, I hand-hold the camera excluding the top/bottom or simply put a piece of paper over the text I do not want captured. As I continue to use the device I am sure I will refine methods of capture for higher accuracy. Overall, this is by far the most accurate, friendly and easy to use device for text to speech I have used for my students and myself. I would definitely recommend it for your students with difficulty accessing text in traditional ways. If you have any other questions feel free to email or call at 505-331-7062. I am very excited you are including technology for students with disabilities in your school plans, and I can't wait to hear about your school as it open! Thanks!Megan Shanley OTR/L, ATP Thanks!Megan Shanley OTR/L, ATP