Scientists at MIT have developed a reading audio device to be worn on the index finger for visually impaired people, giving them easy access to the printed word.
The prototype, called Finger Reader, made with help of 3D-printer is worn as a ring on the finger of the user, and is equipped with a small camera that scans the text. Synthesized voice reads the words aloud, quickly translates books, restaurant menus and other items necessary for everyday life texts. To read enough to point the finger at the word. Special software monitors the movement of the finger; the word identifies and processes information. The device has a motor to vibrate to alert readers when they deviate from the line. Developers had to overcome unusual problems to help people with visual impairments to move your finger along a straight line of printed text, which they cannot see.
Development gadget took three years because of the need to create special software, experiment with different designs and testing of the device by means of a feedback control group of visually impaired people. Prior to the promotion, a lot more needs to be improved including the problem of how to make the gadget work on mobile phones. Now Finger Reader can read information from documents, books, magazines, newspapers, computer screens, but he still has trouble reading the text on the touch screen. Disabling the sensor is possible to obtain an acceptable level of reading, but developers want to achieve more. Potentially only in the US market requires more than 11 million such devices, federal assistance programs for low-income make this necessary technology available to all.
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