Reading devices

For a long time, blind and severely visually impaired people were unable to independently inform themselves about current events from the press or to handle confidential letters and documents, such as bank statements, on their own. The development of reading devices, also known as reading systems or reading speaking devices, has changed this.

 

What do reading devices do?

Reading devices are assistive tools that read printed text (so-called black text) and output it through a synthetic speech output. The user places the text template (e.g., letters, books, magazines, etc.) on the scanner like a photocopier and starts the reading process. The text is then processed in a built-in computer and output through built-in speakers or headphones.

 

What functions do reading devices have?

The basic functions are volume adjustment and the ability to pause the reading. An important aspect is a pleasant reading voice, as well as the option to adjust the reading speed.

In addition to directly reading the texts, many devices allow the storage of texts for later use or archiving. The reading device Recitator from Kranz Vision stores the archived texts under memory slots assigned by voice input. Through a built-in microphone, the user can easily set the name of the document.

 

The operation of reading devices.

For blind and visually impaired individuals, operating technical devices is often a challenge. Reading devices must be tailored to the special needs of these users. Large buttons, preferably in different shapes, as well as a simply structured operating concept are particularly important here.