This project will demonstrate the technical merit, feasibility and cost efficiency of a portable electronic device to assist a visually impaired person in the use of common office equipment. The specific application area to be tested in this project is providing a device that reads the digital display of common office equipment and speaks what is displayed in English. Recent breakthroughs in image acquisition, pattern recognition and speech synthesis provides the basic building blocks for this technology to be applied to this area. Specific aims for Phase I are to: 1.develop custom algorithms that will train the system to recognize text and icons on the digital displays of common office equipment and then verbally communicate the correct information to the user; 2.build a prototype unit; and 3.perform a usability analysis with actual users. During the usability testing, the success of the user will be measured and compared with the success when a job coach is used. Summary of Anticipated Results and Implications: Successful use of this device will enable a person who is visually impaired to be more self-sufficient and increase the job opportunities available to them. Not only will this also foster independence, but we expect that our pilot study will prove that this system will be more cost effective than a job coach. The potential commercial applications of a digital display reader for common office equipment are substantial as digital displays rapidly replace devices with tactile feedback, such as knobs, buttons and dials. In addition to reading the displays in the workplace, the Personal Scanner concept can enhance in independent living by reading point-of-sale terminals, ATMs and common household items with digital displays such as microwaves, VCRs, and phones.
