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Summary | Market Needs | State-of-the-Practice | Issues to Consider | References SummaryAccess to textual information has been identified as a high priority need by clinicians, researchers, manufacturers and consumers. While technologies do exist for accessing both printed and electronic textual information (magnification devices, optical character recognition and scanning technology, electronic media, voice output, Braille displays and embossers, automatic identification systems, etc.), there is an opportunity for significant improvement in these areas in order for persons with visual impairments to have full and equal access to this information. Technology advancements in the areas of print media, electronic media and text on consumer products would meet significant end-user needs and represent significant business opportunities. [ Top of Page ] Market NeedsThe ability to have full access to all print media, electronic text and text on consumer product labels is of utmost importance for inclusion in educational, employment and daily living environments. In order to function effectively, people require the ability to read, write and communicate in each of these settings. In schools, an estimated 448,000 visually impaired students in the U.S. need access to textbooks and hand-outs. They also need to fill in worksheets and take exams (Adams, Hendershot, and Marano, 1999). They need to take notes, read the handwriting of others, and access the internet. At work, the estimated 7.7 million people with visual impairments must have accommodations in order to be able to read journals, office memos, email, and business cards; fill out forms and access the internet (McNeil, 2001). At home, people need access to printed information such as instruction manuals, mail, bank accounts, utility bills, medication packages, clothing labels, the internet and a variety of printed information. People with visual disabilities often rely heavily upon computer-based technologies in their personal and professional lives. The internet provides a variety of services and resources including e-commerce, education, information retrieval, communication and entertainment. According to estimates presented in the report "Falling through the Net: Toward Digital Inclusion," over 50% of individuals without a vision impairment use a computer on a daily basis. In contrast, only 13% of users with vision impairment have the same habit of daily computer usage. Additionally, 57% of people who do not have a disability have internet access available to them, whereas only 21% of people who have visual impairments have the same access (U.S. Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 2000). Although computers and the internet have removed some barriers in terms of information access, people who have visual impairments continue to experience less than adequate access to textual information. [ Top of Page ] State-of-the-PracticeProducts that are not accessible to persons with visual impairments are a significant barrier to full access, inclusion, participation and independence. However, technology has shown great promise in providing access to textual information for persons with low vision and blindness. Innovations such as optical character recognition, speech synthesis, scanners, digital cameras, personal computers, the internet and mark-up languages underlie the capabilities found in today's products. For the purposes of our project, the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Technology Transfer has identified and defined three categories of textual representation: print media, electronic text, and text on consumer products. The following information provides an overview of the state-of-the-practice for technologies that enable the visually impaired to access text. Print MediaThese are the mediums that disseminate printed matter through books, magazines, menus, fliers, paper currency and other means that convey textual information. Technologies currently in use for access to print media include hand-held magnifiers, digital video magnifiers (and CCTVs), handwriting recognition, money identifiers, optical character recognition software, scanners, and networked document servers. Hand-held magnifiers are hand-held devices that can be placed over an object or text to enlarge or magnify it. These magnifiers are generally very easy to manipulate which enables users to adjust the working distance easily (Levack, 1994). The portability of these magnifiers makes them an attractive option for many people with visual impairments. A stand magnifier, which sits on a base or has a clamp with an adjustable or flexible arm, is also common. Stand magnifiers are an option when both hands are needed to perform a task or when motor control is not optimal. Magnifiers come in illuminated and non-illuminated versions. They should work to enlarge the textual information on all sizes of documents, from business cards to posters. Digital video magnifiers use a video camera to project a magnified image onto a video monitor, computer monitor, or TV screen. They are used to enlarge written materials and small objects, enabling a person with low vision to both read and write. Digital video magnifiers should be portable, include options for speech output and employ high-resolution, auto-focus cameras and flat-screen technology. Video magnifiers should be able to scale text while maintaining clarity, contrast, and resolution of the image. Handwriting recognition is the conversion of a set of digital handwritten curves into a set of letters and/or sensible words. These systems are currently used in post offices, and generally are not accurate due to problems such as separating overlapped handwritten characters, recognizing multi-stroke handwritten characters, separating and segmenting multi-lined handwritten text, normalizing hand-written character slope, representing irrational curves, automatically detecting uppercase characters and automatically detecting spaces (Paragon Software, 2002). New software products, such as simpliWrite™ by Advanced Recognition Technologies, are being developed for inclusion in mobile wireless communication options. This product is platform independent so it can be incorporated into many different products (Advanced Recognition Technologies, n.d.). Situations in which handwriting recognition is needed include reading doctors' prescriptions or reading the handwriting on forms. These devices need significant improvement before they are used to access print media for the blind. Money identifiers are small devices that provide speech output identification of paper money. The money can be inserted and read in any orientation. The volume is adjustable and standard headphone jacks are available to provide privacy. Money identifiers are typically programmed to identify currency in their country of origin. Using optical character recognition (OCR) software, and an accompanying scanner, consumers can scan and read mail, office memos, magazine articles and other documents on their computer or they can download them to a note taker for reading. Optical character recognition involves the reading of text from paper and then translating the images into a digital format (Computer Digital Expo, 2003). A device optically analyzes a printed text, recognizes the letters or other characters, and stores this information as a computer text file. OCR is usually limited to recognizing the styles and sizes of type for which they are programmed (Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI), 2002). Scanners can read white text on a black background, black text on a white background or color Networked Document Servers transform paper documents into a digital format and send them as an email attachment to a file server, webpage, to print or to a URL. They are stand-alone units which are placed next to your scanner or digital copier (Axis Communications, 2003). They deliver higher quality documents than those you get via faxing. Electronic TextElectronic text is a term used to define text in a form that a computer can store and display on a computer screen (i.e., laptops, personal digital assistants, cell phones, and e-book readers). Current technologies for accessing electronic text vary. It should be possible to render text as visual information, audio information, or tactile information (IMS Global Learning Consortium, 2002a). Specific examples of available technology for this rendering include the use of electronic and audio books, voice output, screen magnification software, refreshable Braille and Braille embossers. Electronic Books are books that have been stored as a computer file, in a variety of possible formats. Files with a .txt extension can be read on a computer with screen reader software. Files with the extensions .brf, .brl, or .bfm are files containing the ASCII text of the book translated into contracted Braille. They require Braille translation software to read them. Both plain text and Braille files can be loaded into a note taker and read using voice output or refreshable Braille. In addition, electronic books can be stored as .pdf, .html, .xml, .rtf, or in Microsoft Bookreader format (TSBVI, 2002). Depending on the accessibility (i.e., presence of alt tags for .html, version of .pdf), these formats may or may not be accessible to a text-to-speech conversion software such as a screen reader. "Electronic books can be made accessible using proper markup and, where appropriate, image descriptions (IMS Global Learning Consortium, 2002b)." Audio Books are used by a large percentage of blind people. They are cassette tapes or CDs of
Voice Output, such as screen reading software, is also used to acquire information from the computer. Screen readers send the information displayed on the computer monitor or on a notetaker to a speech synthesizer to produce audio output. Many screen readers allow for information to be heard as it is input into the computer. Screen reading software solutions should also be available on personal digital assistants (for example, Palm and iPaq). The pronunciation of certain words and text strings can be defined appropriately by the user, but should sound more human. The quality of voice output can vary widely depending on the software used. Screen readers should be stable and compatible across all applications and operating systems, including Java script applications, spreadsheets, databases and educational software. Software development, programming languages and multimedia access (Realplayer, WinMedia and Apple) should be supported. Screen magnification programs allow users to enlarge a portion of the screen. They turn the computer monitor into a view port showing only a portion of an enlarged display. Text magnification programs need text smoothing (for example, substituting a scaled font instead of magnifying a small one) and smooth panning/navigation to eliminate disorientation within spreadsheets or other complex applications. Magnification with screen abstraction would allow one to see only certain portions of the screen that you want magnified. Refreshable Braille displays are devices that use a series of moveable pins that raise and lower to represent text stored electronically in Braille format. Text is represented in contracted or uncontracted Braille and displayed in a row of cells. A bar or button on the device is used to change or "refresh" the display to show the next or previous section of text. Refreshable Braille displays may be connected to the computer and used to display information on the screen in Braille. They are also incorporated in other technologies such as portable note taking devices and calculators. Braille embossers are printers that create the actual raised Braille dots on Braille paper. Embossers range in price, size, speed (indicated by the number of characters printed per second, abbreviated "cps") and type. Brailling can be embossed single-sided or double-sided (also known as inter-point). Text on Consumer ProductsText on consumer products includes the textual information that appears on the containers and labels of products purchased by consumers (i.e., prescription bottles, cereal boxes, snack bags and household chemicals). This printed information may include labels for identifying the product, ingredients, nutritional content, and directions for use and care. Current technologies for accessing the textual information on consumer products are less available. Consumers may need human assistance in first identifying the product. Others may choose low-tech solutions such as plastic food markers, high contrast cans, Braille or tactile labeling, or magnifying glasses. Currently, automatic identification solutions such as portable electronic bar code readers, talking medicine bottles and radio frequency identification systems hold promise. Portable electronic bar code readers allow the user to associate a recorded message with a bar code. These readers work with existing bar codes on products, or they can be created from self adhesive, iron-on or banded labels. Messages can also be recorded on magnetic cards and then played back (Compusult Ltd., 2002). The next time the same bar code is scanned; the device recalls the stored verbal message and plays it through an internal speaker (EnVision America, 2003). Talking medicine bottles are a particular solution for those who must take medications regularly and cannot see or have trouble reading the label. A script can be programmed to read everything on the prescription label from why and when medicine should be taken to how many refills are left. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system is a tracking technology made up of readers and "smart tags" or microchips attached to antennas. When a tag nears a reader, it broadcasts the information contained in the chip. Readers can scan smart tags automatically as pallets of products pass along conveyor belts and through loading bays. In the mainstream market, this may reduce shipment errors, and reduce theft. RFID tags, in the form of "smart shelves" equipped with tag-readers, are used to notify stock that shelves must be restocked. IBM states that upon the completion of pilot projects in 2003 companies will start deploying smart tags in earnest in 2004 (Economist Group, 2003). RFID tags hold great promise for people with visual impairment as text is presented in audio format. [ Top of Page ] Issues to Consider
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