There are currently about 12 to 15 million visually impaired people in Europe (about 1.5 in U.K. and 10 in USA). Those people gave up reading too often, due to the lack of suited devices. Currently, the best aids they can use are of two types:
- Electronic Magnifiers and CCTVs
- Large Print Books
CCTVs are used to enlarge text or images written, drawn or printed on some medium like paper (photos, manuscripts, forms ...). They have no connection to the Digital Realm (digital documents, Web pages ...). Indeed, Electronic Magnifiers are small and light-weighted (less than 1 kg), but their small screen size (< 7") and autonomy (2-3h without mains connection) limit their usefulness. Devices with larger screens are much heavier and they generally need to be static (2,5 to 15 and even 25 kg).
The type size of Large Print Books is somewhat limited (often not much than 16 pt) whereas visually impaired people would need sizes from 24 to 40 pt, even 50. Their catalogs are also much smaller.
As a complementary aid to essential medical means to endure such impairments, our eBook aims to enable visually impaired people to read again. Opticians, ophtalmologists, orthoptists and ergotherapists assured us of their support.
Our offer comprises :
A READING TABLET
A touch screen device, without keyboard:
- weigth: under 900 grams (for the 10" model)
- great storage capacity: about one hundred books in standard version; several thousands with additional SD Card
- great autonomy : from 6 to 15 hours
which will enable:
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reading of textual digital documents, in type sizes ranging from 10 pts to 50 pts, even more if needed, in a high typographical quality
-
Internet access via a wireless connection, enabling the download of digital contents and Web browsing, while choosing the appearance (colors, contrasts, character fonts and sizes).
-
enlarging pre-existing paper documents, by means of an optional external videocam (like a mobile electronic magnifier with a larger screen and better autonomy)
A SOFTWARE SUITE comprising:
- A reader of digital documents in various formats (OEB, XHTML, HTML, Text), with automatic pagination on size and font changes plus standard readers for PDF, Doc, Rtf
- A text annotation system (underlining and highlighting, hand written or typed comment fields
- A Web browser with two working modes : standard or large type size
- Reading guides
- Diary and e-mail functionnalities
- Vocal Synthesis, with Text to Speech functionnality, audio-books and Digital Talking Book (Daisy format) support
- MP3 Reader
- Photo and video viewers
ADAPTED ACCESSORIES
- a lectern
- adapted switches (breath switch, large buttons, joysticks or keyboards) which allow page-turning without hand use
- an additional videocam transforming the device into a small CCTV