Intel Reader

The Intel Reader could transform the lives of many people who have problems reading text on screen or on the page: it’s a small device that can scan and then read out pages of text in a human-sounding voice.

It does nothing that could not be done with a laptop, a digital camera, and suitable software, but it packs those functions into a single, light device (it weighs 630g) that’s small enough (at 17x14x1.3cm) to be carried about by anyone who has difficulty reading because of dyslexia, poor sight or anything else.

The £1,000 price may seem high for what is basically a modified netbook computer with an auto-focus camera, but it is low by the standards of special-needs products, and many buyers will qualify for grants that will bring the price down to a more acceptable level.

The price could have been even higher – costs have been kept down partly by the use of a small (9x5cm) screen. Intel says this corresponds to the field of view of poorly-sighted people when it is brought close to the eye. But a larger one would have been preferable.

The small display does have room for a comprehensive set of control buttons that are easily located by touch. The camera and flash are on the bottom edge so that the user holds the screen vertically to snap text for reading.

Each page takes about a minute to translate but you can capture several pages and start listening to the first ones while the others are being processed. The system coped well, if not infallibly, with complex newspaper layouts.

Text appears on screen as it is read out and the size can be bumped up for easier viewing. Processed pages can be saved as MP3 files for playing on other devices. Intel reckons the device can capture a book in an hour with the aid of an optional, folding Portable Capture Station, which incorporates a document holder and stand but costs an extra £249.

The 4GB of storage has 2GB free to hold up to 600 processed pages, and files can be swapped with a PC through the device’s USB connection.

The Reader is far from perfect. It is slow, it gets things wrong, it mispronounces words, and it takes some getting used to. But it is a universe better than not being able to read at all. We tested it with two people with bad eyesight problems and both wanted to buy one as soon as possible.

It’s currently available only from the retailer Humanware – see the web address below or call the company on 01933 415 800 to discuss purchasing it, especially if you think you might be eligible for a grant.