Abstract: Disclosed are techniques and systems to provide a narration of a text. In some aspects, the techniques and systems described herein include generating a timing file that includes elapsed time information for expected portions of text that provides an elapsed time period from a reference time in an audio recording to each portion of text in recognized portions of text.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques and systems to provide a narration of a text in multiple different voices where the portions of the text narrated using the different voices are selected by a user.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques and systems to provide a narration of a text in multiple different voices. Further disclosed are techniques and systems for modifying a voice model associated with a selected character based on data received from a user.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques and systems to provide a narration of a text in multiple different voices where the portions of the text narrated using the different voices are selected by a user. Also disclosed are techniques and systems for associating characters with portions of a sequence of words selected by a user. Different characters having different voice models can be associated with different portions of a sequence of words.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques and systems to provide a narration of a text in multiple different voices. Further disclosed are techniques and systems for processing indicia in a document to determine a portion of words and associating a particular a voice model with the portion of words based on the indicia. During a readback process, an audible output corresponding to the words in the portion of words is generated using the voice model associated with the portion of words.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques and systems to provide a narration of a text in multiple different voices. In some aspects, systems and methods described herein can include receiving a user-based selection of a first portion of words in a document where the document has a pre-associated first voice model and overwriting the association of the first voice model, by the one or more computers, with a second voice model for the first portion of words.

Abstract: A reading machine that operates in various modes includes image correction processing is described. The reading device pre-processes an image prior to optical character recognition processing by detect distortion in an image of a page by measuring an extent to which page boundaries in the image deviate from a simple rectangular shape and correcting for the optical distortion by transforming the image to restore the page to a rectangular shape.

Abstract: A reading machine has processing for detecting common text between a pair of individual images. The reading machine combines the text from the pair of images into a file or data structure if common text is detected, and determines if incomplete text phrases are present in the common text. If incomplete text phrases are present, the machine signals a user to move an image input device in a direction to capture more of the text.

Abstract: A portable reading machine detects poor image conditions for performing optical character recognition processing. The portable reading machine receives an image of sufficient resolution to distinguish lines of text but not necessarily of sufficient resolution to distinguish individual characters and processes the image to determine imaging conditions from the image. The reading machine reports imaging conditions to the user.

Abstract: A device for assisting a user to perform a transaction on a machine is described. The device receives data that specifies a transaction mode to use for processing an image and accesses a knowledge base to provide data to configure the device for the transaction mode, the data including data specific to the transaction mode. The device receives an image or images of a portion of a machine that the user will use to perform the transaction and processes the image or images to identify a pattern of controls on the machine and to detect the presence of a user-controlled pointing item over controls on the machine. The device announces to the user the name or function of the control closest to an end of the user-controlled pointing item.

Abstract: Techniques for operating a reading machine are disclosed. The techniques include forming an N-dimensional features vector based on features of an image, the features corresponding to characteristics of at least one object depicted in the image, representing the features vector as a point in n-dimensional space, where n corresponds to N, the number of features in the features vector and comparing the point in n-dimensional space to a centroid that represents a cluster of points in the n-dimensional space corresponding to a class of objects to determine whether the point belongs in the class of objects corresponding to the centroid.

Abstract: A user of an accessibility device is taught to properly use the device with a test image such that the accessibility device captures the entirety of or a large portion of a test image. In training the user, the device processes test image's information located within the device's field of view. Based on this processed information, the device indicates to the user if the device should be re-positioned such that a larger portion of the test image comes within the device's field of view.

Abstract: A portable reading machine that operates in several modes and performs image preprocessing to prior to optical character recognition. The portable reading machine receives a low resolution image and a high resolution image of a scene and processing the low resolution image to recognize a user-initiated gesture using a gesturing item that indicates a command from the user to the reading machine and the high resolution image to recognize text in the image of the scene, according to the command from the user to the machine.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques and systems for rendering pages or documents with both graphical and textual content.

Abstract: A handheld device includes an image input device capable of acquiring images, circuitry to send a representation of the image to a remote computing system that performs at least one processing function related to processing the image and circuitry to receive from the remote computing system data based on processing the image by the remote system.

Abstract: A reading machine includes an image input device including a lens and a polarizer disposed over the lens, a flash and a second polarizer disposed over the flash. The image input device also includes a computing device coupled to the image input device for capturing images, the computing device, including a processor to execute instructions and a computer program product residing on a computer readable medium, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing the processor to process the captured images to recognize features in the captured images.

Abstract: Computer implemented methods, apparatus and computer program product are described that involve capturing images of a plurality of documents and performing specialized processing on the documents for generalized translation, menu translation, expense reporting, business card and social networking site updating, calendar updating and currency identification. Other specialized applications are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques and systems to provide a scanned image in which a portion of the image is overlaid with OCR generated text corresponding to the text of the original scanned document.

Abstract: A reading machine has processing for detecting common text between a pair of individual images. The reading machine combines the text from the pair of images into a file or data structure if common text is detected, and determines if incomplete text phrases are present in the common text. If incomplete text phrases are present, the machine signals a user to move an image input device in a direction to capture more of the text.

Abstract: A reading device includes a computing device and an image input device coupled to the computing device for capturing low resolution images and high resolution images. The reading machine also includes a computer program product residing on a computer readable medium. The medium is in communication with the computing device and includes instructions to operate in a plurality of modes to optimize performance for specific uses of the reading device and process low and high resolution images during operation of at least one of the plurality of modes.