Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to devices that can be worn on the body and used to take images of written text and convert that text to an auditory or other signal to aid visually impaired individuals. A method for enabling a user having a visual impairment to understand written text material is provided. The method includes capturing an image containing text or symbols via an image capture module of a first device and communicating the captured image to a second device via a wireless communication medium. The method also includes identifying the text or symbols within the captured image via an image processing module of the second device and converting, via an audio conversion module of the second device, the identified text to audio for playback. The method further includes playing the audio received from the second device for the user.