ZoomReader is a combination of a text-to-speech reader, OCR (optical character recognition) reader and zoom magnifier. The app is compatible with the iPhone 4. ZoomReader can help people with many disabilities and challenges including low vision, blindness and dyslexia. The app uses the iPhone 4's camera to magnify printed text up to four times its original size to allow people with low vision to better see the text. ZoomReader can also change the contrast when the iPhone is held over the text to make it easier to read. ZoomReader also includes a lighting fast OCR feature that converts printed text into electronic text that can be read aloud. If you are unfamiliar with OCR click here. Once the text is converted to a digital format it can be read aloud by an included text-to-speech voice.One tip for improving the OCR quality is to turn on the camera flash. You can also add new text-to-speech voices for $2.99. The app has many customization options that allow you to change the appearance of the reading experience. Another killer feature is the voice activation powered by Nuance. To turn on speech activation touch the microphone in the top left. The voice activation feature allows you to take pictures and zoom in on text with the sound of your voice. For example you can say "take picture" to snap a picture of a document. To learn more about Nuance's accurate speech-to-text engine click here. The ZoomReader app is perfect for people with low vision, dyslexia or blindness. The app is $19.99 in the iTunes app store.
Two lucky winners can win this app for free by checking back on this site for giveaway information and promo codes. Watch my video review above for a demonstration. Click read more below to see screen shots and how to videos. Do not forget to check the Assistive Technology Blog in the next few days for giveaway details.
Do you know why I can nOt download theZoom reader app? It doesn't appear to exist now?! You can reply to me via email. Green.jennifer917@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteHi! Thanks for your question. ZoomReader is only avalible on the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. A new app called Prizmo works even better than ZoomReader and is half the price. Click here to read about Prizmo.
ReplyDeleteI am a fan of the ZoomReader app, but I have found that its accuracy goes way down if there are any pictures or columns in the text. I did my own side by side comparison, and with complicated text, I found the Intel Reader to be much more accurate.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. There is a new app that also has great OCR features it is called Prizmo. I recommend you check out my review and think about purchasing this app if you are a fan of ZoomReader
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