K-NFB READER

By Robert Stigile

During the month of March, I attended the CSUN conference on technology, which houses hundreds of different vendors of electronic equipment. Some of these vendors provide brochures in Braille, but many do not. When I approached a specific vendor who said, "I apologize, but I do not have any information in Braille," it was nice to say in reply, "That is okay, I will take the print version." I knew that I could take it to my room and read it there independently.

Some of you might be wondering how this could be done. It was accomplished with the use of the Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader (K-NFB Reader). What is this device? The K-NFB Reader is the first handheld personal reader that houses a state-of-the-art digital camera and a powerful personal data assistant together in a custom-designed case. The Reader uses character recognition software combined with text-to-speech technology to enable a user to access most print documents independently with the push of a button.

Some of the items the Reader can process include black text on a white background (such as menus, business cards, books and magazines, and much more). It can also process a word document on a computer screen. It cannot read digital printouts, LED screens, white text on a black background or money.

At the National Federation of the Blind convention in 2004, Dr. Maurer asked each state president to select a person to be the state ambassador and to identify fifteen people who would like to be beta testers. Since I am involved in technology, Nancy Burns asked me to be the Ambassador, and many people signed up to be beta testers. At the convention in Louisville Kentucky, a meeting was held for all ambassadors. A training session was scheduled for September, but was postponed to March, as the Reader needed additional enhancements.

The session was held over the second weekend of March at the National Center. When we left we took home a Reader to work with to demonstrate at chapter meetings and to individuals. We were to determine its strengths and weaknesses and to report back to the K-NFB Reader team.

In April, ten people from California received their Readers to beta test for a period of six weeks. Once this was completed, the software in the Reader was changed and upgraded, and at the 2006 National convention in Dallas Texas, the K-NFB Readers were rolled out and sold to those who wanted to purchase them.

If you would like to purchase a Reader you may call toll-free (877) 547-1500. The package includes the K-NFB Reader, Braille and print manuals, as well as a manual on CD. You will also receive free software upgrades for one year.

The greatest benefit to me personally has been the ability to read mail independently.