OCR
Specialized Optical Character Recognition
Programs (OCR) allow the user to scan a printed page of text and have the
computer read the text aloud, and/or save the text as a file on his/her
computer. Several programs offer additional features like the
ability to open and read PDF files. The products below all work with
a computer and a compatible scanner. Attention should be paid to the
supported scanners lists, as not all OCR programs will work with every
model of scanner. A helpful site with
general information on OCR and scanning is
Wayne Fulton's "A few scanning tips".
There are also stand alone reading
machines where the OCR software and scanner are packaged as a complete
device. A page of these devices is being compiled and will appear on
this web site soon.
| Program |
Kurzweil 1000 version 8 |
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|
| Company |
Kurzweil Educational Systems |
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|
| Operating Systems |
Windows 95, Windows 98,
Windows NT Service Pak 6, Windows 2000, Windows ME, or Windows XP
Home, and Windows XP Professional. |
| |
|
| System Requirements |
200 MHz or higher Pentium® processor (at
least 300 MHz if using RealSpeak™ voices). 64 MB of RAM recommended
(at least 128 MB for RealSpeak). At least 300 MB of available hard
disk space. CD-ROM drive. Floppy disk drive if you are using
DecTalk™ text to speech engine. 16-bit or better Sound
Blaster®-compatible sound card. Full-size keyboard or 17-button
Kurzweil 1000 keypad. |
| |
|
| Supported Scanners |
Link to
Recommended
Scanners for K-1000 |
| |
|
| Number of Languages
Recognized:
|
170 |
| |
|
| Languages Spoken: |
English, British
English, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, and Spanish. |
| |
|
| MP3 File Creation: |
Yes |
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|
| Features List |
Link to
K-1000 Features List |
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|
| Demo |
K-1000
Demo Link |
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|
| Cost |
$995 |
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|
| Program |
OpenBook Version 7 |
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|
| Company |
Freedom Scientific |
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|
| Operating Systems |
Windows 95, Windows 98,
Windows ME, Windows NT 4 (SP6), Windows 2000, Windows XP Home, Windows
XP Professional |
| |
|
| System Requirements |
Minimum Requirements of: Processor
speed - 166 MHz, RAM - 32 MB, Available hard disk space for
installation - 200 MB, Available hard disk space after installation -
45 MB, Video - Super VGA display, Sound - Windows compatible sound
card and speakers, Keyboard - 104 key Keyboard. |
| |
|
| Supported Scanners |
Recommended Scanners for OpenBook |
| |
|
| Number of Languages
Recognized:
|
|
| |
|
| Languages Spoken: |
|
| |
|
| MP3 File Creation: |
Yes |
| |
|
| Features List |
Link to
OpenBook Features List |
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|
| Demo |
OpenBook Demo Link |
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|
| Cost |
$995 |
| Program |
Scan and Read Lite version
6.0 |
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|
| Company |
Premier Programming
Solutions |
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|
| Operating Systems |
Windows 98SE, Windows
ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP Home, Windows XP Professional. |
| |
|
| System Requirements |
Memory: 64 MB of RAM, CPU: 200 MHz or
Faster, Storage: 500 MB of Free space, CD ROM Drive: 4X or Faster,
Sound Card with Speakers, Keyboard and Mouse, USB port for scanner.
|
| |
|
| Supported Scanners |
Any TWAIN compatible
scanner |
| |
|
| Number of Languages
Recognized:
|
1 |
| |
|
| Languages Spoken |
|
| |
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| MP3 File Creation: |
No |
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|
| Demo |
Scan and
Read Demo Link |
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|
| Cost |
$89.95 |
| Program |
Scan and Read Pro
version 6 |
| |
|
| Company |
Premier Programming
Solutions |
| |
|
| Operating Systems |
Windows 98SE, Windows
ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP Home, Windows XP Professional. |
| |
|
| System Requirements |
200 MHz or faster processor, 64 MB RAM,
500 MB Hard Drive Free Space, 4x or faster CD-ROM Drive, Sound Card
with Speakers, Keyboard and Mouse, USB port for scanner. |
| |
|
| Supported Scanners |
Any TWAIN compatible
scanner |
| |
|
| Number of Languages
Recognized:
|
12 |
| |
|
| Languages Spoken |
|
| |
|
| MP3 File Creation: |
Yes |
| |
|
| Demo |
Scan and
Read Demo Link |
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|
| Cost |
$149.95 |
|
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