Experimental simulation of an optical character recognition, speech output reading machine for the blind

Abstract

This paper describes a project to investigate an Optical Character Recognition Speech-Output Reading Machine for the blind. A standard minicomputer accepts optical images derived from the electronic camera of an Optacon Reading Aid and converts these images to character streams representing letters of recognized words. A second computer then converts the letter strings to spoken words.The system operates in real-time at reading rates over 150 words per minute with the electronic camera moved either manually or automatically.