Next week the recently established company elumo is going to present their innovative software TextScout, which turns your phone into a mobile reader for blind people. Although it is only available on the market since a few months, TextScout will be presented on the “Rehacare international 2009”, the leading international trade fair for rehabilitation, prevention, integration and care, in Düsseldorf.
The novel reading software TextScout makes it possible to take pictures of a text with a compatible camera phone and to let it be read to you by loudspeakers or headphones. Therefore blind or visual impaired people get the possibility of text recognition even while being on the way.
TextScout offers various applications. For instance, the users are able to read brochures or leaflets in stores, offices or museums on their own. Magazines, which are just released in normal print can be studied without help or the delivered mail is to be handled autonomously. In supermarkets the users can read the product inscription and the price tags. Flyer, posters and markers can be recognized as well.
Elumo especially focuses on the auditory user interface, which is particularly designed to the needs of visually impaired people as the task menu navigation can be used by speech or tones. Additionally an integrated alignment assistant supports blind users to choose the correct angle for taking the picture through voice commands.
Due to being very expensive and only residentially applicable text recognition systems were only used in domestic environments and at working places, up to now. TextScout offers these functions of stationary systems on a mobile everyday device. Thus blind or visually impaired people may now enjoy access to text in everyday life at any time, en-route and are independent from external help.
elumo
The young company based in Münster was founded in March 2009 by Christian Bott (26), responsible for product developing, and Martin Lautzas (27), sales manager. Since his graduation in Electronic Technology at the University of Dortmund in spring 2008, Bott engages in the developing of the mobile reading assistant, which has already been part of his diploma thesis. His associate Lautzas graduated in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Darmstadt last autumn.
For the development of their first product TextScout, a speech-empowered technology which transforms a usual mobile phone into a mobile reading system, they received the EXIST- founder- award. Amongst other things they were also awarded by the Federal Ministry of Economy and Technology on the CeBit last year.
In Germany TextScout is available since May 2009 and beyond that the company wants to enter the European Market from the end of the year on.
REHACARE international 2009
Rehacare international is the leading international trade fair for rehabilitation, prevention, integration and care. It offers an ideal platform for marked leaders of that branch and innovative newcomers of products and services as well as for alliances, self-help groups and non-profit institutions.
You may test TextScout at the fair trade stand of our distribution partner Handy Tech.
From October 14 - 17, 2009, Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre,
Stand 5A05 (Handy Tech, close to the entrance of hall 5)
Opening hours:
Monday – Friday: 10h - 18h
Saturday: 10h - 17h
Contact:
Martin Lautzas (Managing Director)
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Phone: +49 (0)251 - 980 242 - 1
Fax: +49 (0)251- 980 242 - 9
elumo GmbH
Mendelstraße 11
48149 Münster
Germany
www.elumo.net
www.textscout.eu