Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC) announced UK availability of the Intel® Reader, a mobile handheld device designed to increase independence for people who have trouble reading standard print. In the UK, there are an estimated six million people with dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties and two million people with visual impairments. The Intel Reader, which is about the size of a paperback book, converts printed text into digital text, and then reads it aloud to the user. Its unique design combines a high-resolution camera with the power of an Intel® Atom processor, allowing users to point, shoot and listen to printed text. The Intel Reader will be available in the UK through select retailers, including Amazon.co.uk, HumanWare and Inclusive Technology.
When the Intel Reader is used together with the Intel® Portable Capture Station, large amounts of text, such as a chapter or an entire book, can be easily stored for reading later. Users will have convenient and flexible access to a variety of printed materials, helping to not only increase their freedom, but improve their productivity and efficiency at school, work and home.
The original concept for the Intel Reader came from Ben Foss, director of access technology, at Intel's Digital Health Group who like 10 percent of the UK population has dyslexia. Throughout school, college and university he had to depend on others to read to him or work through the slow process of getting words off a page himself. As an adult, much of the content he wanted, from professional journals to reading for leisure, just wasnt available in audio form.
"As someone who is part of the dyslexic community, I am thrilled to be able to help level the playing field for people who, like me, do not have easy access to the printed word," Foss said. "Feelings of loneliness are often the consequence of not being able to read easily. We hope to open the doors for people in these communities. The Intel Reader is a tool that can help give people with dyslexia, partial sightedness, blindness or other reading or learning difficulties access to the resources they need to participate and be successful in school, work and life."
The British Dyslexia Association (BDA) and the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) both support the Intel Reader as an important advance in assistive technology.
Judi Stewart, chief executive, BDA said, "We are pleased that the Intel Reader is now available in the UK. This device has the potential to offer a great deal of independence to people who have a difficulty with reading. It allows you to read at your own pace, wherever and whenever needed, taking away the pressure and sometimes embarrassment of reading in public."
Steve Tyler, head of innovation and development, RNIB said, "It is great to see Intel developing a product that will allow more access to information for blind and partially sighted people as well as people who have other issues reading print. So much information is delivered in a print format and a device like this will help to break down barriers to accessing information. It is also great that the Intel Reader is portable so you can access more information when you're out and about."
Intel is also involved in the BDA's Mentoring scheme that aims to link adults with dyslexia with successful dyslexic people who will share the benefit of their experience and knowledge.
For further information, please visit:
http://www.intel.co.uk/reader
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