Intel announces the new Intel Reader mobile handheld device designed to help individuals with reading-based disabilities such as dyslexia, low-vision, or those who are blind.

Approximately the size of a paperback book. the Atom-powered Intel Reader converts printed text into digital text and then reads the digital text aloud to the user. The unit essentially combines a 5 megapixel digital camera, OCR engine, and a text-to-speech engine into a single device that weighs approximately a little over a pounds (1.39 lbs).  Simply point, shoot, and listen to printed text with the Intel Reader.

The Intel Reader can also be used in conjunction with the Intel Portable Capture Station to capture large volumes of text such as a chapter or an entire book.

According to Louis Burns, VP and GM of Intel Digital Health Group:

“We are proud to offer the Intel Reader as a tool for people who have trouble reading standard print so they can more easily access the information many of us take for granted every day, such as reading a job offer letter or even the menu at a restaurant.”

The Intel Reader was originally conceived by Ben Foss, a researcher at Intel who was diagnosed with dyslexia in elementary school. According to Foss:

“As someone who is part of this 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.. Feelings of loneliness are often the experience 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, low-vision, blindness or other reading-based disabilities access to the resources they need to participate and be successful in school, work and life.”

We’ve seen “cool” devices through the years but the Intel Reader is actually a device that could radically impact the lives of millions of individuals around the world in a good way.

Of course there are many challenges in a device such as the Reader. It’s one thing to offer an accurate text-to-speech engine. It’s a completely different story when you combine that with an OCR engine which needs to accurately determine the piece of text being captured by the 5 megapixel camera. Other challenges include – the system needs to account for the orientation or rotation of the text; it needs to take into account any angle or tilt that the image might be captured in; then it needs to recognize the captured characters accurately for the text-to-speech engine; AND it needs to do this quickly.

For the spec folks – here is the specs to the Intel Reader:

• Intel Atom processor
• 4.3 inch 16:9 aspect ratio display
• 5 megapixel autofocus camera with a focus range of 4 inches to 1.1 yards
• 4GB Intel Solid State Drive with 2GB for user data.
• USB 2.0 connectivity
• Stereo Audio Jack
• Integrated speakers and 1/8 inch audio jack
• Supports DAISY 2.02* (DAISY), NISO 2002* (z2002 or DAISY 3*), NISO 2005* (z2005 or DAISY 3), NIMAS 1.0/1.1*, MP3, WAV, ASCII text file formats
• Rechargeable 6 cell lithium ion battery
• 150 minute charging time
• Plays over 4 hours of text-to-speech or MP3 audio files
• 5 days standby
• Measures 6.5in. x 5.35in. x 1.3in. and weighs 1.3 pounds

The Intel Reader will be available in the U.S. through several resellers including CTL, Don Johnston Incorporated, GTSI, Howard Technology Solutions and HumanWare.

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