Training a User on an Accessiblity Device

• US 20090190838A1
• Filed: 01/29/2008
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Federation of the Blind
• Original Assignee: K-NFB Reading Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Kurzwell, Raymond C., Krishnamachari, Srivathsan, Gibson, Lucy, Albrecht, Paul, Zetune, Rafael Maya
• Granted Patent: US 8,154,771 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/209
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/62 Text, e.g. of license plates, overlay texts or captions on TV images
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/10 Character recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/142 using hand-held instruments; Constructional details of the instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1448 based on markings or identifiers characterising the document or the area
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1475 Inclination or skew detection or correction of characters or of image to be recognised
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/003 Repetitive work cycles; Sequence of movements
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/00 Teaching, or communicating with, the blind, deaf or mute audible presentation of material to be studied G09B5/04; devices or methods for replacing direct visual or auditory perception by another kind of perception A61F9/08, A61F11/04; audible indication of meter readings or of colour G01D7/12; watches for blind persons G04B25/02; speech analysis, speech recognition G10L; sound-recording or reproducing, per se G11B
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/006 using audible presentation of the information

Abstract

A user of an accessibility device is taught to properly use the device with a test image such that the accessibility device captures the entirety of or a large portion of a test image. In training the user, the device processes test image'"'"'s information located within the device'"'"'s field of view. Based on this processed information, the device indicates to the user if the device should be re-positioned such that a larger portion of the test image comes within the device'"'"'s field of view.

Claims

1. A method executed in a reading machine, the method comprising:

comparing an image captured by the reading machine to a known image;

computing differences between the captured image and the known image; and

calculating a new placement of the reading machine such that the captured image better approximates the known image.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

producing an indication to inform the user of the new placement of the reader.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

determining an order to inform the user of the placement by at least one of a type of difference or a magnitude of difference between the captured image and the known image.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the user of the portable reading machine adjusts the placement of the reading machine such that the reading machine'"'"'s actual placement match the calculated placement.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the reading machine automatically detects that it is in teaching mode.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the placement comprise coordinates relative to the known image in at least one of a X, Y, or Z planar fields.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the placement comprise an angle of tilt of the reading machine in at least one of a X, Y, or Z directions.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the tilt of the reading machine is determined using an accelerometer.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the known image is at least comprised of words of different sizes.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the known image is at least comprised of strings of numbers.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the strings of numbers are located at a top, middle, and bottom of the known image.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

recalculating placement until the captured image includes the strings of numbers at the top, middle and bottom of the captured image.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein computing differences further comprises performing text recognition on the captured image and comparing text of the captured image to a text of the known image.

15. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium for training a user on a reading device, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing a machine to:

compare an image captured by the reading machine to a known image;

compute differences between the captured image and the known image; and

calculate a new placement of the reading machine such that the captured image better approximates the known image.

14. The method of claim 18 wherein if text recognition cannot be performed on part of the captured image, the user is advised to check a condition of a lens on the reading machine.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising instructions to:

render an indication to inform the user of the new placement of the reader.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising instructions to:

determine an order to inform the user of the placement by at least one of a type of difference or a magnitude of difference between the captured image and the known image.

18. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the known image is at least comprised of strings of numbers located at a top, middle, and bottom of the known image.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising instructions to:

recalculate placement of the reader until the captured image includes the strings of numbers at the top, middle and bottom of the captured image.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising instructions to:

perform text recognition on the captured image and comparing text of the captured image to a text of the known image.

21. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein if text recognition cannot be performed on part of the captured image, the computer program product renders an indication to advise the user to check a condition of a lens on the reading machine.

22. A portable reading machine comprising:

an image input device for capturing images;

a computing device coupled to the image input device, the computing device, comprising;

a processor to execute instructions; and

a computer program product residing on a computer readable medium, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing the processor to;

process the captured images to;

compare the captured image to a known image;

compute differences between the captured image and the known image; and

calculate new placement coordinates of the reading machine such that the captured image better approximates the known image.

23. The reading machine of claim 22 wherein the computer program product comprises instructions to:

inform a user of the calculated placement coordinates.

24. The reading machine of claim 22 wherein the computer program product comprises instructions to:

calculate current placement coordinates of the reading machine relative to the known image; and

inform the user of the calculated placement coordinates in an order determined by at least one of a type of difference or a magnitude of difference between the captured image and the known image.

25. The reading machine of claim 22 wherein the computer program product comprises instructions to:

automatically detect that the reading machine is in training mode.

26. The reading machine of claim 22 wherein the known image is at least comprised of strings of characters, the strings of character located at a top, middle, and bottom of the known image.

27. The reading machine of claim 26 wherein the computer program product further receives instructions to:

recalculate the placement coordinates until the captured image includes the strings of numbers at the top, middle and bottom of the captured image.

28. The reading machine of claim 26 wherein the computer program product further receives instructions to:

recalculate the placement coordinates by determining if the numbers at the top, middle or bottom of the known image are missing from the captured image.

29. The reading machine of claim 22 wherein computing differences further comprises performing text recognition on the captured image and comparing text of the captured image to a text of the known image.

30. The reading machine of claim 29 wherein the computer program product further comprises instructions to:

recalculate the placement coordinates, if text recognition cannot be performed on part of the captured image, such that the captured image includes more of the known image.

31. The reading machine of claim 29 wherein if text recognition cannot be performed on part of the captured image,

advise the user to check a condition of a lens on the reading machine.

32. The reading machine of claim 25 wherein the known image is provided from capturing the image from a glossy, laminated sheet containing strings of characters, the strings of character located at a top, middle, and bottom of the laminated sheet.

33. An apparatus for training a user how to use a reading machine, comprising:

a sheet, comprising;

at least three strings of numbers printed across spaced portions of a top, middle and bottom of one surface of the page; and

strings of characters of different sizes printed across the opposing surface of the page; and

with one corner of the page diagonally cut off.