Kurzweil-National Federation of the Blind Reader. (C) 2005-2007 KNFBRTI WHAT'S NEW IN VERSION 3.8.1 --------------------------- *DEFECT FIXES The Reader does not crash anymore during the F1-F2 wake up process. The Reader does not report incorrectly the PDA power level at 255%. Fixed bug related to the detection of multiple columns in Books, Articles, and Labels Mode. NEW IN VERSION 3.8.0 --------------------------- *NEW INFORMATION The power up message says “Currency mode” if the Reader is in this mode at start-up. This is an alert to change the reading mode if reading currency is not intended. *REVERSE CONTRAST TEXT READING Text recognition now includes reverse contrast text (i.e., light text on dark background). The image is processed using both standard and reverse contrast, and the results are combined. *EXPRESS MODE The Express mode has been added to make straight forward picture taking and reading both quick and easy. This mode allows all of the arrow buttons and enter to function as one large button for taking pictures. Other buttons are reconfigured as described below. The Express mode is entered by turning on the Reader using F1/F4 instead of F1/F2. Use the normal F4/F4 sequence to shutdown, and F1/F2 to restart the Reader in Standard mode. There is no other way to switch between these modes. *DEFECT FIXES The Viewfinder mode is switched off automatically when a picture is taken. It was previously necessary to cancel Viewfinder mode using F4 before taking a picture. The volume level can no longer be set below 5%. It was previously possible to set the volume to zero, which would leave the user without an audible means of finding the volume control and correcting it. NEW IN VERSION 3.4.8 --------------------------- *NEW INFORMATION The PDA status (F1 pressed twice) now also reports the current Reading Mode. Available modes are Books, Articles and Labels; Bills and Memos; and U.S. Currency. *SOFTWARE INSTALLATION The installation process detects if the hardware configuration corresponds to the software being installed. If it is not correct, the installation will inform the user of the incompatibility and exit. NEW IN VERSION 3.4.7 -------------------- *NEW INFORMATION The start-up message has been changed to announce the PDA battery status, "PDA connected to external power" or "Battery percent full," whenever the Reader is switched on or reset. The PDA battery status is also reported if the Reader is disconnected from external power while the Reader is turned on. Verbal confirmation that the PDA is connected to external power is also provided if the power cord is reconnected while the Reader is switched on. *U.S. CURRENCY RECOGNITION The Reader can be set to a new Reading Mode called "U.S. Currency." This mode can be selected from the Reading Mode option under User Settings. Choices are “Books, Articles, and Labels,” “Bills and Memos,” and "U.S. Currency." Only U. S. currency is recognized. Please note that the Reading Mode must be switched to "U. S. Currency" for proper recognition. The "U.S. Currency" mode automatically detects the orientation of the bill--either vertical or horizontal. For best results, hold a single bill as straight as possible in a vertical orientation relative to the Reader and away from the Reader at a distance of 12 to 18 inches. Initiate recognition by pressing DOWN arrow in Shooting Mode. Long press ENTER to repeat the denomination just read and to hear the bill orientation--face up, back side up, etc. *READING MODE SHORTCUT The Reader can easily switch between reading modes by long-pressing UP arrow in Shooting Mode. LEFT or RIGHT arrow buttons are used to toggle between modes, and ENTER is used to accept and return to Shooting Mode. *REPROCESSING AN IMAGE IN AN ALTERNATE READING MODE There are times when reading results can be improved by processing an image in Bills and Memos mode as compared to Books, Articles, and Labels or in Books, Articles and Labels as compared to Bills and Memos. To reprocess the most recently captured image, first use the Reading Mode Shortcut in Shooting Mode to select the alternate reading mode, then Long Press DOWN arrow. The Reader will announce "Reprocessing picture” in the alternate reading mode selected. If no alternate reading mode has been selected, the Reader will just reprocess the image in the current mode. To reprocess a previously saved image, first use the Reading Mode Shortcut to select the alternate reading mode, then find and open the saved image using File Explorer. Please note that U.S. Currency mode does not support image reprocessing. *REMEMBER THE POSITION IN A DOCUMENT The Reader automatically remembers the point (if any) at which a document was last being read. This applies to the last fifty documents that were saved and previously opened. Once the document is opened again, the Reader will announce, "Resuming from previous position in document," and will start reading from that position forward. *ENHANCED FIELD OF VIEW REPORT WITH FLASH The enhanced Field of View Report takes a low resolution picture with flash and announces the angle of orientation relative to the page. This is to provide alignment feedback even under poor light conditions. Please note that the enhanced report takes a bit longer to process but provides significantly improved and more useful information. NEW IN VERSION 3.1.5 -------------------- *CHANGING VOICES Two choices are available for the Reader's voice. The voice can be changed under the "Voice" option you will find in User Settings. Use the right and left arrow buttons to toggle between voices. NEW IN VERSION 3.0.5 -------------------- *NEW INFORMATION The start-up message has been changed to announce which function is active—"shooting mode," "document reader," or "user settings"—immediately when the system is switched on. The amount of storage space used and available on the SD card can be obtained by pressing the F1 button twice to hear the battery status and other system status information. Also, warnings about limited space available will be given when taking a new picture if the unused memory remaining on the SD card is below 30 megabytes, approximately 20 pictures. *SAVING FILES Content captured but not saved will be lost when the Reader is switched off. Any active text that is on the Reader when the system is switched off will not be present when the system is switched on again. Saved files can be recovered by going to File Explorer and locating the desired file in the directory. Otherwise, files that are not saved before the system is switched off will be gone. Please note that unsaved files will not be lost when the Reader shuts down automatically. The active text in an unsaved document will still be present when the Reader is switched on again after an automatic shutdown. *AUTOMATIC SHUTDOWN The Reader can be set to turn itself off when not in use after a pre-determined amount of time. The option for auto-shutdown is available under User Settings. Choices include shutdown after 1, 3, 5, 10, or 15 minutes. There is also an option for the system to remain on and not shutdown automatically. Please note that the camera will remain on for a factory pre-set period of 5 minutes if not switched off manually. Otherwise, the camera will remain on as long as the PDA is still switched on. *EXPORTING FILES The Reader automatically creates a text file to accompany every stored Reader document. These files are suitable for reading, editing, or storing on personal computers or notetakers. The files can also be translated into Braille and read on refreshable Braille displays or reproduced on Braille embossers. Text files are stored on the SD card. The directory is called "Reader text files." This directory can only be accessed by viewing the contents of the SD card on a personal computer or note taker. The Reader text files directory is not displayed under File Explorer in the Reader itself.