Have Difficulty Reading? There's An App For That!
Snap Reader is a Windows 10 Universal Windows Platform (UWP) Accessible OCR application that can assist someone who has difficulty reading printed text.
Please note that UWP applications do not run on earlier Windows versions, so Snap Reader is for Windows 10 PCs only.
Snap Reader uses a new OCR engine which combines both high recognition accuracy and very fast processing speed.
Snap Reader can read documents that are single or multi-column, single or double page, in any orientation, and any skew angle.
Please note that as of January 1, 2017 this project has been placed on hold.
About Snap Reader Version 1.8
Snap Reader has both a simple Graphical User Interface, and a straightforward and easy to use Accessible User Interface.
It also includes a camera timer to allow you to set an image capture time delay.
The image capture time delay can allow you to use your hands, if necessary, to flatten badly curled book pages which can produce a big boost in OCR accuracy.
Snap Reader's OCR processing function automatically rotates scanned document images to the correct orientation, so you don't need to worry if your documents are sideways or upside down.
After character recognition is complete, Snap Reader will automatically use its Text To Speech function to read the OCR text output to you.
All OCR processing is done "locally" on your PC, as a result Snap Reader doesn't require a network connection.
Snap Reader will also keep track of the text position in your scanned documents.
If the text boundaries are too close to the edge of the image, it might indicate that you've actually cut off or "clipped" a portion of the text.
If this happens Snap Reader will notify you, for example it might say, "Document May Be Clipped On The Left".
In that case, you could then pause the reading, shift the document a little to the right, and repeat the OCR.
Snap Reader also supplies the user with additional audio notifications.
Snap Reader will notify you if you forgot to plug in your document camera, or if the light level is too low, or if you have a blank page.
Snap Reader's Camera Interface
Snap Reader's camera interface is based on Microsoft's Media Foundation framework.
This makes Snap Reader much more reliable than the older DirectX framework.
The Media Foundation framework enables Snap Reader to check how many cameras are connected to your PC.
For example, if you have a Tablet PC, it might have an internal front-facing webcam and a rear-facing one as well.
Snap Reader provides a simple UI for you to choose which particular camera you want to select for image capture.
If you only have one connected camera then Snap Reader will by default select that camera.
When Snap Reader connects to a camera, it automatically selects the camera's highest supported resolution.
Once you make a camera selection, or use the default one, from then on, everything will automatically be handled by Snap Reader, and no further user interaction is required.
SnapReader will use the Tablet's 2-axis gyros to provide real-time optical image stabilization of the rear-facing tablet camera
Snap Reader's DeskTop/NoteBook Keyboard Accessibility Keys and their Functions
All of Snap Reader's functions are accessible through your PC's keyboard, therefor Snap Reader doesn't require a screen reader to operate the program.
Snap Reader uses the following easily located six function keys as command keys:
F1 key - OCR a frame from the live video stream coming from your camera - and use Text To Speech to speak the OCR results to you!
F2 key - Pause or resume Text To Speech
F3 key - Change the capture time delay to any value between 0 to 20 seconds (default is 0)
F4 key - Select a camera
F5 key - Help, announce the name and function of all command keys
F6 key - Exit Snap Reader
Snap Reader provides extensive audio feedback during the program's operation.
When you launch the program, Snap Reader's Text To Speech system will announce that it's ready to operate by saying, "Snap Reader 1.8 Is Ready".
Audio feedback is also provided for each keypress and the capture time delay will use an audible ticking sound.
While Snap Reader's OCR engine is processing a page, you will hear a typing sound, and after OCR processing is complete, Snap Reader's Text To Speech engine will read the OCR output to you.
Snap Reader's Numeric Keypad Accessibility Keys and their Functions
Snap Reader's numeric control keys have the same functionality as the standard Desktop/Notebook keyboard keys. You can use them with or without NumLock.
1 - OCR a frame from the live video stream coming from your camera - and use Text To Speech to speak the OCR results to you!
2 - Pause or resume Text To Speech
3 - Change the capture time delay to any value between 0 to 20 seconds (default is 0)
4 - Select a camera
5 - Help, announce the name and function of all command keys
6 - Exit Snap Reader
Platform Requirements
OS: Windows 10 Only!
RAM: 2 GB minimum
Document Camera: 2.0 MP - 5.0 MP, or a Windows 10 Tablet PC with at least a 2.0 MP rear facing camera