Accessing printed text in a mobile context is a major challenge for the blind. In this project, we conceptualise and design a finger-worn device, FingerReader, that assists blind users with reading printed text on the go. We introduce a novel computer vision algorithm for local-sequential text scanning that enables reading single lines, blocks of text or skimming the text with complementary, multimodal feedback. This system is implemented in a small finger-worn form factor, that enables a more manageable eyes-free operation with trivial setup. We also look to go beyond usage for persons with a visual impairment, and expect that the FingerReader may be useful to scaffold dyslexic readers, support early language learning for preschool children and reading non-textual languages.
For more information about FingerReader, it's conception, future directions and alternatives please contact us.
The industrial design was done by Jonathan Ng Ming-En and Sanjay Pushparajan.
