Wonderfully Made! Finger-worn gadget reads aloud when you point at words - and can even translate books

In a world where people have their heads down in Kindles and tablets, the visually-impaired can be at a major disadvantage.


But a new tool that reads aloud any text a user points to may soon allow blind people to have vast amounts of information at their fingertips.
The prototype device, named FingerReader, aims to replace audio-visual software which can often prove to be inaccurate and limited.

Developed by MIT Media Lab's Fluid Interfaces group, the prototype device lets the wearer scan a text line with their finger and receive an audio feedback of the words.

It also provides motion feedback in the form of small vibrations to make sure that the user doesn’t veer away from the text.
The device is in its development stage, and the video reveals there are still a number of improvements that could be made.
VIDEO: FingerReader lets you hear written text

HOW DOES FINGERREADER WORK?

The prototype device lets wearer scan a text line with their finger and receive an audio feedback of the words.
It also provides motion feedback in the form of small vibrations to make sure that the user doesn’t veer away from the text.
The device is still in its development stage, and the video reveals there are still a number of improvements that could be made.
For instance, the speed is far slower than it could be and there is no headphone jack in place.

For instance, the speed is far slower than it could be and there is no headphone jack in place.
Eventually, however, FingerReader might be able to replace braille which is already being taught less given the rise of audio-visual software.
As well as helping those who are visually-impaired, it could be used as a translation device that allowing students to better learn and communicate in a new language.
MIT’s Fluid Interfaces research group has a number of other projects underway to bridge the gap between the digital and physical realm.
Its Sixth Sense project, for instance, augments surfaces in front of the user with relevant information pulled from the web.
The idea is to allow interaction with information using the objects, people, and spaces around us.

As well as helping those who are visually-impaired, FingerReader could be used as a translation device that allowing students to better learn and communicate in a new language

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