from
http://prashant.myehome.in/blog/?p=50
The new Multimedia Print Reader – A review
In the World Book Fair 2010, there is great interest and euphoria in the
media and general public about the Multimedia Print Reader – MPR a pen like
device which claims to convert print books to talking books and also has lot
of usefulness for the blind. I had a look at this device and these are my
impressions.
I have seen this device and talked to the company representatives. I am
visiting the Book Fair because our DAISY Forum of India has a stall there
and got the opportunity to have a look at this MPR pen and also at
Infibeam.com’s Pi about which I will write soon.
Let me try to explain how this device works. It is a pen like device though
much broader and bigger. It has buttons for switching it ON and OFF and
also has buttons for language selection. It has an in-built battery which
can be charged with a mobile phone type charger. It has a USB port for PC
connectivity. It has 2 GB internal memory. It is supplied with earphones and
the charger and you get one year warranty on the device.
If you decide to buy this device for Rs. 5600 plus taxes, you will get a set
of complimentary books. The pen will have MP3 files containing recording of
all these books. It may have recording of the same book in more than one
language such as English and Hindi. For using this pen, you can switch it
on, select a language button and then place the tip of the pen on the small
dark circles on the page. It will scan & read the code in that dark circle
and then play the corresponding audio file from its memory. You can listen
to it from the internal speaker or attach the headphone you get with it or
connect your PC speakers.
You will have to place the pen on the next circle and you will be able to
listen to its recording. You can press the other language button on the pen
and if the publisher has provided alternate language recording in the pen,
you will listen to the other language narration even though you may be
having a different language book. I mean to say the pen can play Hindi files
which contain a translated version of your English book.
The pen manufacturer claims that they are collaborating with more and more
publishers for bringing out books which have these MPR (encoded marks) on
the pages. So, when you come across any new book in the market which has the
MPR logo on its cover page, you can be sure that it can be listened to with
the pen. You will have to buy the hard copy and download its audio
recordings from the publisher’s website and copy them to your pen. For
downloading the recordings, you will need a password which will be the pen's
serial number. After having loaded the new files in the pen you will be able
to use it with the new book.
Some of the interesting applications of this technology can be
- A child can learn to pronounce new words in the book by listening to them
- A child can listen to descriptions of images in the book in different
languages
- A person reading an English book can listen to its Hindi translations for
better understanding
- A dictionary or an encyclopaedia can contain pronunciations of difficult
words.
The success of this technology depends upon acceptance of this MPR concept
by more and more publishers. The users will have to buy the hard copies of
the new books and also will have to download and transfer files to the pen.
Therefore it requires use of computer and the internet by the users.
As far as usefulness for blind persons is concerned, I don’t think it is a
great device. Using this pen will be very difficult as the blind person will
not be able to locate these marks on the pages easily. Further, the blind
user will not be able to navigate to a particular chapter or paragraph
quickly. He will have to read and check out many pages and paragraphs before
he gets to his desired point in the book. Blind persons will be very happy
if they just get the audio files of the books which they can listen to on
their MP3 players or computers.
One blind friend is of the opinion that this pen may be useful for the blind
parents for teaching their sighted children. May be, but I cannot think of
any more usefulness of this device for the blind.
The manufacturer contacts details are:
Aadarsh Pvt. Ltd.
106,107,108, Sector-I,
Govindpura Industrial Area,
Bhopal – 462023 (M.P.), INDIA
Ph.: +91 8085833065, 8085833066
Fax: +91-755-2555449
E-mail: i...@aadarshtalkingbooks.com
Web: www.aadarshtalkingbooks.com
--------------------------------------------------
From: "prateek aggarwal" <prateekagarwa...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 11:12 AM
To: "accessindia" <accessindia@accessindia.org.in>
Subject: Re: [AI] Talking Pen (MPR)
well, sounds like a good device.
specially, it'll be interesting to know whether the device can read
the books other then english as well?
specially, if it does read in hindi or other regional languages, then
i can count it something revelutionary.
a portion from the said news somewhat gives a hope of it's ability of
reading multiple languages. here's what the portion says:
"Apart from its numerous advantages for the students, MPR is
beneficial for publishers as any book can be printed in Multiple
Languages using multiple downloadable audio files. MPR Books will help
in combating the serious threat of piracy which publishers are facing
today. We are confident that this unique education technology will
bring in a new wave of interesting learning process with an emphasis
on the vital role of education in everybody's life".
though, i did not understand as in how this pen will help publishers
to produce books in multiple languages.
has anyone seen the device there in bookfare?
if yes, i'll appreciate if a short review of what you found out can be
posted out here.
further, if someone can provide the contact number of manufacturar,
it'll be of great help.
regards,
Prateek agarwal.
Skype:
Prateek_agarwal32
Wanna see inside me? My blog is the telescope:
http://www.myfriendprateek.blogspot.com
website:
http://www.prateekagarwal.webs.com
the best way to accomplish your softwares/websites development needs.
You tell, I’ll build.
---------- Original message ----------
From: "Amiyo Biswas" <amiyo.bis...@gmail.com>
To: <accessindia@accessindia.org.in>
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 07:28:56 +0530
Subject: Re: [AI] Talking Pen (MPR)
Hello,
Please post the details. One of my friends is interested. I saw one
such instrument with Professor Kirti K. Trivedi of IIT Mumbai. It
looked like a pen which contained a voice reader that reads a special
code. It can read only those books which have got the special
invisible codes. In that case, we can't read any book. that book has
to be coded first and the codes linked to recorded text. This
technology is used in China for language books.
Best regards,
Amiyo Biswas
Cell: 91-9433464329
----- Original Message ----- From: "Pranay Gadodia"
<go4pran...@yahoo.co.in>
To: <accessindia@accessindia.org.in>
Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 5:48 PM
Subject: [AI] Talking Pen (MPR)
Hi all,
Any idea if the below product would be of use to a visually impaired
person?? Didn't knew about it when I visited bookfair on saturday
where it was launched.
ADARSH UNVEILS TALKING PEN IN INDIA
Thesynergyonline Education Bureau
NEW DELHI, JAN 30 :
TO bring revolution to education ''The Talking Pen - Multimedia Print
Reader' has arrived in India. Aadarsh , an education sector entity and
Central India's leading publishing house-- introduced this unique
education technology to revolutionise the current traditional
education pattern and learning process in India.
The Talking Pen was launched at the World Book Fair on January 30,
2010. Mr. Ashish Rajoria and Mr. Manish Rajoria, co-founders of
Aadarsh , Mr. Pradeep Kishen, author of Trees of Delhi and Film maker
of Massey Sahib and Electric Moon and Naresh Khanna, Editor and
Publisher, Indian Printer and Publisher were present as Special Guests
at the occasion.
The Multimedia Print Reader is a giant leap in the educational
technology, which uses listening skills along with traditional
reading. It is a unique concept where the Pen recites the written
text. The technology has been developed to elevate the learning
experience of students by focusing on the enormous benefits of
listening.
This education tool will also cater to the special needs of the
visually challenged population and people suffering from various
levels of Dyslexia. It will also help in empowering volunteers
responsible for public service education or vocational training with
technological proficiency.
As per the recent UNICEF report our education system is plagued by
shortages-teachers, resources, schools and classrooms. India has the
world's largest Visually Challenged population, which is 15 million
out of the 47 million worldwide and on an average every 3-4 students
of a class suffer from varying levels of dyslexia. Keeping these in
mind, the MPR is a blessing for society, it will help elevate the
learning experience of students.
Speaking about the Talking Pen, Mr. Manish Rajoria, Director, Aadarsh
., said, "We feel honoured and elated in introducing this technology
in our country. There has been an exceptional support and faith in the
technology from almost all the verticals of society. We are in talks
with various national and international NGOs, Publishers, Government
organizations, International firms and have received most encouraging
feedback from all."
The Talking Pen (MPR) is not just a technology innovation, it is a
social revolution in the education system."
"Apart from its numerous advantages for the students, MPR is
beneficial for publishers as any book can be printed in Multiple
Languages using multiple downloadable audio files. MPR Books will help
in combating the serious threat of piracy which publishers are facing
today. We are confident that this unique education technology will
bring in a new wave of interesting learning process with an emphasis
on the vital role of education in everybody's life", he further added.
The Talking Pen (MPR) will make storybooks, poems and rhymes
interesting for the young readers, helping in improving the attention
span, reading ability and concentration of the dyslexic and visually
challenged. This little wonder will also help language learning with
improved pronunciation by countering regional influences.
MPR will foster a self-learning process, specially in the rural areas,
encouraging the students to work independently in the absence of
teachers or teacher's attention, this would heighten results even in a
poor student-teacher ratio.
MPR 'Talking Pen' comes with an in-built speaker, camera and 2 GB
memory card; When the MPR pen is positioned over a book with MPR
codes, it activates the pre-loaded audio files, so a reader is also
able to hear the text they are reading. This technology gives a human
face through voice in the learning process, making it interactive,
interesting and educational. (edi...@thesynergyonline.com)
Source: http://www.thesynergyonline.com/education.htm
-------
thanks and regards,
Pranay Gadodia | Programme Manager
Project Eyeway - A knowledge resource for living a fuller life with vision
loss
C/o Score Foundation, Y-70, Lower Ground floor, Hauz Khas, New Delhi -
110 016. INDIA.
Helpdesk:+91-11-460 70 380 (Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm)
Email: pra...@eyeway.org
Website: www.eyeway.org
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