Yes; I'd be happy if they allowed us to use a Bluetooth laser scanner. Even though a separate device would be required for the higher quality scans, there are small scanners available. Beyond that, the important fact is that the CPU portion (the iPhone), is very mobile. We can, today, use a computer with a scanner to identify objects. Carrying a computer around the house isn't handy. Carrying an iPhone to do the processing, though, isn't that difficult. So, for me, there would still be value.
I suggest that they retain the functionality with the built-in camera, but allow Bluetooth scanning for those that can purchase a scanner. I'm not sure that I'm going to pursue a refund, but I'd encourage others to withhold their money until the scanning quality has been addressed. If you just buy the program as-is, they have little incentive to improve it. Bryan -----Original Message----- From: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com [mailto:macvisionar...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Scott Howell Sent: Thursday, July 08, 2010 8:31 PM To: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com Subject: Re: A warning about Digit-Eyes Bryan, I have used this application successfully with several types of packages. I have found cans to be particularly tricky. I can tell you that my greatest success seem to be starting out with my 3GS against the item, and once I started the scan, slowly back the phone away from the item. Again, this worked for me on several items. I have not run all over the house grabbing everything with a barcode, so I can't say that I have encountered every possible packaging type and this refers to shiny packaging, different color combinations, etc. I don't even know for sure if these are factors. I agree it would be nice if an external laser barcode reader could be used because this would seriously speed up the process of scanning items in a store etc. I put that suggestion out there and not sure if it will be considered or not. I realize carrying such a device does defeat some of the purpose perhaps, but it does allow for additional opportunities, such as someone who maintains inventory etc. Perhaps you have and if not, share your experiences and suggestion. On Jul 8, 2010, at 6:03 PM, Bryan Smart wrote: > I'm writing to share my experiences with Digit-Eyes. > > I tried it on my iPhone 4, with several bar codes, and it didn't recognize > even one of them. I don't mean that the code was located, but not recognized. > I mean that the code was not even detected as being in the image. I'd tap the > scan button, and the constant clicking would begin to let me know that > scanning was in progress. I was scanning in a brightly lit room, and the > screen curtain was not on. Rotating the containers in front of the iPhone > camera, with it held about a foot away from them, produced no results. I had > a sighted friend deliberately place the bar code in view, something that I > would have not been able to do on my own, and it wasn't recognized, either. > We just kept trying different angles, and rotating, but all we got was more > clicking from the Digit-Eyes scanner. > > I had some experience with creating a system like this several years ago. At > that time, CCD cameras were not as accurate. Even so, for best results, we > determined that a 3D laser scanner would be required in order for bar codes > to be detected in the way that a blind person is likely to present them to > the scanner: at angles, in shadow, etc. This is the technique used by other > commercial systems like the ID Mate. I was lead to understand that this > wasn't a concern with Digit-Eyes, due to the higher quality camera in the > iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4. However, based on my results, I'd say that this > isn't so. > > Perhaps Digit-Eyes works better with dedicated labels, but, if I were > to make dedicated labels, I'd just create Braille labels. I realize > that everyone doesn't read Braille, and so audio labels still might be > of use to some people. However, the advertised function of being able > to read bar codes seems to not work, or else, it might work, but > requires a level of alignment precision that I've not been able to > achieve. I'm usually quite capable when it comes to reasoning through > these types of situations, so my conclusion is that I've either > overlooked something profound, or else the level of alignment that is > required for a good scan is grater than most blind people will > independently obtain without assistance. If you need assistance, you > might as well ask the sighted person what is on the label. *shrug* > > I'd like to hear the experiences of others. However, I can't personally > suggest that anyone spend the $30 that is charged for this app if they expect > to use it as a bar code scanner. > > Bryan > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. 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