Nancy, I neglected to comment on this statement, but I agree and that statement was rather insulting. I have to say that as much participation as you and others have demonstrated on these e-mail lists, shows a level of commitment. I see lots of potential in this application and although I do not have one of those bluetooth laser barcode readers, I have thought about it. Like I said, for me it would just speed up the process, but then I suffer from lack of patients. :) Although now that I have gotten better with scanning barcodes with the camera, I have shorten the time it takes. However, I see the bluetooth scanner as a way to potentially make it easier for vendor operators to take inventory, possibly blind people to work in retail doing a number of different tasks, and so forth. I see the scanner as a natural extension to DigitEyes. Of course I sent you that article that I still see possibilities with. I'm so full of ideas, but then some say I'm just full of it. :) On Jul 9, 2010, at 12:25 AM, Nancy Miracle wrote:
> Actually, I'd disagree with that last statement. We have a lot of incentive > to improve it because we want our customers to be happy and if you are not > happy, we are not happy either. > > Nancy Miracle > Digital Miracles, L.L.C. > > > > On Thu, Jul 8, 2010 at 10:10 PM, Bryan Smart <bryansm...@bryansmart.com> > wrote: > 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. > 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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