On Thu, 31 Oct 2002 00:42:02 -0000, you wrote:
[...]
>
>The links you suggest are useful - the Kurzweil range of software-based
>solutions are tried and tested.The Robotron and similar designs are also
>useful too. But they don't resolve the original issue - flatbed scanners
>don't cope with big books very well, so students who need to use journal
>references have problems getting the whole page onto the scanner. The
>ReadingEdge is designed to solve this problem because it has a slanted
>design. It'd be great if a 'bookedge' scanner for a PC could be located.
>(Coincidentally we were talking about this problem earlier today and i
>know someone on the list might have some suggestions soon).
Some of the scanners on the list I posted have a backend which is on
two hinges - so this would cope with the books slightly better than
the PC flatbed scanners.
However, I see this as the only advantage of a stand allone unit.
Are the reading edge machines still sold now? You used to pay around
2-3 thousand pounds for one a few years back, but quite a few of these
units have stopped production after software based systems have taken
over somewhat.
The other advantage of a software based reader is that the scanner/pc
can be used for other purposes other than that of reading books. This
may be an issue, for example, if space is a requirement.
Andrew.
--
Andrew Hodgson, Bromyard, Herefordshire, UK.
Email: [log in to unmask]
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