What is SiRecognizer Professional?

SiRecognizer Professional is the world’s first OCR software that is able to recognise solid objects! It can be installed on any computer running Windows XP and is completely integrated with Jaws. For those who don’t have a Screen Reader, an integrated voice synthesis in included. SiRecognizer has been developed with the direct contribution of the blind in the Rome area, and with other partners and friends from Bologna. The software works in at least four different ways.

1. Developed specifically for the blind and sight-impaired, SiRecognizer is more accurate than any other OCR. All that is required is a scanner! The software recognises any kind of scanner, even the most inexpensive ones. The results are always excellent and can be saved in over 50 formats (txt, rtf, doc, xls, wav and tiff) not to mention various hybrid formats specific for the sight-impaired (enlarged images and text). An innovative system allows an easy recognition of invoices and any other table-rich forms. SiRecognizer can recognise text in more than twenty languages amongst which Russian with its Cyrillic characters. No problems with multi-language pages, SiRecognizer solves the problem!

2. Thanks to a digital camera, SiRecognizer can tell objects apart. The software is compatible with various models. All that is required is to connect the camera to the computer via a USB cable. The rest can be handled directly from the computer. With a single key, SiRecognizer takes a snapshot, recognises and reads out the result, all in less than ten seconds. You can listen to all the text found on whatever has been photographed.

For example, you can recognise labels on cubic, conic or cylindrical products. Bottles, cans, medicines (even outside of their packaging) and instructions on products of any nature. You can photograph books and brochures, TVs, computer screens and LCD displays. Whatever the camera frames, SiRecognizer reads!

SiRecognizer uses nine different OCR strategies. Should the first recognition procedure find areas with insufficient visibility (the system is able to understand the quality of recognition!) a second strategy can be adopted. This requires only to press a single button. Without having to take another snapshot, a second recognition procedure takes place in less than 5 seconds. And so forth, for nine levels!

The only rule to obtain accurate results is to have windows to one’s back when taking the picture. The digital camera should be approximately one palm distant from the object. It’s that simple.

For more difficult situations, a special aid in which the object can be easily photographed is available. It’s a sort of cube with its sides open and its own independent illumination. A few raised marks indicated where to position the object. Positionable brackets make it easy to keep books and magazines stable and open to the correct page. On the opposite side of the cube, there is a rack in which the digital camera is positioned allowing for up and down movement, so as to facilitate optimal framing for different objects. A neon tube gives off the exact amount of light necessary for the snapshot, regardless of exterior lighting conditions. Each kit is hand-crafted, as it must adapt perfectly to user’s digital camera. For those who have space issues, the cube is available in a dismountable version which can be easily taken apart.

The software is compatible with various WiFi digital cameras, which can transmit the image wirelessly. In this way, the user can move around freely taking snapshots of various objects while listening to the results on Bluetooth headphones.

3. By using a special pointer, SiRecognizer allows you to recognise colours. Just place the pointer (with a mask of approximately three centimetres) next to any object, whether it be a jacket or a bottle. All you have to do is take the snapshot and listen to the result.

4. SiRecognizer is able to read PDF files such as account balances, bills and e-newspapers. The text is automatically grouped together by the software and the tables are accessible with simple commands. And thanks to a new system, SiRecognizer is able to recognise text in screenshots or in any imported image.

SiRecognizer package contains a CD-ROM and an USB dongle. You can install SiRecognizer on multiple computers (at home and at work)! However, you will need to insert the USB dongle in order to launch the program.

ATTENTION! To use SiRecognizer it is necessary to own a personal computer running Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 2.

SiRecognizer, the future is in your hands.
To buy SiRecognizer Professional you can contact our dealers
To buy SiRecognizer directly from ITEX contact our HelpDesk

Multimedia Archive

To see the spot of SiRecognizer click here

We recommend listening to Brian Hartgen's interview recorded at the Sight Village for the Infotech Magazine on July 18th 2007, courtesy of T&T Consultancy Ltd. A real hands on demostration of SiRecognizer.
To listen to Brian Hartgen’s interview click here

Infotech Magazine is a nice and interesting subscription based monthly audio magazine.
To find out more about Infotech Magazine click here

For those interested, we recommend listening to Giuliano Fritelli’s interview (in Italian) on behalf of the UIC – Italian Blind Union, recorded at the Italian War Blind Union on December 29th 2006.
To listen to Giuliano Fritelli’s interview click here

FAQs

Question: How can I be sure I have correctly framed the object?
Answer: The software has the capability of correcting the framing with voice messages such as - move the camera to the right or - move the camera backwards. Furthermore, on the sides of the photographic cube you will find indications of the maximum image area that can be photographed. Therefore, it becomes easy!

Question: The program works in Italian or English?
Answer: ITEX software speaks both Italian and English. However, it can recognise over twenty different languages.

Question: The size of the cube could be a problem!
Answer: The photographic cube is an optional device! It measures thirty per forty centimetres, the dimension of a common scanner. The size was planned in order to maximise results. For those who have space issues, a dismountable version of the cube is available.

Question: The digital camera requires exchange batteries. Does the cube make this procedure difficult?
Answer: There is a nut on the mount where the camera is fixed which can be easily unscrewed. Releasing the camera is a matter of seconds. However, each digital camera has its own specific power adapter which can be used, avoiding recharge of batteries.