Reading for the blindIn 1976, the first machine for reading printed matter aloud was given its first public demonstration, by its inventor, Raymond Kurzwell. Using a camera with a computer, pages of printed matter could be scanned, the letters analysed, and reproduced in synthesized English speech at 150 words per minute. The material used could be books, magazines or typewritten correspondence. The machine was manufactured by the Kurzwell Computer Products, Inc., and was tested by the National Federation for the Blind. |