FingerReader, A Wearable Device for Reading Printed Text

The FingerReader is a wearable device by the Fluid Interfaces research group at MIT Media Lab that helps read printed text. The device scans text and provides audio feedback of what it says as well as haptic feedback for things like the end of a line. The FingerReader is currently only a research prototype.

It is a tool both for visually impaired people that require help with accessing printed text, as well as an aid for language translation. Wearers scan a text line with their finger and receive an audio feedback of the words and a haptic feedback of the layout: start and end of line, new line, and other cues. The FingerReader algorithm knows to detect and give feedback when the user veers away from the baseline of the text, and helps them maintain a straight scanning motion within the line.

FingerReader

FingerReader

FingerReader

photos via Fluid Interfaces

via Fast Company Co.Exist

Rollin Bishop
Rollin Bishop