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This pen is mightier than the swordThe blind or visually-impaired community has the potential to be turned on its ear with the release of a pen that can read and speak words on a label or in a book, simply by touching one part of a page. Peter Kim, CEO, Semtoyou Co. says the Mobile Live Pen can only read text that has been printed in a special dot-code type language. This code is normally printed underneath the ink of normal text, in an indiscernibly small font. The low-cost consumer item will be sold separately or as a package comprising the pen and software. The software enables the labels or publications to be printed on a normal laser or ink jet printer, and can program the pen to speak. It means that a blind or visually impaired person can input words or phrases into the pen, print out an accompanying label, then place that label on say, a bottle of medicine such as Tylenol. When the pen touches the label on the bottle of Tylenol, it would say, “Tylenol” and then provide dosage instructions and warnings, if required. Kim was speaking at a workshop in Melbourne, where 40 Australian and Korean companies met today to share ideas, technologies and markets. The Korean trade mission, referred to as a Techno Caravan is seeking business and technology matching opportunities with their Australian peers. Kim is the brain behind the pen and he’s in Australia to seek assistance with marketing and promoting the product both here, in Korea and even on a global scale. Given that the dot-code is almost indiscernible to the naked eye it also means that publishers can include it in books and magazines for minimal or no overhead. Kim said, “Another feature is that the pen can read in one language then translate that language into another when it speaks. It has the capacity to hold up to six languages at any one time. “So not only will the blind or visually impaired have access to a broader range of material, but this same material is language independent.” Kim claims the pen will even describe pictures out loud, which has the potential to automate bedtime story-reading to children. The pen includes two different sensors – an infrared sensor which recognises the dot-code on the page and a CMOS sensor which scans images in the same way a digital camera scans images. The infrared sensor only has to touch one part of the page to read the entire page. It does not have to scan each line. The pen can also maximize your concentration during study by inducing positive brain waves through neuro-sound. The Mobile Live Pen is expected to retail for about $US100, but Kim says there are no set prices yet. The Techno Caravan has been organised with the support of the Australian Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (AEEMA), the Korean Industry Technology Foundation (KOTEF) and ITECplace. For further information: Bill Petreski, General Manager, ITECplace Pty. Ltd., Mobile: (0438) 881 390, Tel: (03) 9458 5800, email: billp@itecplace.com, www.itecplace.com Niall Byrne, Science in Public, Tel: (03) 9398 1416, email: niall@scienceinpublic.com.au Lauraine McDonald , Science in Public, Mobile: (0438) 418 584, email: lauraine@scienceinpublic.com.au Peter Kim, Semtoyou Co., Tel: +82 31 478 2570, email: peterkim@semtoyou.com
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