Pulse Data launches myReader, the world’s first low vision auto-reader
People with severe low vision will soon benefit from the world’s first low vision auto-reader, about to be launched by
Pulse Data International.
myReader is the most significant advancement in products designed for people with low vision in the last 20 years. It is
not only a new product but represents a new product category that promises to revolutionise the low vision market.
Dr Russell Smith, CEO of Pulse Data International, said the launch of myReader follows years of exhaustive research.
“Developing myReader is the largest development project that Pulse Data has ever undertaken. Over a period of three
years, a team of up to twelve engineers from our Research and Development team have worked on its inception.
myReader contains several advanced new features that will be of huge benefit for those suffering from eye conditions
such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts and glaucoma.
It is the first product developed for this market with full-page document capture which makes automatic reading
possible. A document on the viewing table is captured and rearranged into a choice of three text layouts,” he said.
This feature gives users the flexibility to view text in three modes – by column, row or individual words. The choice of
layouts means that there is no unnecessary text movement on the screen, which makes reading much easier. “Another major
advance with myReader is the introduction of automatic scrolling. This feature which Pulse Data have coined
‘auto-reading’ allows readers to control how fast or slow the text they have selected is presented to them. MyReader
also givers users the flexibility to manually scroll or step through text if they prefer,” he said.
“With myReader, reading speeds are significantly faster while retaining the same level of comprehension. The automatic
scrolling and greater magnification with myReader means users are less fatigued both mentally and physically.
With video magnifiers, users often complain of feeling nauseous because of motion sickness from having to continually
move the book under the magnifier, either by hand or using an x-y table. MyReader’s automatic functions reduce feelings
of motion disturbance,” he said.
In September myReader was announced the winner of the Consumer Product category at the Best Design Awards an annual
awards program presented by the Designers Institute of New Zealand to showcase and celebrate the best work the design
industry has to offer. This result is a tribute to the creativity and hard work of the large team of electronics,
software, optics and mechanical designers at Pulse Data who have worked on this project.
Pulse Data has specialised in the design and manufacture of products for people who are blind and visually impaired
since the company was established in 1989. Innovation, such as that shown in myReader, has been an essential ingredient
of the company’s international success.
Milestones to date include the launch of the highly successful BrailleNote product, the world’s first portable notetaker
to use an industry standard operating system on a computer designed to meet the specific operational and functional
requirements of people who are blind.
Today Pulse Data has offices in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Sweden, The Netherlands, Australia and New
Zealand as well as distribution channels throughout Europe, Asia and the Middle East.