A new device has been invented which combines a PDA with a digital camera to read various text elements to a visually impaired person. The National Federation of the Blind [Dallas News] spent $2 million developing the device which sells for $3500. It is intended to read many things not geared to sightless senses, like receipts, checks, menus. It took around three years to develop [BBC News]. To keep from broadcasting the text you can use a standard Bluetooth wireless headset like those made for cell phones.
I’m amazed at the low cost and short time such a valuable device took to create. If $2 millions buys us this, what would $5. We need more devices like this.