Device for assisting the visually impaired in product recognition and related methods

摘要

A device and related method are provided for assisting visually impaired persons obtain verbal information from consumer product bar codes. The devices includes a scanner unit, a processing unit, a power unit and a voice synthesizer. The method involves the person scanning the bar code of the product with the scanner unit to provide a first signal which is communicated to the processing unit for locating, retrieving and outputting product information corresponding to the bar code in a form for the voice synthesizer to generate a verbal output to convey the information to the person. The bar code may be raised to assist the visually impaired person in locating the exact location of the bar code to facilitate scanning thereof. The device and the method provide the visually impaired person with a level of information that about the product that is not normally obtained without the assistance of another person.