Case: Current Word Scanning Pens

Whilst researching current technology based on our word scanner idea, I have come across a product called a “SuperPen Translator” from WizCom Technologies Ltd.


Picture is from here

This device allows a user to scan words in a printed document and it could translate the word scanned into 30 different languages. The device also comes with memory storage and can store up to 1000 pages of printed text in its internal memory. Data can be transferred from the pen too, with PC connectivity.

One of the features this SuperPen holds which is something we would like to adapt into our word scanning device idea, is the ability to convert text-to-speech. The device can read out scanned English words and a full line of scanned text.

To read more about the SuperPen click here

This pen holds similar features that could be incorporated into a word-scanning device designed to help children read. Our idea would have to be designed with a child in mind though. You can see the SuperPen is designed for an older generation with multiple small buttons, built in menu systems and options to configure the pen and all the extra functionality for personal or office work.

For our main idea the concept should be simple, with few big buttons, a basic interface and direct easy access to the main functions of the apparatus.

Chosen Idea: Word Scanner

From the questionnaires answered by our group members under the personas that we created, and from general discussion in the latest group meeting. The word scanner has been chosen as our final idea to pursue.

The results from the questionnaires answered show that a word scanner could have great potential at helping a child in the majority of cases when suffering from a reading difficulty such as dyslexia or are struggling with words. Longer words tend to be a difficulty with children and such a device could help a child break up a word and aid in their understanding.

From the personas you can see that all the children read frequently, either at home or through lessons at school. If a child reads a low amount its due to either not being interested or through struggling with words. In both situations the word scanner could help. Introducing the technology to aid in reading could increase a child’s interest in the subject, encouraging them to read more just so they can use the scanner on words they come across that have never been seen before. Long or complicated words can then be dealt with, with the aid of the device for the child’s benefit.

In most cases from the results you can see that when a child gets stuck on a word they will either ask a teacher or parent depending on the situation, or skip the word entirely if they feel silly to ask for help or assistance is not available. This is another situation where the word scanner can be of use. If a child gets stuck on a word they can just whip out the scanner to find out what the word is and get a description of what the word means if necessary. This would mean that a child would not need to omit a word if there is no help at hand, or they feel silly in asking for help when dealing with smaller, easier words that the child may not know. This apparatus could therefore help increase a child’s confidence in their reading ability, being able to learn more and more complicated words and fully understanding sentences that utilize them.

From the results we believe that this idea would be a great concept to base our work on from now on. Such a device has great prospects for additional extra features to be added all for the purpose in aiding a child’s reading ability. Some of the main features a device of this nature requires based on the results of the questionnaires would be reading scanned in words, splitting words up phonetically and an inbuilt thesaurus/dictionary to teach a child the definitions of new words they have never encountered and other words that could be used in its place.