How to Scan

This section will focus on the scanning function of Kurzweil which converts physical writing into a digital format that can be read by Kurzweil using optical character recognition (OCR). Generally speaking, the success of the scan will largely depend upon the quality of the original document. Kurzweil is capable of scanning both black and white as well as colour documents although the latter will take longer to process. A scanner that meets the TWAIN standard must be connected to the computer in order for scanning to be supported. An alternate method of scanning is to use a supported document camera (specifically, certain models made by HoverCam).

1) Operation

After the scanner has been connected to the computer, the scan operation can be initiated in three ways:

ii. From the Scan tab on the ribbon – click the Scan icon in the left toolbar.

iii. From the menu bar – select the text labelled “Scan” and then “Start New Scan” (F9).

Once the scan is complete, the program will automatically rotate the scanned page to its correct orientation.

2) Scanning Alternatives

Aside from using a physical scanner and/or document camera, there are other ways to import text into Kurzweil:

i. Using the Kesi Virtual Printer – when Kurzweil 3000 is installed, a driver for the Kesi Virtual printer is also added to the computer’s list of available printers. To use the Kesi Virtual Printer, open the document in the desired program and select print from the program’s print menu. Instead of printing to the default printer, select the Kesi Virtual Printer instead which will convert the document into a format that will automatically be opened in Kurzweil.

ii. Using the Kurzweil 3000 Automater – this is an external program that will need to be downloaded in addition to the main Kurzweil program. The Automater tool converts TIFF or PDF files that are created by a high speed scanner (e.g. photocopier) into the .kes format that is used by Kurzweil.

3) Scanning tools

A number of tools related to the scanning function are available within the Kurzweil program:

i. Zone Editor – for documents where the original is a collection of writing without a specific defined reading order as might be found in a novel for example, Kurzweil may not read the page in an order that is easily understood. A common example of this might be a magazine where multiple articles and photos exist on the same page. Using the Zone Editor tool, a user would draw boxes around each of the various components on a page and establish a reading order.

ii. Screenshot Reader – text that is embedded within an image such as a .jpg is not detected as text and therefore cannot be read. Using the Screenshot Reader tool (select “Screenshot Reader” from the “Read” menu in the top menu bar), the cursor will be replaced with a crosshair. Draw a box around the text contained within a graphic. The text will be pulled out onto a new document and can be read.

iii. Fill in the blanks – in a document where there are multiple blank lines (such as for a worksheet or a test), it can be time consuming to insert text boxes wherever there is a blank space. A faster way of interacting with these type of documents is to use the “Fill in the Blanks” tool found in the “Tools” menu in the top menu bar. A text box will appear wherever a blank line is detected. To enter text, simply click on the text box.

iv. Create Audio Files video (7 min) – it is possible to create an audio file (either .mp3, .wav, or Daisy 2 format) of a document. In the “File” menu in the top menu bar, select “Audio Files” and then select “Create Audio File” from the side bar menu. In the separate window that opens, it is possible to specify the page range, voice used, reading speed, and quality of the file (higher quality results in a larger file).