robertj@tekgen.bv.tek.com (Robert Jaquiss) (05/13/91)
Index Number: 15508 Personal Data Systems 100 W. Rincon Ave., Suite 103 P.O. Box 1008 Campbell, CA 95009 408 866-1126 FAX 408 866-1128 About Personal Data Systems PDS was founded by Noel and Debby Runyan for the purpose of helping physically impaired people make better use of the opportunities that computers afford them. Our current products include the Audapter Speech System, the Arkenstone Reader, the PDS Utilities and the PDS VOCA. The Audapter Speech System High Quality, Low Cost Speech Output for your Computer The Audapter Speech System features include: -Intelligibility over 93% on the industry standard MRT test -Top speech rate over 700 words per minute -Instant speech halt control -Compact, portable unit with built-in speaker -May be battery operated -Serial and optional parallel interface connections -Low cost, personally affordable -Personalized pronouncing dictionary -Easy to use front panel menu for selecting speech and interface settings The Audapter Speech System converts any standard alphanumeric text into high quality speech. It is significantly faster and more responsive than any other high quality speech system on the market. Speech output can be instantly stopped by the user. The high quality and performance of this low cost speech system makes it the best value on the market. The Audapter System is easily connected to any computer that can send ASCII text over a standard serial or parallel interface. For some applications, it can be used by itself, without any extra software, or it can be augmented by applications programs in the host computer. It works with popular talking screen review programs such as Flipper, the IBM Screen Reader, JAWS, PROVOX, Screen-Talk, Soft Vert, SPEX/BEX, Vocal-Eyes and VOS. Audapter Speech System with AC Adapter and Cable $895.00 Parallel Port Option $75.00 Internal Battery Pack Option $75.00 The Arkenstone Reader The Power of Independent Access to Information The Arkenstone Reader is the most advanced reading system available, at a fraction of the cost of comparable systems. With the Arkenstone Reader, you will have: -The ability to read almost any machine printed text: books, magazines, manuals, memos, your mail and many other documents -The ability to read what you want when you want -The ability to read the materials you need for work, home or school The Arkenstone Reader has the highest accuracy recognition technology available today. It is flexible; you have the power to choose your own computer, output device and scanner. Personal Data Systems has developed a uniquely friendly, flexible and easy to use system for controlling the Arkenstone Reader. Our EasyScan software simplifies the Arkenstone Reader to the point that it can be easily used by computer novices. Even those of you who have been using computers for years will appreciate the ease of use provided by the EasyScan software. If you already own a PC AT, a system can be as little as $2,500. We can also put together a complete talking reading system for you for about $6,000. You can choose from a variety of components to get the system that matches your needs and budget. The Arkenstone Reader gives you the capability to read a broad range of real world documents (no recognition product can read everything so be sure to try your own documents on the Reader). The Arkenstone prices are available only to individuals who are visually or reading impaired or the institutions that serve them. All Arkenstone Reader products have a full one year warranty. We are confident that you will be happy with the reading capability and increased independence the Arkenstone Reading System will give you. Because of this, we offer you a thirty day money back guarantee on the Arkenstone Reader. The PDS Utilities Enhancements for your Arkenstone Reader System You can now add United States dollar bill identification and picture-to-raised line drawing capability to your Arkenstone Reader System. Money Scanning with BuckScan Up until now the design of United States dollar bills has prevented the use of reading machines for dollar bill identification. Thanks to the flexibility of the Arkenstone Reading System, Personal Data Systems has been able to develop a new program that can be added to your Arkenstone Reader System to make it able to scan and identify dollar bills for you. BuckScan will identify 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollar bills. It quickly scans and announces the value of the dollar bills you want identified. PicTac Produces Raised Line Drawings Automatically PicTac, another program from Personal Data Systems, enables you to convert printed pictures to raised line drawings. PicTac can produce raised line drawings the same size as the scanned picture or can magnify a drawing for you. It can produce outlines of solid objects for better definition and it can create reverse video drawings. The user can edit or even manually enter intermediate "dot" files that will be converted to braille graphics files to send out to an embosser. If you do not have an embosser but have a daisy wheel printer that can produce raised dots, you can use it to make raised line drawings with PicTac. Speak up for Yourself with the PDS VOCA The PDS Voice Output Communications Aid allows the verbally impaired to "speak" in a clear, understandable voice. Just type on a keyboard and the text is spoken promptly and clearly by the Audapter. The VOCA is simple to use. You type text in and have it spoken promptly, when you are ready for it. Abbreviations allow you to store often used messages or even long speeches and have them spoken with little effort on your part. The VOCA is a compact battery powered system and can be easily used on a wheelchair lap top or tray top.