Handheld Text Scanner

Handheld text scanners have been around for a long time, relatively speaking, although they have evolved far beyond the chunky, cumbersome, and generally cranky scanner most people associate with the handheld. Today, handheld scanners are as easy to use as a highlighting pen and serve a wide number of text applications, including:
-- Simple text scanning and storage
-- Massive dictionaries in a variety of languages, including East Asian character sets
-- Multi-language, multi-font translators, many with audio outputs
-- Full-page wand scanners capable of scanning text and images
-- 2D barcode ability for scanning a variety of linear and matrix codes

I.R.I.S. has been a leading-edge company in the Optical Character Recognition OCR industry since the very early 1990s. They have five of the best pen-style OCR handheld scanners, ranging from an entry-level text and grey-scale image capture device with 128 built-in language capability to the top-of-the-line model which scans 2D barcodes – being used for more applications every day – and voice-synthesis. There are two models especially made for the East Asian languages, including Japanese, Korean, and simplified and traditional Chinese in 54 dialects, as well as the 128 western language set. The top of the line of the Asian series also has voice synthesis capability. It can also recognize and render hand-written text and characters. They also have an 11 language – the common European languages – translator with voice synthesis. MSRP is between $125 to $300, depending on features.

Wizcom is another popular handheld text scanner with several unique features. Unlike the I.R.I.S. Scanners, the Wizcom offerings are wireless, with the ability to download its 20,000 line memory with either USB or wireless IrDA connectivity. 250,000 word dictionaries, text storage and download, translation in Latin-based languages, and English as a Second Language (ESL) and reading-impaired dyslexic audio reader versions provide services for niche applications. Additionally, Wizom offers a “Quicktionary” which renders idiomatic and phrases into English. One often overlooked feature in handheld scanners with screens is the option for right or left handed use. The Wizcom scanners have addressed this with a nicely symmetrical and invertible data display. MSRP is from below $100 to $220.

Full-page handheld scanners have been problematic for nearly two decades. Planon has addressed almost all the issues with their text scanner that is barely wider than a man's finger and the width of a standard magazine page. The top of the line model comes with a custom hard case holding the DocuPen, software disk, a variety of adapters and charging options, spare battery and similar accessories. These scanners not only handle text, they can scan full-color documents as well. MSRP is between $200 and $400.

One of the most exciting emerging technologies is 2D barcode reading. These codes – there are over 20 different formats – are appearing everywhere. On business cards, TV programming guides, restaurant menus, even signs and t-shirts, as many modern phones have plug-ins that can snap a photo and identify the barcode and its associated message. If purchasing a handheld text scanner, it would be a wise choice to buy one with 2D barcode recognition. For the 10%-25% value added, it is well worth the investment.

Virtually all of the handheld text scanners can interface with most of the popular word processing programs using either a lightweight plug-in or full-featured OCR suites that can clean-up, despeckle and otherwise enhance text into a useable format. This is especially helpful with the upper-end handheld scanners designed to read standard text or handwritten notes.