Beyond Sight, Inc. (Formerly Second Sight)

5650 South Windermere Street
Littleton, Colorado 80120
United States
Telephone: 303-796-6455.
Fax: 303-795-6425.
Web: http://www.beyondsight.com.
Email: support@beyondsight.com.

Discontinued products distributed by Beyond Sight, Inc. (Formerly Second Sight) (listed alphabetically)

1. ARKENSTONE HOT READER AT PLUS

   --- DISCONTINUED. (Verified 7/95) RETAINED IN DATABASE FOR REFERENCE.--- Arkenstone HOT Reader AT Plus is an optical character recognition device which converts printed material into computer text files that can be read by a blind or visually impaired person using voice, large print, or braille output devices. The Arkenstone Reader is comprised of three components: 1) TrueScan, a scanner recognition card manufactured by Calera Recognition Systems; 2) a Hewlett-Packard desktop scanner; and 3) Arkenstone Reader II Software. The Reader can be used with any PC/AT or 100% compatible 286, 386, or 486 computer. The Arkenstone Ready To Read, Model RTR/50 or RTR/100 (see separate entries), personal computer can be used in place of an IBM PC compatible. The TrueScan card plugs into the PC allowing it to convert scanned images of printed materials into an ASCII text file, ready to use in any application. Using a screen reader and a speech synthesizer, which must be purchased separately, the user is provided with voice output. When used with a computer screen magnification system, large print display can be provided. Braille output devices can also be used to read the screen or print copies of the text. Typewritten, typeset, laser printed, and dot matrix printed materials with monospace or proportional fonts sized from 6 to 28 points can be read. This includes books, magazines, computer printouts, and tabular information such as that which appears on bank statements or telephone bills. The Arkenstone HOT Reader AT Plus scans at a rate of 120 characters per second. It includes an automatic page orientation feature which lets the user know when materials have been placed on the scanner in an upside-down or sideways position and then goes ahead and scans the material. Components can be purchased separately. A document feeder can be added to speed scanning. A complete Reader package is offered which is comprised of the Arkenstone HOT Reader, RTR/50 or RTR/100 computer, PC DECtalk, and screen access program (priced at $7,295 - $7,995 depending on which computer is selected). A 30-day money back guarantee and a one year warranty on parts and workmanship are standard.

2. BRAILLE BLAZER

   ---DISCONTINUED. (Verified 2/2009) RETAINED IN DATABASE FOR REFERENCE. --- The Braille Blazer is a Braille printer designed for use in a variety of applications. This portable embosser provides Braille output on standard computer paper, Braille paper, tractor-fed labels and index cards, and lightweight polymer material. The unit offers a lightweight mode for standard paper, a regular mode for Braille paper, and a plastics mode for polymers. This embosser prints fifteen characters per second in six- or eight-dot Braille and can also print "sideways" to accommodate spreadsheets or screen dumps. When combined with screen access and Braille translation software (not included), the unit also functions as a speech synthesizer for most desktop or portable computers. A print manual and an audiocassette tutorial are included. POWER: Uses standard household current. OPTIONS: Service contract, cables, and a carrying case. DIMENSIONS: The embosser is 15.5 x 8 x 5 inches with the lid closed. It accommodates papers of any length and up to 8.5 inches wide. and plastics from one to 10 inches wide.WEIGHT: Approximately 12 pounds. WARRANTY: One year from date of receipt.

3. BRAILLE 'N SPEAK 640

   --- DISCONTINUED. (Verified 4/97) REPLACED BY BRAILLE 'N SPEAK 2000 (SEE SEPARATE ENTRY). RETAINED IN DATABASE FOR REFERENCE. --- The Braille 'n Speak is a portable electric Braille notetaker designed for individuals who are blind or have low vision. It serves multiple functions as a braille-to-note transcriber, talking braille notebook, talking clock and calendar, talking computer terminal, talking phone director, braille word processor, voice output calculator, and stopwatch. Because it has a serial port, the device can be coupled with a computer and modem for telecommunication purposes. The user can type text in the same manner as on a braille writer, and review the text with the Braille 'n Speak's built-in speech synthesizer. Braille 'n Speak is available in English, Spanish, German, and Italian. NOTEBOOK: The device has 200 K memory (the Braille 'n Speak 640 has 640K with 256K of program memory) that will store about 200,000 characters (about 200 braille pages) which can be retained in storage when the unit is turned off. The unit also has a filing system that allows the user to give names to files that are relevant to the information on file. WORD PROCESSING: As a word processing unit, the user can recall, review and edit these stored files. Text can also be transferred to a stationary computer via the Braille 'n Speak's built-in RS-232 serial port. TRANSCRIPTION: The unit has a Grade 2 Braille Back translator that allows the user to type in Grade 2 Braille and get print output. CALCULATOR: A built-in calculator allows the user to add, subtract, multiply, divide, and do percentages and square roots. It has 6 storage memories. CLOCK/CALENDAR/STOPWATCH: A talking clock and calendar are also built-in, along with a stopwatch/timer. Date and time information can be put directly into files. TELEPHONE DIRECTORY: The unit can be used as a personal phone book or address book. It also has a FIND command that accesses any of this information immediately. POWER: Rechargeable nickel-cadmium (NICAD) batteries, and comes with a battery charger and headphones. COMPATIBILITY: When used with SpeakSys (sold separately), Braille 'n Speak will function as an alternate keyboard and screen review system for an IBM PC or compatible. POWER: A nickel-cadium battery that will power the unit for 25-30 hours between charges. Also runs on standard household current. OPTIONS: A Cordura nylon carrying case; Disk Drive Accessory for saving files to 3.5-inch diskettes; DIMENSIONS: 8 x 5 x 1.25 inches. WEIGHT: 1 pound. WARRANTY: 90 days from date of receipt.

4. HOT DOTS VERSION 3.0

   --- DISCONTINUED. (Verified 3/2001) RETAINED IN DATABASE FOR REFERENCE. --- Hot Dots is a braille text translation program for IBM and IBM compatible computers designed to allow the user to translate standard print text files into grade 2, grade 1, and no translation Braille. A file importation feature permits Hot Dots to read the native files of over 30 different word processors and translate the existing formatting codes appropriately. The program may be run from a menu, from batch files, or from the command line. Additional features include a Braille-to-inkprint translator and a file- driven global search and replace capability. Hot Dots requires 256K of memory and two floppy drives or one hard drive and one floppy drive. Contact the manufacturer for information about the compatibility of Hot Dots with particular printers or speech synthesizers. A demo disk is available free of charge. COMPATIBILITY: For use on IBM PS/2 and IBM PC computers.

5. MYREADER

   --- DISCONTINUED. (Verified 01/2010) RETAINED IN DATABASE FOR REFERENCE. --- MyReader is a video magnifier designed for use by individuals with low vision. This low vision reading system scans pages placed on its reading tray, then presents the text in a user-selected format on the unit's built-in liquid crystal display (LCD) screen. Text can be presented as a neatly wrapped paragraph (column layout), as a continuous line (row layout), or one word at a time (word layout). Readers navigate the text using a control panel, without moving the document or reading tray. The text display can be set to scroll automatically at a user-selected speed. Other display options include a range a contrasting color combinations for presenting text, a live mode for handwriting and other manual tasks, autofocus, and split-screen personal computer (PC) operation. The magnifier folds for transport. DIMENSIONS: The built-in LCD screen measures 15 inches. WEIGHT: 22 pounds. WARRANTY: One year limited warranty.

6. READY TO READ PERSONAL COMPUTER (MODEL RTR/100)

   --- DISCONTINUED. (Verified 7/95) RETAINED IN DATABASE FOR REFERENCE.--- Ready to Read Personal Computer RTR/100 is a portable, personal computer with built-in tactile design features to assist blind and visually impaired persons to operate the equipment more independently. The computer uses an Intel 80386DX microcomputer and has 64KB "Write Back" cache memory. A 2MB memory capacity is standard with expansion capability to 16MB. It comes with a 80 MB hard drive with 1:1 interleaving and 3.5" floppy disk drive, and uses the MS-DOS 5.0 operating system. RTR/100 weighs 18 pounds and measures 10.7"x7.5"x16.7" (272x191x424 mm). Its asymmetric physical design assists the user to determine the unit's position by touch. Oversized buttons and control knobs and tactile indicator LEDs are included. Finger grooves with tactile icons are used to mark adapter slots and input/output plugs. RTR/100 is equipped with a built-in 260 to 8 KHz speaker and 7 watt amplifier. A three channel audio management system replaces the video screen, and has the capacity to simultaneously manage a voice synthesizer, the computer speaker, and one external audio line input like a telephone. RTR/100 is compatible with any 2400 Baud modem. A video adapter allows the user to connect a VGA monochrome or color monitor. A screen reader and speech synthesizer must be purchased separately. A headphone jack is provided so that the user can add earphones for privacy while listening to voice output. A separate, detachable keyboard with enhanced tactile bars and keyed connector is included. RTR/100 can be converted into a portable reading machine with the addition of the Arkenstone Hand Reader HOT/AT (see separate entry for description of this scanner) along with a speech synthesizer and screen reader program. The combination of the RTR/100 and the Arkenstone Hand Reader HOT/AT provides faster scanning and reading capabilities and features a page orientation feature that lets the user know when the reading material is positioned upside-down or sideways and then goes on to scan and read the material anyway. A one year warranty and a 30-day money back guarantee are standard.

7. READY TO READ PERSONAL COMPUTER MODEL RTR/50

   --- DISCONTINUED. (Verified 7/95) RETAINED IN DATABASE FOR REFERENCE.--- Ready To Read Personal Computer RTR/50 is a portable, personal computer with built-in tactile design features to assist blind persons and persons with visual disabilities to operate the equipment independently. The computer uses an Intel 80386SX microprocessor and has 64KB cache memory. A 1MB memory capacity is standard with expansion capability to 16MB. It comes with a 40 MB hard drive and 3.5-inch floppy disk drive, and uses the MS-DOS 5.0 operating system. Its asymmetric physical design assists the user to determine the unit's position by touch. Oversized buttons and control knobs and tactile indicator LEDs are included. Finger grooves with tactile icons are used to mark adapter slots and input/output plugs. The RTR/50 is equipped with a built-in 260 to 8 KHz speaker and 7 watt amplifier. A three channel audio management system replaces the video screen, and has the capacity to simultaneously manage a voice synthesizer, the computer speaker, and one external audio line input like a telephone. A headphone jack is provided so that the user can add earphones for privacy while listen to voice output. A separate, detachable keyboard with enhanced tactile bars and keyed connector is included. RTR/50 can be converted into a portable reading machine with the addition of the Arkenstone Hand Reader HOT/AT (see separate entry for description of this scanner) along with a speech synthesizer and screen reader program. Other scanners can also be used. COMPATIBILITY: RTR/50 is compatible with any 2400 Baud modem. A video adapter allows the user to add a VGA monochrome or color monitor. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: A screen reader and speech synthesizer must be purchased separately. WEIGHT: 18 pounds. DIMENSIONS: 10.7 x 7.5 x 16.7 inches (272 x 191 x 424 milimeters). WARRANTY/GUARANTEE: A one year warranty and 30-day money back guarantee are standard.

8. ROMEO BRAILLE PRINTER (MODEL RB-40)

   --- DISCONTINUED. (Verified 12/2002) RETAINED IN DATABASE FOR REFERENCE. --- The Romeo Braille Printer and Sign Maker, model RB-40, is a portable Braille printer capable of single-sided printing of grade 1 or "computer" Braille from a computer text file, or grade 2 Braille when used with a Braille translation program for individuals who are blind or have low vision. The RB-40 comes ready to use with an IBM-PC comptible computer and standard Braille paper. A built in memory system makes it easy to customize and save settings for nearly any format desired. Users may choose the number of lines on a page (1 to maximum depending on page length), the page length (3 to 14 inches in 0.5 inch increments), the paper width (1.5 to 13.25 inches), various materials such as plastic or light metal (paper weight 20 to 100 pound tag), or print in landscape or wide print formats. This printer has both parallel port and 25-pin serial port and users can choose 15 different Baud settings, and either ACSII or Baudot communications code. COMPATIBILITY: IBM-PC and compatibles. OPTIONS: Jumbo Braille option; Signmaking version option; external keyboard; sound cover; special interface cables; special line sords. DIMENSIONS: 21.5 x 13.5 x 6 inches. WEIGHT: 27 pounds.

9. TREKKER

   -- Discontinued. Verified 8/2012. Retained in database for reference. -- Trekker is a voice output electronic mobility aid designed for use by individuals who are blind or have low vision. The system uses GPS (global positioning satellite) and digital maps to identify locations and tell users how to get to specific destinations. The device identifies nearby streets and intersections, and tells the user when a destination or other landmark is nearby. Users can enter their own landmarks or use the list that comes with the digital map. The device provides an itinerary when the user enters the addresses of the departure point and destination, and it can be used when walking or in a taxi, bus, or other vehicle. OPTIONS: Digital maps covering most Western countries are available. They can be bought online and downloaded, or ordered and delivered on CD or Compact Flash cards. DIMENSIONS (HxLxW): 5.26 x 1 x 3.4 inches. WEIGHT: 1.3 pounds.

10. VICTOR READER VIBE

    --- DISCONTINUED. (Verified 01/2010) RETAINED IN DATABASE FOR REFERENCE. --- Victor Reader Vibe is a digital talking book player designed for use by individuals who are blind or have low vision. This portable player reads Daisy books and standard MP3 and audio CDs. Its controls have embossed tactile markings. This player supports all Daisy navigation levels, including go to chapter, section, page, paragraph, and so on. Other functions include bookmarks and speed control with pitch compensation. Firmware may be upgraded via CD. The player comes with earphones and a carrying case. POWER: Uses rechargeable batteries or power adapter (included). DIMENSIONS (HxLxW): 29 x 148 x 138 millimeters. WEIGHT: 275 grams.

See Beyond Sight, Inc. (Formerly Second Sight) products that are currently available.