However it is important to understand some of the messages that will be given if the
document is causing a problem for the Reader.
If a word has an unrecognised character the word will not be recognised for speech
and will be spelt out during the reading of the document. If you enter the spelling
facility and hear a bleep tone this indicates an unrecognised letter.
The Portset Reader can only read a document if it is placed face down on the glass
window. The orientation is not important as the system will automatically reverse
any document to make it readable. If you place the document upside down, you will
be told that there is no recognised text on the page. When you get this message turn
the page over and press the START key again. It is also possible that you may hear a
document reads punctuation or odd characters. This could be because the document
is upside down but is dirty and the dirt is being interpreted as real characters.
Alternatively this is due to a document that is predominantly pictures.
If you want to read a magazine, it is always best to use the COLUMN mode as
frequently magazines use a column presentation.
If it is important for you to know which is the actual top of a document try using a
post-it note on which you get typed the numbers 6699. Stick this note on the top left
corner of the document. When the document is read to you the numbers 6699 will
be spoken either at the start or the end of the document. If they are spoken first you
have placed the note at the top of the document, whereas is they are spoken at the
end, then the note has been placed at the bottom of the document.
Some documents are difficult to be read, for example, newspapers. This is due to the
thin paper used, which produces what is called "print through". This is where the
print on one side of the document can be seen on the other side.
Fax copies or badly produced photo-copies are very difficult to read due to the
amount of black particles placed onto the paper.
This type of document will produce a lot of punctuation when being read as the
particles are interpreted as printer characters.
Printing over the top of pictures will also produce difficulties in the ability of reading.
If a document or book has the first letter of a word in a large font size this can also
produce a misinterpretation which will result in an incorrectly spoken word.
A document that has been folded can cause recognition and reading errors at the
fold. Flatten the document by reverse folding.
An open book needs to lie flat on the reading glass. This may not be totally possible if
you use a hard back book or the book is relatively thick. Errors in words can occur at
the centre spine due to the pages not being flat. After placing the book on the glass
and closing the lid, place your hand on the lid and gently hold the lid down. This
action will to some degree level the book spine fold.
