Ten years ago, David and Philips Raistrick developed cards with bar codes that could be read by a voice synthesizer. When their blind relations played, they tuned in on their hands by listening on a headset. 



That was just the beginning; the Raistricks went on to start a company, En-Vision America (U.S.) and obtained a patent for linking the bar code reader to a voice synthesizer. 



Their first product was the i.d. mate, which uses a robotic voice to identify more than one million items -- foods from soup to nuts, the newspaper you're reading, cleaning products, medications, C.D.s and D.V.D.s etc. 



"The device helps people find the can of beans they want to warm up and not get confused with a can of soup." Raistrick said. "Any information sighted people have from products, i.d. mate makes available to the visually impaired people." In addition to identifying these products, i.d. mate also can provide information on instructions, ingredients, nutritional information, package size and warnings from product packaging. 



Then there is the ScripTalk System that places a Radio Frequency Identification label on prescriptions. Using a handheld reader, the patient can listen to the information stored on the microchip. The voice device conveys label information such as drug name, dosage, instructions, doctors name etc. 



A new version of ScripTalk will be available soon. The device has a more streamlined design and ‘talks’ with a usual voice and will be available in American English, British English, French, German and Danish. For details see www.envisionamerica.com