For individuals who are blind or visually impaired, access to printed material has traditionally meant relying on others. Kurzweil 1000 breaks that dependency. It is an award-winning assistive technology tool that converts the printed word into speech, making books, mail, and documents accessible and audible.

While many screen readers simply read digital text, Kurzweil 1000 is a complete "Scan and Read" solution. It pairs with your scanner to photograph physical pages, recognizes the text with high-precision Optical Character Recognition (OCR), and reads it back to you in a natural, human-like voice. It is not just about reading, it is about giving you the freedom to handle your own correspondence, study effectively, and enjoy literature without barriers.

Features:

• Professional Grade OCR: Powered by the ABBYY FineReader engine, Kurzweil 1000 delivers industry-leading accuracy. It can decipher complex page layouts, ignore "noise" near page edges, and even recognize cash currency.
• Natural Voices: Gone are the days of robotic, difficult-to-understand speech. This software includes VoiceText, Acapela and ETI-Eloquence voices that provide clear, pleasant, and varied intonations, making long reading sessions comfortable.
• Study & Productivity Tools: It acts as a digital assistant. You can bookmark pages, add your own voice notes to documents, summarize text, and use built-in dictionaries and thesauri—perfect for students and professionals.
• Mobility & File Conversion: You are not tied to your desk. Kurzweil 1000 can convert your scanned documents into MP3 or WAV audio files, allowing you to transfer your reading list to a portable player and listen on the go.

How It Works:

The workflow is designed for simplicity and speed. Place a document (like a letter or a book page) on your scanner. With a simple keyboard command, Kurzweil 1000 scans the image, converts the graphics into editable text, and immediately begins reading aloud. It automatically handles page orientation and column detection, so you don't have to worry about placing the paper perfectly straight.

Hardware Advice (Scanners):

To get the most out of Kurzweil 1000, ensure you are using a TWAIN-compatible scanner. While the software is powerful, the speed of your experience often depends on how fast your scanner can capture an image. Modern flatbed scanners or high-speed document cameras work best.