Text Detective - App Review

This is a rather different App to those that we normally review; not an apology, more as a matter of interest.

The developers, The Blindsight Corporation, have a declared mission to "use computer vision to help the visually impaired"; an extremely noble goal.

This App takes text and reads it out loud... but only after it has performed Optical Character Recognition (OCR), which also gives it far wider application.

Now for the ACIDS test:

Aesthetics
In a similar way to scanning Apps, you line up your iPhone, in landscape mode, with the document you want to digitise, and then simply touch the screen, keeping it as steady as possible.

The App then processes the image and carries out OCR.

Touching 'Manage Results' then allows you to save the text to history, send as a text message, post to Twitter, or send as an e-mail.

You now have your document as text which can be handled however you please, with the 'Voice Over' function being of particular use to those who require it.

Cost
The App is absolutely free.

Indispensability
For people whose sight requires it, this App must be an absolute boon. For those who are looking for accurate OCR, this is excellent.

Dependability
OCR for the masses has always been a bit of a hit and miss affair. This App provides a remarkably accurate rendition of the original text; better than I have seen anywhere else.

Security
The ability to post directly to Twitter is the usual double-edged sword.

ACIDS Test Rating:

Wonderful for some and very useful for others.

To find out how the ACIDS Test works, click here.

You can get Text Detective here and support for the App here.