Audio technology is one of the primary methods used to access information by individuals who are visually impaired. From recorded audio files, technology has now progressed to automatic reading of text through a ‘scan and read feature’. To conform to a single recording format for talking books and one international standard for automatic reading of text in digital form, an international group called DAISY Consortium (www.daisy.org) has developed an international standard for digital talking books. 

Automatic reading device operation involves scanning, Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and the translation of recognized characters into braille or speech. Most reading machines provide synthetic speech output while some provide braille output or both braille and speech. 

Synthetic speech output is available in several languages. Some automatic reading devices use standard computers with special software for processing and outputting into a speech synthesis program or into a refreshable braille display. Others are stand-alone, automatic reading machines which include scanners in the basic system and offer a simple, one-button operation to scan and read a document. 

Hence, the scan and read function is possible by means of a device or an app that can be downloaded onto a device.