Book reader for analog books | post-ideas.com

Here’s a concept for a smart book-reader.

ReadMate — assistive page-turner + read-aloud (full “book reader”)

Goal: Let anyone (esp. low-vision, tremor, limited dexterity) consume analog books hands-free.

Core experience

1. Place book on cradle; tap Start.
2. Overhead arm gently flutters the top corner to separate a page; micro-roller (silicone) turns it.
3. Overhead camera captures each page; on-device OCR creates a temporary text stream.
4. TTS reads aloud; large e-ink strip shows current line; physical dial controls speed & volume.
5. Foot pedal / head switch / voice can pause, back one page, or add a bookmark.

Human-safe page turning

* Corner-lift air pulse + soft roller; force-limited, stalls safely if resistance >0.15 N.
* Gutter-aware: detects tight bindings and changes the pinch point.
* Works for 100–900 gsm; max page size A4 portrait; thickness up to 70 mm.

Optics & privacy

* 12 MP camera, polarized ring light to kill glare.
* All OCR/TTS on-device; no cloud by default. Physical shutter switch for the camera.

Controls & outputs

* Big tactile buttons + rotary encoder; high-contrast labels.
* E-ink status strip (4.7″) for line/word highlighting and progress.
* 3.5 mm audio jack + BT LE audio.
* USB-C PD; 6-hour battery on internal pack.

Mechanical layout

* Weighted base with V-cradle (adjustable clamps).
* Single telescoping mast; fold-down for storage.
* Quick-swap silicone rollers (three durometers) for different paper finishes.

Safety & compliance

* IEC/EN 62368-1 (IT equipment), flicker-safe PWM, <25 dBA operation.

BOM (pilot run)

* Mechanics (~~\$95), optics (~~\$40), electronics (~~\$55), enclosure (~~\$35) → Target COGS \~\$225; MSRP \~\$699.

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UX flows (concise)

Setup (all tiers):

* Open → set angle → adjust page holders → drop ribbon at start.

LineLamp use:

* Place bookmark under the last read line → tap to set → slide to follow.

ReadMate use:

* Quick calibration: snap spine width, page size; test turn on two sacrificial pages.
* Reading: play/pause; knob = speech rate; long-press = add bookmark.
* Resume: device re-finds page using visual landmarks (page numbers/margins).

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Edge cases & solutions

* Thin, translucent pages (bibles): switch to low-vacuum air pulse; use softer roller; enable “double-turn detect” via image diff.
* High-gloss pages: polarizer + raking-light mode.
* Tight gutters: angled corner lift (30°) and half-turn micro-roll.
* Large art books: flip orientation—camera on wider boom; manual page-turn assist prompt.

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Accessibility checklist

* WCAG-inspired contrast on labels (≥7:1).
* Tactile affordances and detents on all physical controls.
* Switch-control compatibility (3.5 mm).
* Haptics on confirmations (motor <0.3 G).
* TTS languages pack on device; phoneme exceptions list user-editable via USB.

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Sustainability

* Tool-less disassembly: captive screws, snap-fit panels.
* Replaceable battery and rollers.
* Recycled aluminum and PCR ABS where feasible.
* Firmware open for local repair centers; printed service manual.

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Roadmap

1. MVP builds

* ReadMate: lash-up rig (camera on boom, off-the-shelf page-turner roller) to validate turn reliability across 20 book types.

2. User testing

* Personas: commuter, student note-taker, low-vision reader, arthritis/tremor user.
* Metrics: turn success rate (>98%), setup time (<90 s), listening comprehension parity vs. human reading.

3. V1 freeze

* Lock mechanisms, seal optics path, finalize TTS voices and switch-control mappings.

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