Intel today announced the Intel Reader, a mobile handheld device designed to increase independence for people who have trouble reading standard print.

The Intel Reader can assist people who have dyslexia or other specific learning disabilities, or have vision problems such as low-vision or blindness, which makes reading printed words difficult or impossible.

The Intel Reader, about the size of a paperback book, converts printed text to digital text, and then reads it aloud to the user. Its design combines a high-resolution camera with the power of an Intel Atom processor, allowing users to point, shoot and listen to printed text. The Intel Reader will be available in the United States through select resellers, including CTL, Don Johnston Incorporated, GTSI, Howard Technology Solutions and HumanWare.

When the Intel Reader is used together with the Intel Portable Capture Station, large amounts of text, such as a chapter or an entire book, can be easily captured for reading later.

For more information on the Intel Reader or where to purchase, reader.intel.com.