LookTel helps the blind count their money using an iPhone
Smartphone cameras are quite versatile. Some people used them to take pretty pictures, while others use them for the recognition of a face, product or an object. LookTel has taken this idea of object recognition and used it as the cornerstone of a new app called Money Reader.
Money Reader uses your iPhone camera to identify dollar bills from $1 up to $100. The app is designed to let those with a visual impairment accurately count their money. The identification happens in real-time so users can quickly count or sort a pile of cash.
Besides its utility in counting money, LookTel is hoping to use this recognition technology to identify landmarks, recognize objects and read back text. It may also be used with GPS and maps to provide a voice guidance system for the blind.
The Money Reader app is available for US$1.99 in the iTunes App Store and is compatible with the iPhone (4, 3GS) and iPod Touch (4th Generation).
