For more than a decade the ClearReader, from Optelec in the Netherlands, has given the joy of reading text aloud to its users when they have had trouble reading, independent on their level of vision. The voice can be selected from one of the thirty-six languages built in to the device, with Lee and Karen being the favourite voices for Australian listeners.

Recently an Asian language version has become available and now Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, and Japanese texts can be read aloud by the ClearReader.

At the push of a button, the ClearReader takes a picture of the page placed in front of it, then analyses that picture and proceeds to read the text aloud. The whole process takes only a few seconds and the ClearReader provides a clear voice, which can be altered in speed and volume, to suit the user. You can also plug in your favourite headphones in order to provide privacy.