Reading Assistance and Obstacle Detection Device for the Visually Impaired

Reading Assistant for Visually Impaired People," focuses on developing an accessible, low-cost device to assist visually impaired individuals in reading printed text. Braille, a common medium for visually impaired readers, is limited in availability and challenging to produce. By combining image recognition technology with speech synthesis, the project creates a user-friendly image-to-speech conversion system using Raspberry Pi. The device is equipped with a camera to capture printed text, which is processed through Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and then converted to audio output via a Text-to-Speech (TTS) engine. This solution enables users to "read" printed materials audibly, enhancing their independence and quality of life. The project employs Raspberry Pi’s compact, cost-effective hardware to offer portability, and is powered by an external battery, making it practical for everyday use. Future enhancements could include integrating obstacle detection and video-based text recognition, aiming to expand functionality and improve accuracy.