Reading eBooks has an advantage that reading paper books doesn’t have: the ability to look up a word without having to reach for the dictionary. With the Point and Click Dictionary from Hammacher Schlemmer, you’ll be able to look up words without having a drag out the Webster’s. You simply lift the integrated flip-up camera to scan a word, and the definition, comprehensive etymologies, and related word forms will be displayed on the 2.4″ color LCD (320 x 240 resolutiion). You can hear the pronunciation on the built-in speaker. The device uses the “500,000 definitions from the Collins English Dictionary and offers translations to and from French, Italian, Spanish, and German using the award-winning Collins foreign language dictionaries.” There’s a lot of punch in this 3 1/2″ L X 2 1/4″ W X 3/4″ D, 2.7 ounce package. It can also be used as an MP3 player, voice recorder, and picture viewer, and it has a touchscreen that you navigate with your finger or the included stylus. The Point and Click Dictionary is $279.95.
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow, almost $300. Somebody should whip up an Android/iPhone app that can use the built-in camera and doing the same thing for $0.99.
I had purchased a similar item several years ago (maybe 7?) It was in the shape of a scan-pen and you ran it across the word. It would “READ” the word in a computer voice and you had a display where you could read the definition or push a button and have it read to you.
I got this for my sister who had suffered a stroke and couldn’t recognize some words by READING them, but knew them when she heard them. It helped her with bills/news papers.
And that item was around $150. Color and a big screen must be $pendy….
@MJ: Google Googles can look up words for you, and it’s a free app…
Funny, I am so used to reading eBooks now, that when I read a paper book I find my myself pressing down on an unknown word to get its definition…
That’s funny, Bob! I’ve done that too. Great minds think alike!
What is this? An article from 2002?