Abstract:
The present invention relates to stand-alone, hand-held, scanning apparatus, which provides a user with exposures to a spoken form and an interpretation of a portion of text, simultaneously, or in sequence. Preferably, the apparatus provides a text-to-speech synthesis of a portion of text, for example, a sentence, followed by an audible, automatic translation to a second language, of the same portion of text. Alternatively, the automatic translation may be displayed in parallel with the text-to-speech synthesis. Interpretation may include translation only of difficult words and phrases, in context, upon request, or rephrasing of difficult words and phrases, in context, upon request. These may be audible or displayed.  
     Alternatively, or additionally, the stand-alone, hand-held apparatus may be used for teaching correct pronunciation of a portion of text. Preferably, teaching correct pronunciation includes the steps of providing a text-to-speech synthesis of the portion of text, recording the user&#39;s pronunciation of the portion of text, and playing back the user&#39;s pronunciation, for the user to hear any differences between his pronunciation and that of the text-to-speech synthesis. The user, who may be preparing to give a lecture in a language that is foreign to him, may thus practice his pronunciation of it.  
     Additionally, in accordance with the present invention, the stand-alone, hand-held apparatus may be used for synthesizing written notes of a piece of music. Preferably, the music is synthesized in the sound of a desired instrument, for exarnple, a cello. The user, who may be preparing to play the piece of music, may maintain visual contact with the written notes, as they are being synthesized.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to hand-held scanning dictionaries, and in particular, to a scanning dictionary that is optimized for teaching languages.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    While dictionaries provide multiple meanings to words or word stems, a dictionary user requires the meaning in context and is to sort and shift for himself from the plurality of meanings suggested to him. To students of a foreign language, this is not an easy task. Often, the meaning depends on the part of speech a word plays, but to analyze a sentence for its parts of speech, one must understand it sufficiently. For example, when confronted with, “Name two reasons for the strength of the present economy,” many students of English as a Foreign Language will gaze at what, in their view, is a sentence with no verb. Since student rarely look up words they believe they know, they are unlikely to look up “name” for a possible unfamiliar meaning.  
           [0003]    An additional difficulty with using a dictionary is that often, a dictionary provides only the word stem, which may be, for example, a verb, and not the word as it appears in the sentence, which may be, for example, an adjective. For example, the meaning in context, for the phrase “augmented costs” may not be found in a dictionary.  
           [0004]    An old-fashioned language teaching method, known in Aramaic as “Shnaiim Mikra Ve&#39;ahad Targum,” or, “read, translate, read” is designed to provide the meaning in context, averting the problems associated with independent study with a dictionary. However, it requires a teacher, close at hand.  
           [0005]    Another problem that students of a foreign language encounter is pronunciation. When a person who was raised in a specific system of sounds and vowels moves into a different system, his difficulty is twofold: not only can he not pronounce the new sounds and vowels, but often, he does not hear their distinguishing features. A person whose mother tongue has a single “e” sound, may not hear the difference between “it” and “eat”. Yet, being able to hear this difference is a prerequisite to producing it.  
           [0006]    Furthermore, written languages rarely provide unequivocal information with regard to pronunciation. In English, for example, there is “home,” and “dome,” but “come,” and “some.” There is “weight,” and there is “height”. The word “misled” is not pronounced like the word “fiddled,” and the word “ear” is not pronounced like the word “bear.” There are silent letters like “g” in “paradigm” or “c” in scintillation. For students of a foreign language, pronouncing what they read may involve considerable guesswork.  
         SURVEY OF PRIOR ART  
         [0007]    Optical scanners are known. They convert objects such as pictures, barcodes, or portions of text to machine-readable data signals. Typically, the data signals are read by a user&#39;s computer to reproduce an image of the scanned object on a display device, such as a CRT, a display screen or a printer.  
           [0008]    A hand-held optical scanner is manipulated by hand across the object that is being scanned. The hand-held scanner may be connected directly to the user&#39;s computer by a data cable, and may transfer image data to the computer as he data are collected. Alternatively, the hand-scanner may be a stand-alone unit and may include a data storage component for storing the image data. The data may be downloaded to a separate computer after the scanning operation is complete.  
           [0009]    A hand-held optical scanner generally includes an illumination system, for illuminating the region to be scanned, an optical system, for collecting and focusing light reflected by the illuminated, scanned region, a photosensitive detector, for detecting the light collected and focused thereon by the optical system, an analog amplifier, for amplifying the signals produced by the photosensitive detector, and an analog-to-digital converter, for converting the amplified signals to digitized machine-readable data signals. The illumination system may be, for example, a fluorescent or incandescent lamp or an array of light emitting diodes (LEDs). The optical system may include a lens or a lens-and-mirror assembly.  
           [0010]    The photosensitive detector is generally a Charge-Coupled Device (CCD). A CCD includes an array of photosensitive cells, or pixels, each pixel collecting an electrical charge responsive to the light that falls upon it. Thus, a CCD may be used to detect light and dark spots of a scanned object. The charge from each pixel is converted to an analog voltage by an analog amplifier, and the analog voltage is digitized by an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC). The digitized signals are the machine-readable data signals, which can be stored or processed by the user on a computer or a similar device.  
           [0011]    Sometimes, a Contact Image Sensor (CIS) is used in place of the CCD. In a CIS scanner, the array of photosensitive cells is arranged in close proximity to the object to be scanned, so as to catch the reflected light directly; an optical system is not necessary.  
           [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,895 to Heiman, et al, incorporated herein by reference, describes a scanning system with adjustable light output and/or scanning angle.  
           [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,033,086 to Bohn, incorporated herein by reference, describes a compact illumination system for a hand-held scanner.  
           [0014]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,841,121 to Koenck, incorporated herein by reference, describes a hand-held optical scanners, having automatic focus control, for operation over a range of distances.  
           [0015]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,019,699 to Koenck, incorporated herein by reference, describes a hand-held optical scanner, which includes a lens system having circular symmetry. The lens system focuses the full width of the object onto an array of photosensitive cells, with a single flash of a ring-type xenon flash tube, which surrounds the lens system and is symmetrically arranged relative to the optical axis. In this way, the object can be scanned at any angle relative to the array of photosensitive cells, and the scanned image, stored in digital form, can be electronically rotated to a desired orientation, before it is decoded.  
           [0016]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,834,749 to Durbin, incorporated herein by reference, describes a hand-held scanner for reading images at oblique angles, in order for the scanning unit not interfere with the user&#39;s view of the scanned image. The distortion to an obliquely scanned image, arising from the oblique scanning, can be corrected by any of several correction techniques, as follows:  
           [0017]    1. a ratio of vertical to horizontal line densities of the array of photosensitive cells can be chosen to compensate for the vertical foreshortening of the scanned image;  
           [0018]    2. the array of photosensitive cells can be oriented at an oblique angle with respect to the optical axis, to compensates for the distortion inherent in the oblique scanning;  
           [0019]    3. a lens system can be configured to provide varying degrees of magnification along its surface; and  
           [0020]    4. as taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,019,699, to Koenck, described hereinabove, processing techniques can electronically re-orient the scanned image after storing it in the scanner&#39;s memory.  
           [0021]    Hand-held, stand-alone, optical scanners that produce audio output are known. U.S. Pat. No. 5,945,656 to Lemelson, et al, incorporated herein by reference, describes a pen-like stand-alone scanner for transuding coded data into pre-coded pieces of speech or music. Generally, a scanning guide is attached to a book, arranged for guiding the pen-like scanner vertically along an edge of the book, which contains coded information. Aided by the guide, children may scan the coded data and produce the sounds associated with them.  
           [0022]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,767,494 to Matsueda, et al., incorporated herein by reference, describes a system for reproducing multimedia information, recorded with an optically readable code. The code is a dot-code format described in U.S. Ser. No. 08/407,018 (PCT Publication No. WO 94/08314), and includes two-dimensional patterns that convey multimedia information, for example, audio information like speech and music, image information obtained from a camera or a video device, and digital code data obtained from the user&#39;s computer, for example, from a word processor. The system uses paper as a basic information-storage medium for the optically readable code, and includes a preferably pen-like scanner, arranged to read the code. The system may reproduce the original multimedia information by an appropriate hardware such as a display screen, a printer, or a speaker, and includes a speech synthesizer. In some embodiments, the pen-like scanner is a stand-alone unit, and may include earphones.  
           [0023]    The IRISPen of Image Recognition Integrated Systems Inc., of Rue Du Bosquest 10, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, is a pen-like scanner that allows the user to scan text, bar codes and handwritten numbers into any Windows or Mac application. The IRISPen is hooked up to any desktop or portable computer without any additional interface boards. The IRISPen is not stand-alone apparatus.  
           [0024]    The IRISPen Executive™ integrates text-to-speech technology from Lernout &amp; Hauspie, in six languages (English, French, German, Dutch, Spanish and Italian). It provides natural audio feedback of all recognized words and numbers as it scans the information. The purpose of the text-to-speech technology is to reduce the need of the user to keep his eyes on the computer screen to verify recognition. The IRISPen Translator is further arranged to automatically translate text between English and German. Output may be in the form of written text in the translated language, displayed on a computer screen or printed. Alternatively, the output may be an audio output, in the translated language.  
           [0025]    The IRISPen Executive™, the IRISPen Translator, and other IRISPen products are not stand-alone apparatus. Rather, they are arranged to operate with a computer, such as a desktop PC or a notebook computer, into which the IRISPen software has been installed. The output language is the language that has been installed to the computer, and cannot be changed during a scanning operation—an audio output may be provided only in the original language or only in the translated language. Furthermore, the automatic translation language is not intrinsic to the IRISPen Translator. Rather, it has to be installed to the computer that supports the IRISPen. Neither are the speaker or earphones for audio output intrinsic to the IRISPen. Instead, the computer speakers are used for the audio output. Therefore, the IRISPen is not a single product but a package of several products, which are sold together and are arranged to operate together.  
           [0026]    Text-to-speech (TTS) syntheses, additional to the technology of Lemout &amp; Hauspie of the IRISPen Executive™, are known. Bell Labs and Edinburgh University have developed a text-to-speech synthesis based on a Spoken Text Markup Language (STML) standard. STML later became SABLE. Sun Microsystems, Inc., in partnership with other speech-technology companies, has worked to define the specifications for a Java Speech API and a Java Speech Markup Language (JSML), incorporating many of the aspects of SABLE. JSML has been accepted by W3C (the organization responsible for WWW standards) as a standard. Bell Labs Lucent Technologies now offer a text-to-speech synthesis, which provides choices between voices of a man, a woman or a child and a speech rate that is fast, normal or slow. The University of Edinbourgh has developed a generally multi-lingual system known as The Festival Speech Synthesis System, available in English (British and American), Spanish and Welsh. Additionally, Digital offers the DECtalk™ Speech Synthesizer which converts ASCII text to natural-sounding speech output. IBM offers the V5.1 speech synthesizer. Apple offers “English Text-to-Speech” software with recent versions of the MacOS. The University of York has produced YorkTalk, Oxford University offers an all-prosodic speech synthesizer entitled, IPOX. Telcordia Technologies (formerly Bellcore) have developed the ORATOR and an improved version, the ORATOR II. Entropic Research Laboratory, Inc. offers TrueTalk 1.0, a software-only text-to-speech system based on a major research effort at AT&amp;T Bell Laboratories. AT&amp;T has developed Next-Generation TTS to convert machine-readable English text into audible speech. The Speech Technology Unit at BT has produced, and is continuing to develop, a sophisticated text to speech system called Laureate. Eurovocs is still another commercially available, text-to-speech product. BORIS is a high-quality, diphone-based text-to-speech converter for Spanish, developed by Universidad Politecnica de Madrid. Lycos Search offers a text-to-speech synthesizer, as do SoftVoice, Inc., Eloquent Technology, Inc., and many other companies.  
           [0027]    Lernout &amp; Hauspie, which developed the technology of the IRISPen Executive™, described hereinabove, offers a multi-lingual, text-to speech system in British English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian and Spanish.  
           [0028]    HMM-Based Trainable Speech Synthesis has developed a speech synthesis which uses a set of decision-tree state-clustered Hidden Markov Models. The system automatically selects and segments a set of HMM-state sized sub-word units from a continuous-speech database of a single speaker for one hour for use in a concatenation synthesizer, to produce highly intelligible, fluent speech. It can be retrained on a new voice in less than 48 hours.  
           [0029]    Automatic translation, additional to the technology of the IRISPen Translator, are known. For example, Language Teacher® of Ectaco, 1205 E. Pike, Seattle, Wash. 98122, is a pocket, electronic dictionary and translator with  2  million words and phrases, which generally operates as a stand-alone unit. Some models may be connected to user&#39;s computers and interact with Windows 95 or 98. It is available for translation between English and any of the following languages: Albanian, Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese, Czech, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish, Turkish, Vietnamese, and Yiddish.  
           [0030]    The Language Teacher® includes words as well as phrases, idioms, irregular verbs, and linguistic games and grammar. If further includes a built-in, voice synthesizer which produces an audio output in multiple languages. Additionally, the Language Teacher® includes an organizer. A digital voice recorder stores up to 15 minutes of human speech. Its model “Partner®” is designed to translate texts, and send and receive e-mail and faxes.  
           [0031]    There is a wide selection of automatic translation software, for example, Deluxe Universal Translator, of LanguageForce, Easy Translator 3, of Transparent Language, L&amp;H Power Translator Pro, of L&amp;H Speech Products, and Translation Manager 2.0, of IBM.  
           [0032]    Software for correcting the user&#39;s pronunciation is known. For example, “Talk to Me™, by Globalink, Inc., Fairfax, Va., is a software, arranged for a PC computer. The user may use the software to listen to a dialogue and to try to reproduce it. The software records the user&#39;s voice and compares its signals with those which would be produced by a native speaker, displaying to the user the differences in signal forms. However, the dialogues are provided by the software; the user cannot use the software to practice on sentences of his choice, for example, in order to prepare for a speech that he is to give.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0033]    The present invention relates to stand-alone, hand-held, scanning apparatus, which provides a user with exposures to a spoken form and an interpretation of a portion of text, simultaneously, or in sequence.  
           [0034]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus provides a text-to-speech synthesis of a portion of text, for example, a sentence, followed by an audible, automatic translation to a second language, of the same portion of text. Alternatively, the automatic translation may be displayed in parallel with the text-to-speech synthesis.  
           [0035]    In accordance with other embodiments, interpretation includes translation of difficult words and phrases, in context, upon request, or rephrasing of difficult words and phrases, in context, upon request. These may be audible or displayed.  
           [0036]    Alternatively, or additionally, the stand-alone, hand-held apparatus may be used for teaching correct pronunciation of a portion of text. Preferably, teaching correct pronunciation includes the steps of providing a text-to-speech synthesis of the portion of text, recording the user&#39;s pronunciation of the portion of text, and playing back the user&#39;s pronunciation, for the user to hear any differences between his pronunciation and that of the text-to-speech synthesis.  
           [0037]    Additionally, in accordance with the present invention, the stand-alone, hand-held apparatus may be used for synthesizing written notes of a piece of music. Preferably, the music is synthesized in the sound of a desired instrument, for example, a cello. The user, who may be preparing to play the piece of music, may maintain visual contact with the written notes, as they are being synthesized.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0038]    The present invention will be more clearly understood from the accompanying detailed description and drawings, in which same number designations are maintained throughout the figures for similar elements and in which:  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 1 schematically illustrates apparatus for language acquisition, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 2A schematically illustrates the internal elements of the apparatus of FIG. 1, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 2B schematically illustrates the external elements of the apparatus of FIG. 1, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a first reading protocol, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a second reading protocol, in accordance with the preferred invention;  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a third reading protocol, in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a fourth reading protocol, in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a fifth reading protocol, in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a protocol for music synthesis, in accordance with present invention;  
         [0048]    FIGS.  9 A- 9 C schematically illustrate different arrangements of the scanner system, in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 10 schematically illustrates apparatus for language acquisition, in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 11 schematically illustrates apparatus for language acquisition, in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0051]    Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which schematically illustrates apparatus  10  for language acquisition, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Preferably, apparatus  10  provides audio outputs of automatic text-to-speech synthesis of a portion of text  14 , in a first language, and preferably also automatic translation to a second language, while enabling a user  16  to maintain visual contact with text  14 . Preferably, apparatus  10  includes a device  12 , hand-held by user  16 , a cable  20 , and earphones  18 , which are worn by user  16 , as a headgear  13 . As user  16  moves hand-held device  12  across text  14 , he hears text  14  read aloud to him and preferably also automatically translated, through earphones  18 . However, in some embodiments of the present invention, cable  20  is not used, and communication between device  12  and earphones  18  is wireless.  
         [0052]    Preferably, user  16  is a native speaker of the second language, eager to be exposed simultaneously to text  14  in its written and spoken forms, and to its interpretation. Preferably, apparatus  10  offers several reading and translations protocols for user  16  to choose from, as will be described hereinbelow, in conjunction with FIGS.  3 - 5 .  
         [0053]    Alternatively, user  16  is a native speaker of the language of text  14 , learning to read the language of text  14  through simultaneous exposure to its written and spoken forms. Preferably, user  16  is aided by a built-in dictionary, for rephrasing unfamiliar words and phrases with familiar ones, upon request, as will be described hereinbelow, in conjunction with FIG. 6.  
         [0054]    Alternatively or additionally, apparatus  10  may include a pronunciation teaching program and a microphone  15  into which user  16  reads aloud text  14 , after hearing it read to him by apparatus  10 , as will be described hereinbelow, in conjunction with FIG. 7. Microphone  15  may be mounted on headgear  13 , and may be further used to communicate with apparatus  10 , via voice commands.  
         [0055]    Alternatively or additionally, apparatus  10  may include a notes-to-music synthesis, for providing an audio output of a written music passage. User  16  may be a music student, preparing to play a musical piece and assisted by listening to apparatus  10 , as it produces an audio output of the written music, as will be described hereinbelow, in conjunction with FIG. 8.  
         [0056]    Reference is now made to FIGS. 2A and 2B, which schematically illustrate internal and external structures, respectively, of hand-held device  12 , in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Hand-held device  12  includes an outer sheath  21 , formed of a rigid material such as wood or plastic, having a proximal end  22  and a distal end  24 , with respect to text  14  (FIG. 1), and a longitudinal axis L. Hand-held device  12  further includes a scanner  26 , located at proximal end  22  and a computerized system  19 . Scanner  26  is arranged for scanning a single line of text at a time. Preferably, user  16  scans text  14  in grammatical units such as a sentence, a clause, a phrase, or a word.  
         [0057]    Additionally, hand-held device  12  may include a display drive  49  and a display panel  40  for providing communication between computerized system  19  and user  16 . Display panel  40  may be a touch panel, wherein user  16  may touch it with a soft tip (not shown) to activate certain features, or to respond to queries of computerized system  19 . Additionally, device  12  may include at least one key  48 , and preferably a plurality of keys  48 , for supplementing the communication between computerized system  19  and user  16 . Keys  48  may be used, for example, to specify a reading protocol, or to request a translation or rephrasing of a word or phrase, when the reading protocol is based on a key request. Display panel  40  and keys  48  may have additional functions, as will be described hereinbelow.  
         [0058]    Preferably, scanner  26  of hand-held device  12  includes an illumination system  28 , for illuminating text  14 , an optical system  34 , for collecting and focusing light reflected from text  14 , a photosensitive detector  25 , preferably an array of CCD cells, for detecting the light collected and focused thereon by optical system  34 , an analog amplifier  35 , for amplifying the signals produced by photosensitive detector  25 , and an analog-to-digital converter  37 , for converting the amplified signals to digitized machine-readable data signals.  
         [0059]    Illumination system  28  may be, for example, a fluorescent or incandescent lamp or an array of light emitting diodes (LEDs). Illumination system  28  may be arranged as substantially a point light source, or as a ring, surrounding optical system  34 . In an embodiment of the present invention, light output and illumination angle are adjusted, for example, as taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,895 to Heiman, et al, incorporated herein by reference. In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, a compact illumination system, for example, as taught by U.S. Pat. No. 6,033,086 to Bohn, incorporated herein by reference, is used. Preferably, the intensity of the illumination and the diameter of the illumination beam are controlled by knobs  27  and  29 , respectively. Alternatively, the intensity of the illumination and the diameter of the illumination beam are controlled by at least one of keys  48 , through computerized system  19 , as will be described hereinbelow.  
         [0060]    Optical system  34  may include a lens or a lens-and-mirror assembly. Optical system  34  defines an optical axis X, which may be parallel with longitudinal axis L, or arranged at an angle to it, depending on the specific arrangements of the other elements of device  12 . For example, optical axis X may be perpendicular to longitudinal axis L, as taught by U.S. Pat. No.  5 , 767 , 494  to Matsueda, et al., incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0061]    Preferably, optical system  34  has a focusing capability, for operation over a range of distances. Preferably, optical system  34  has an automatic focusing capability, in a manner similar, for example, to U.S. Pat. No. 5,841,121 to Koenck, incorporated herein by reference. Alternatively, user  16  may use a focusing ring  36  to bring an image of text  14 , on photosensitive detector  25 , into focus. Preferably, display panel  40  may be arranged for displaying text  14  as photosensitive detector  25  sees it, via at least one key  48 , thus enabling user  16  to bring an image of text  14  into focus. In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, focusing is controlled by one of keys  48 , through computerized system  19 . In a still alternate embodiment of the present invention, optical system  34  is arranged as a fixed, free focus optical system, having a depth of field that maintains text  14  within focus for most applications.  
         [0062]    Preferably, optical system  34  further includes a zooming capability, for operation over a range of print sizes of text  14 . Preferably, user  16  may use a zooming ring  38  to zoom optical system  34  in and out, assisted by display panel  40 . Alternatively, zooming may be performed automatically. Alternatively, zooming may be controlled by at least one of keys  48 , through computerized system  19 .  
         [0063]    In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, optical system  34  is not used. Rather, photosensitive detector  25  includes a CIS array of photosensitive cells, arranged in close proximity to text  14 , so as to catch the reflected light directly.  
         [0064]    Computerized system  19  includes a processor  30 , which preferably includes a control unit, a logic unit (ALU) and memory. Additionally, computerized system  19  may include a fixed data storage device  32 , such as a hard disk.  
         [0065]    Additionally, computerized system  19  includes an operating system, such as windows 95, windows 98, or windows 2000. Preferably, computerized system  19  further includes an object-oriented compiler, such as C++ or Java, which includes a linker for compiling an exec. file for several known applications. Alternatively, multithreading is used for running several applications in parallel.  
         [0066]    Furthermore, computerized system  19  includes an OCR program of a first language and a text-to speech synthesizer of the first language. Preferably, computerized system  19  further includes automatic translation software between the first language and a second language. Additionally in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, computerized system  19  includes a dictionary in the first language, for rephrasing words or phrases in the first language to more common or more familiar words and phrases. Preferably, the applications are associated as necessary, for providing sequential outputs. Alternatively multithreading may be used for providing an audio output, in parallel with a visual display.  
         [0067]    In some embodiments of the present invention, apparatus  10  may be arranged for automatic translation to more than one second languages, for example, from English to French and from English to Spanish. Computerized system  19  will include automatic translation software from English to each of the second languages. Additionally, apparatus  10  may be arranged as a two-way language-acquisition aide, for example, performing OCR conversion and text-to-speech synthesis in a first language and automatic translation to a second language, or OCR conversion and text-to-speech synthesis in the second language, and automatic translation to the first language. Thus, computerized system  19  may include more than one OCR programs, text-to-speech syntheses and automatic translation software. Furthermore, a combination of the above may be provided.  
         [0068]    Additionally, OCR conversions and text-to-speech syntheses of different languages, dictionaries of these languages, pronunciation teaching software of these languages, and automatic translation software from these languages to other languages, as requested by the user, may be incorporated to computerized system  19 . Preferably, when apparatus  10  is arranged to read more than one language, computerized system  19  recognizes a language it is arranged to read automatically.  
         [0069]    In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of dictionaries may be provided, for example, a dictionary of the first language, a dictionary of the second language, a dictionary from the first language to the second, a dictionary from the second language to the first, and similarly, for at least one dictionary of profesional terms, and for at least one dictionary of special idioms. Additionally, the user may augment and modify the dictionaries. The dictionaries may be used to support the automatic translation, or the rephrasing of difficult words.  
         [0070]    In accordance with the present invention, the user may specify the first and second languages from a library of first and second languages for which computerized system  19  is arranged. Additionally, computerized system  19  may be augmented for additional first and second languages.  
         [0071]    Preferably, computerized system  19  is arranged to recognize printed matter of various fonts, as well as hand-written matter, in pen, pencil, and other writing instruments. Additionally, computerized system  19  may be arranged to recognize text on a display screen, such as a computer screen.  
         [0072]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, hand-held device  12  includes an audio-output system  17 , which preferably includes a sound card  46 , for producing the audio outputs, and may further include an amplifier  42 , for amplifying the audio outputs, and a volume control knob  44 , for controlling the volume of the audio outputs. Alternatively, the volume is controlled by at least one of keys  48 , through computerized system  19 , as will be described hereinbelow. Audio output system  17  further includes an audio jack  45 , for connecting cable  20  of earphones  18  (FIG. 1) to device  12 .  
         [0073]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, keys  48  may be used to select a desired protocol from a library of at least one reading protocol.  
         [0074]    Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which is a flowchart  100  of a first reading protocol using apparatus  10 , in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The first reading protocol provides reading in the first language—the language of the text, translation to a second language and a repeat of the reading in the first language, as follows:  
         [0075]    in box  110 , a portion of text is scanned by user  16 , preferably, in grammatical units such as by sentence, by clause, or by phrase;  
         [0076]    in box  112 , computerized system  19  performs OCR conversion to the scanned text portion;  
         [0077]    in box  114 , computerized system  19  performs text-to-speech synthesis of the scanned text;  
         [0078]    in box  116 , computerized system  19  provides an audio output of the text-to-speech synthesis;  
         [0079]    in box  118 , computerized system  19  performs automatic translation of the scanned text;  
         [0080]    in box  120 , computerized system  19  provides an audio output of the automatic translation; and  
         [0081]    in box  122 , computerized system  19  repeats the audio output of the text-to-speech synthesis.  
         [0082]    Reference is now made to FIG. 4, which is a flowchart  130  of a second reading protocol, using apparatus  10 , in accordance with the present invention. The second reading protocol provides reading in the language of the text, and translation upon request, as follows:  
         [0083]    in box  140 , a portion of text is scanned by user  16 , preferably, in grammatical units such as by sentence, by clause, or by phrase;  
         [0084]    in box  142 , computerized system  19  performs OCR conversion to the scanned text portion;  
         [0085]    in box  144 , computerized system  19  performs text-to-speech synthesis of the scanned text;  
         [0086]    in box  146 , computerized system  19  provides an audio output of the text-to-speech synthesis; and  
         [0087]    in box  148 , computerized system  19  performs automatic translation of the scanned text, when user  16  requests it, for example, with a stroke of at least one of keys  48 .  
         [0088]    Unlike scanning dictionaries, computerized system  19  provides translations of words and phrases in their context, even when user  16  requests the translation of a single word or phrase. For example, the word “added” in the phrase “added cost” will be translated as adjective. However, the word “added” in the sentence, “We have added a few apples,” will be translated as a verb.  
         [0089]    Reference is now made to FIG. 5, which is a flowchart  160  of a third reading protocol, using apparatus  10 , in accordance with the present invention. The third reading protocol provides reading in the language of the text, and translation by display, using multithreading to run text-to-speech synthesis and automatic translation, in parallel, as follows:  
         [0090]    in box  150 , a portion of text is scanned by user  16 , preferably, in grammatical units such as by sentence, by clause, or by phrase;  
         [0091]    in box  152 , computerized system  19  performs OCR conversion to the scanned text portion;  
         [0092]    in box  154 , computerized system  19  performs text-to-speech synthesis of the scanned text;  
         [0093]    in box  156 , computerized system  19  provides an audio output of the text-to-speech synthesis; and  
         [0094]    in box  158 , computerized system  19  performs automatic translation of the scanned text, in parallel with the text-to-speech synthesis, and displays the translation of display panel  40 .  
         [0095]    Reference is now made to FIG. 6, which is a flowchart  200  of a fourth reading protocol, using apparatus  10 , in accordance with the present invention. The fourth reading protocol provides reading in the language of the text, and rephrasing of difficult words, audibly or by display, upon request, as follows:  
         [0096]    in box  210 , a portion of text is scanned by user  16 , preferably, in grammatical units such as by sentence, by clause, or by phrase;  
         [0097]    in box  212 , computerized system  19  performs OCR conversion to the scanned text portion;  
         [0098]    in box  214 , computerized system  19  performs text-to-speech synthesis of the scanned text;  
         [0099]    in box  216 , computerized system  19  provides an audio output of the text-to-speech synthesis; and  
         [0100]    in box  218 , computerized system  19  rephrases difficult words, in their context, audibly or by display, upon a key request.  
         [0101]    Reference is now made to FIG. 7, which is a flowchart  190  of a fifth reading protocol, for teaching correct pronunciation using apparatus  10 , in accordance with the present invention. Preferably, user  16  is a native speaker of the second language, eager to learn correct pronunciation of the language of text  14 .  
         [0102]    Often, when a person who was raised in a specific system of sounds and vowels moves into a different system of sounds and vowels, his difficulty is twofold: not only can he not pronounce the new sounds and vowels, but often, he does not hear their distinguishing features. For example, if an adult who was raised in a language system of six basic vowels moves into a language system of 12 or 20 vowels, then for a long time, he will only hear six basic vowels in the new language system. A person whose mother tongue has only one “e” sound, will hear the difference between “it” and “eat”.  
         [0103]    The fifth reading protocol of apparatus  10  is designed to teach user  15  to hear and distinguish the sounds of the language system of text  14 , and pronounce them correctly. Preferably, user  16  learns correct pronunciation through hearing his own pronunciation played back to him, by apparatus  10 , and through comparing it with the text-to-speech synthesis. Alternatively, apparatus  10  may use a signal evaluator of computerized system  19  to compare the pronunciation of user  16  with its own text-to-speech synthesis, and to correct user  16 , when necessary. Flowchart  190  of the fifth reading protocol includes the following steps:  
         [0104]    in box  170 , a portion of text is scanned by user  16 , preferably, in grammatical units such as by sentence, by clause, or by phrase;  
         [0105]    in box  172 , computerized system  19  performs OCR conversion to the scanned text portion;  
         [0106]    in box  174 , computerized system  19  performs text-to-speech synthesis of the scanned text;  
         [0107]    in box  176 , computerized system  19  provides an audio output of the text-to-speech synthesis;  
         [0108]    in box  178 , user  16  records his pronunciation of the portion of text;  
         [0109]    in box  180 , computerized system  19  plays back the recorded speech of user  16 ;  
         [0110]    in box  182  computerized system  19  compares the recorded speech of user  16  with its own text-to-speech synthesis, using a signal evaluator of computerized system  19 ;  
         [0111]    in box  184 , computerized system  19  repeats its audio output of mispronounced words, and directs user  16  to try again; or in box  186 , computerized system  19  signals an approves the user&#39;s pronunciation.  
         [0112]    Alternatively, in box  184  apparatus  10  displays for the user the signal forms of its own text-to-speech synthesis and of the user&#39;s speech, for the user to compare.  
         [0113]    In this manner, user  16  may practice his pronunciation on any text, including text that he may prepare, unlike known pronunciation systems, which rely on pronunciation practice of words and sentences preselected by the makers of the programs.  
         [0114]    Audio outputs of text-to-speech synthesis and automatic translation may be provided at different rates, such as a slow rate, a normal rate, and a fast rate, in a manner similar to the technology of Bell Labs Lucent Technologies, described hereinabove, in conjunction with the survey of prior art. Preferably, the user may select a desired rate, using at least one of keys  48 .  
         [0115]    Preferably, apparatus  10  includes a library of voices, stored for example in fixed data storage device  32 . Audio outputs of text-to-speech synthesis and automatic translation may be provided in different voices, such as a man&#39;s voice, a woman&#39;s voice, or a child&#39;s voice. Additionally, audio outputs may be provided in specific voices, which a user may request, for example, in the voice of Burl Ives or in the voice of Woofy Goldberg. Preferably, user  16  may select a desired voice, using at least one of keys  48 .  
         [0116]    Alternatively or alternatively, user  16  may train apparatus  10  to a desired voice, using for example, the technology of HMM-Based Trainable Speech Synthesis, which uses a set of decision-tree state-clustered Hidden Markov Models, described hereinabove, in conjunction with the survey of prior art.  
         [0117]    Alternatively, user  16  may buy apparatus  10  with a specific voice.  
         [0118]    In accordance with the present invention, apparatus  10  is further arranged for scanning written music, preferably with the accompanying tempo notations, cords, and other relevant information. Apparatus  10  is further arranged to produce an audio output of the written music, via a music synthesizer. Preferably, the music synthesizer may selectably produce the sound of a desired instrument, for example, a cello or organ. Preferably, at least one of keys  48  is used to select music synthesis as well as a synthesizer sound. Preferably, user  16  maintains visual contact with the written music, as it is produced, for example, in preparation for playing it.  
         [0119]    Reference is now made to FIG. 8, which is a flowchart  230  of a protocol for using apparatus  10  as a music synthesizer, in accordance with the present invention, as follows:  
         [0120]    in box  230 , a section of written music, which may include music notes in a specific key, accompanying cords, tempo and other relevant information is scanned by user  16 , preferably in sections of musical passages;  
         [0121]    in box  232 , computerized system  19  performs OCR conversion to the scanned section of written music;  
         [0122]    in box  234 , computerized system  19  performs a music synthesis of the scanned section, preferably including a synthesis of cords, tempo and other musical information; and  
         [0123]    in box  236 , computerized system  19  provides an audio output of the scanned section.  
         [0124]    Reference is again made to FIGS. 1, 2A and  2 B, in order to illustrate additional features of apparatus  10 , in accordance with the present invention. Preferably, hand-held device  12  includes a pen  64 , having a writing tip  65 , located in a channel  66 . Pen  64  may be selectably deployed and retracted by a slide  68  in a slit  70 . Pen  64  may be used for marking up text  14 , or for adding comments to text  14  by user  16 , as he sees fit. Preferably, writing tip  65  is a conventional, easily obtained writing tip, for example, a graphite rod in a conventional size. In an alternate embodiment, pen  64  may be external to sheath  21 . Preferably, apparatus  10  is further arranged to read the writing of its own writing tip  65 , when desired.  
         [0125]    Additionally, in accordance with the present invention, hand-held device  12  includes a storing component  76 , arranged for receiving a removable data storage component  74  such as a diskette, a CD, a cassette tape, or a similar lightweight data storage component, for storing information that was scanned, translated or otherwise produced by computerized system  19 . Preferably, components  76  and  74  are miniature, and may be tailor fitted for device  12 . User  16  may use microphone  15  to record other messages, which he would like stored with the text, on removable data storage component  74 .  
         [0126]    Further in accordance with the present invention, hand-held device  12  may include a jack  72  for connecting it to a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a palmtop, a notebook, a mobile telephone, an organizer, and other computerized devices, when desired.  
         [0127]    Additionally or alternatively, hand-held device  12  may be arranged as an integral unit with another hand-held computerized device such as a palmtop, a CD player, a cassette player, a mobile telephone, a radio, an organizer, and other computerized devices.  
         [0128]    Additionally, in accordance with the present invention, hand-held device  12  may include a clock  84 , to help user  16  pace himself.  
         [0129]    Further in accordance with the present invention, hand-held device includes a rechargeable battery  50 , fitted onto outer sheath  21  through a battery fitting  52 . Additionally or alternatively, hand-held device  12  may be connected to the grid, via a power jack  54  and an electric cable (not shown).  
         [0130]    Preferably, hand-held device  12  includes an on/off switch  60 , to selectably turns apparatus  10  on and off. Preferably, apparatus  10  automatically shuts itself off after a predetermined length of time in which it is not used, for example, 3 or 5 minutes. Alternatively, hand-held device  12  includes a heat-sensor  57 , in communication with computerized system  19 , for automatically turning apparatus  10  on, when it is hand-held, and for automatically shutting apparatus  10  off, when it is laid down. Alternatively, another known system for automatically turning apparatus  10  on and off may be used.  
         [0131]    Preferably, hand-held device  12  includes a gyroscope  86 , arranged for gliding across text  14 . Gyroscope  86  is in communication with computerized system  19 , and informs computerized system  19  when the scanning of a portion of text  14 , such as a sentence, has been completed, and OCR conversion should be performed. Alternatively, gyroscope  86  is not used, and computerized system  19  determines when the scanning of a portion of text has been completed, by discerning a pause in the inflow of scanned information. Gyroscope  86  may also be used to automatically turn apparatus  10  on, when it begins to glide across text  14 , and to automatically shut apparatus  10  off, when it is not being used for a predetermined length of time.  
         [0132]    Preferably, sheath  21  of hand-held device  12  may be opened by unscrewing screws  58 , that fit into screw holes  62 , for repair or for the installation or replacement of hardware.  
         [0133]    In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, device  12  is held at an oblique angle to text  14 , in order to enable user  16  to maintain visual contact with text  14 . Preferably, scanning at an oblique angle is achieved through any of the methods taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,019,699 to Koenck and U.S. Pat. No. 5,834,749 to Durbin, both incorporated herein by reference and described hereinabove, in conjunction with the survey of prior art.  
         [0134]    In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, device  12  is arranged so that the oblique angle at which it is held with respect to text  14  may be varied, to suit user  16 . Preferably, correction for the variation in the oblique angle may be performed by computerized system  19 , for example, as taught by Koenck and Durbin. Alternatively, photosensitive detector  25  is arranged on a hinge  82  and may be selectably swung to a certain degree to the left or to the right, by moving a notch  78  in a semicircular slit  80 . Preferably, photosensitive detector  25  is thus maintained parallel to text  14 , regardless of the angle at which device  12  is held with respect to text  14 .  
         [0135]    However, device  12  may be held so that optical axis X is perpendicular to text  14 , without interfering with the ability of user  16  to maintain eye contact with text  14  as it is read aloud by apparatus  10 . Since the text-to-speech synthesis is performed after scanning, user  16  may first scan the text, than listen to the text-to-speech synthesis and follow the text with his eyes.  
         [0136]    Reference is now made to FIG. 9A, which schematically illustrates a scanner  61 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, as taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,200,793, to Ulich et al., and by U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,057,909, 6,091,905, and 6,10,517 to Yahav et al., incorporated herein by reference. Illumination system  28  includes a substantially point light source, arranged behind optical system  34 , at a distance from the optical system F′, which is substantially equal to the focal distance, F, but off optical axis X, wherein light is bore-sighted with optical axis X with a beam-splitter  39 , for producing collimated, even illumination of text  14 .  
         [0137]    Reference is now made to FIG. 9B, which schematically illustrates a scanner  63 , in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, as taught by Yahav et al. Illumination system  28  includes an area light source whose dimensions are substantially the same as those of photosensitive detector  25 , arranged behind optical system  34 , at a distance from optical system  34  which is substantially equal to the distance between optical system  34  and photosensitive detector  25 , but off optical axis X, wherein light is bore-sighted with optical axis X with beam-splitter  39 , for producing a field of illumination which is substantially equal to the field of view. Alternatively, area light source  28  may be of dimensions smaller than those of photosensitive detector  25 , but closer to optical system  34 , or of dimensions greater than those of photosensitive detector  25 , but farther away from optical system  34 , while maintaining the condition that the field of view is substantially, or generally the same as the field of illumination. The advantage of this arrangement is that user  16  may easily control the field of view, by varying the field of illumination, which is visible to him.  
         [0138]    Reference is now made to FIG. 9C, which schematically illustrates a scanner  65 , in accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention. User  16  views text  14  through beamsplitter  39 , wherein half the reflected illumination reaches user  16  and half is directed to optical system  34  and photosensitive array  25 . Alternatively, no optical system is used, and half the reflected illumination reaches user  16  and half is directed to photosensitive array  25 , formed as a CIS array.  
         [0139]    Preferably hand-held device  12  is pen-like so as to fit comfortably in a hand. Alternatively, another preferably ergonomic design may be used. Preferably, earphones  18  are lightweight so as not to cause a strain on the wearer.  
         [0140]    Reference is now made to FIG. 10, which schematically illustrates apparatus  101 , in accordance with the present invention. Apparatus  101  includes a first portion  94 , which is pen-like, and a second portion  92  which is generally horizontal over the hand holding first portion  94  and which includes display panel  40 , keys  48  and on/off switch  60 . In this way, user  16  has a better view of display panel  40 , as he scans text  14 . Preferably, apparatus  101  further includes a flexible portion  93 , formed for example, of resilient plastic, for allowing first and second portions  94  and  92  to fold against each other, so apparatus  101  can be easily inserted into a pocket. Alternatively, another folding means may be provided, for example, a hinge.  
         [0141]    Apparatus  101  may include a built-in microphone  15 , and a built-in speaker  111 , which may be used in place of head gear  13  (FIG. 1).  
         [0142]    Additionally audio jack  45 , may be used for connecting cable  20  to earphones  18  (FIG. 1), a cable  105  to an electric organ, or a cable  107  to an amplifier, a music station, a tape deck, a CD player, or a mobile phone.  
         [0143]    Furthermore, apparatus  101  preferably includes a video jack  121 , for connecting apparatus  101  to an external display screen, such as a computer display screen, a television, or an oscilloscope via a cable  103 . Preferably, apparatus  101  may be arranged to display text  14 , as it is scanned, for example, for use in a classroom.  
         [0144]    Furthermore, apparatus  101  may include a jack  72  for connecting it to any of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a palmtop, a mobile telephone, an organizer, and other computerized devices, via a cable  109 , when desired.  
         [0145]    Reference is now made to FIG. 11, which schematically illustrates apparatus  130 , in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention. Apparatus  130  is similar in design to apparatus  101 , but its second portion  92  is arranged to be worn around the wrist of user  16  with a wristband  125 . The purpose of wristband  125  is to reduce the weight that is carried by the hand of user  16  as he scans a portion of text.  
         [0146]    Apparatus  101  and  130  may be used with FIGS.  3 - 8 , in a manner similar to apparatus  10 .  
         [0147]    It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art, that the scope of the present invention is not limited by what has been specifically shown and described hereinabove, merely by way of example. Rather, the scope of the invention is limited solely by the claims, which follow.