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A portable reading machine has a scanner for scanning an image comprising text. The scanner has a scanning area occupying a maximum width and an active width defined by a scanning width limiting mechanism adjustable to a preselected width. A photoreceptive element forms an electronic representation

A portable reading machine has a scanner for scanning an image comprising text. The scanner has a scanning area occupying a maximum width and an active width defined by a scanning width limiting mechanism adjustable to a preselected width. A photoreceptive element forms an electronic representation of a portion of the image within the active width. The electronic representation is converted to a digital character string corresponding to the active image text. A speech system outputs the digital character string as ordinary spoken language voiced through a speaker or headset.

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1. A reading machine, comprising:a. a scanner for scanning an image comprising text, said scanner having a scanning area occupying a maximum width and an active width defined by a scanning width limiting mechanism user-adjustable to a preselected horizontal width at most equal to said maximum width,

1. A reading machine, comprising:a. a scanner for scanning an image comprising text, said scanner having a scanning area occupying a maximum width and an active width defined by a scanning width limiting mechanism user-adjustable to a preselected horizontal width at most equal to said maximum width, said scanner comprising a photoreceptive element adapted to form an electronic representation of that portion of said image presented within said active width of said scanning area to said scanner;b. a converter connected to said scanner and adapted to receive said electronic representation from said scanner, and to convert said electronic representation to a digital character string corresponding to the text comprised in said portion of said image; andc. a speech system for outputting said digital character string as ordinary spoken language voiced through a sound-producing element.2. The reading machine of claim 1, further comprising a microprocessor for controlling said reading machine.3. The reading machine of claim 1, wherein said image width selection mechanism comprises at least one horizontally movable, substantially opaque shutter.4. The reading machine of claim 1, wherein said photoreceptive element comprises a plurality of detector devices that allow the intensity of light incident thereon to be separately recognized in each of a plurality of pixels, said pixels being distributed across the width of a line extending transversely across said scanning area.5. The reading machine of claim 4, wherein said photoreceptive element comprises a charge-coupled device array.6. The reading machine of claim 4, further comprising a width indicator that provides visual indication of said active width.7. The reading machine of claim 6, wherein said width indicator comprises an array of indicator lights selectively operable to indicate said active width.8. The reading machine of claim 1, further comprising a transparent window area that allows visualization of text proximate text currently being scanned.9. The reading machine of claim 1, further comprising a mass storage device.10. The reading machine of claim 9, wherein said mass storage device comprises removable media.11. The reading machine of claim 9, wherein said mass storage device comprises flash card memory.12. The reading machine of claim 1, further comprising a translating system whereby text scanned in an original ordinary language is translated into a second ordinary language and said speech system voices said text in said second ordinary language.13. The reading machine of claim 1, further comprising an interface communication protocol system adapted for connecting said reading machine to an external data processing device, said interface communication protocol system being selected from the group consisting of cable, wireless radio, and infrared communications.14. The reading machine of claim 1, further comprising voice activated control of said speech system.15. A reading machine system having a reading machine, comprising:a. scanning means for scanning an image comprising text, and having a scanning area occupying a maximum width and an active width defined by a scanning width limiting mechanism user-adjustable to a preselected horizontal width, said scanning means comprising a photoreceptive element adapted to form and present to said scanning means an electronic representation of a portion of said image within said active width;b. converter means connected to said scanner and adapted to receive said electronic representation from said scanner, and to convert said electronic representation to a digital character string corresponding to the text comprised in said portion of said image; andc. speech system means for outputting said digital character string as ordinary spoken language voiced through a sound-producing element;said reading machine being adapted to be removably connected to a personal organizer system.16. A method for converting written text to spoken, ordinary language, corresponding thereto, comprising the steps of:a. presenting an image bearing said written text to a scanner, said scanner having a scanning area occupying a maximum width and an active width defined by a scanning width limiting mechanism user-adjustable to a preselected horizontal width, and comprising a photoreceptive element adapted to form and present to said scanner an electronic representation of that portion of said image presented within said active width of said scanning area;b. scanning said image to form said electronic representation;c. converting said electronic representation to a digital character string corresponding to the text comprised in said portion of said image; andd. voicing said digital character string as ordinary spoken language through a sound-producing element.17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of controlling said voicing by a voice activation.