if cameras can do the kind of scanning needed for ocr and if those gajets are using gnu/linux, then nothing like it. we can use some good ocr softwares from the foss products, and festival will just fill in the place for TTS system. at least for time being, festival will just do right. all I need to know is what exactly rony has found out from his site surfing. it is a great news for this project. thanks rony for the info and vinayak for suggesting exactly what I was thinking. that more than confirms my idea. thanks again. Krishnakant.