Computers have many uses today. Computers can solve difficult problems
and control other machines. Many people use small computers called
calculators(计算器) to solve simple math problems quickly. Scientists use
large computers to solve many problems at the same time. You can play games
with computers, and some computers can help you learn languages. The
Kurzweil Reading Machine is a special kind of computer. It can read books for
blind people.
     To use the Kurzweil machine, a blind person can simply open the book and
put it down on the scanner(扫描器). The machine "reads" the words on the
page. When one page is finished, the blind person turns the page and puts the
book on the scanner again. The Kurzweil machine can read in a normal voice
or in a special fast voice. It can read words with small letters and large letters.
     Blind people like the Kurzweil machine because they can "read" anything
with it: newspapers, magazines, books, even typed letters. Many libraries now
have Kurzweil machine for blind people to use. The Kurzweil machine can
also help shortsighted children learn to read.