New app helps blind count their cash

Oct 09, 2012 by Josh Lederman

A new, government-funded cellphone app will help the blind and those with visual impairments count their cash.

Those with Android devices can scan a bill with their phone's camera and the app will read the bill's denomination aloud.

The Education Department and the U.S. Treasury teamed up to launch the free app. U.S. Treasurer Rosie Rios says the "IDEAL Identifier" is intended to give the blind more independence.

There's already a similar free app called EyeNote for devices such as iPhones and iPads. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing says that app has been downloaded more than 8,000 times since its launch last year.

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Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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