EyeNote® App Overview

EyeNote® is a free mobile device application to identify denominations of Federal Reserve Notes (U.S. paper currency) as an aid for the blind or visually impaired.

The EyeNote® application (app) was developed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) for the blind or visually impaired to use as a tool to increase accessibility to Federal Reserve Notes (U.S. paper currency). EyeNote® is built for the Apple iOS to allow the user to scan a bank note and communicate its value back to the user.

The app is available as a free download on the Apple App Store℠. It runs without any special filters or background material. A data connection is not required for the app to work.

Features

• OneTouch, hand-held operation.
• Face or back of note to camera.
• Partial note recognition (note can be handheld).
• Any circular orientation.
• No equipment modification, special background materials or special lighting required.
• Camera flash is not required.
• No data connection required - all processing on device.
• Currency designs from Series 1996 and forward.
• Note can be on a complex background.
• 2-4 second response time.
• User selectable spoken output English or Spanish, based on device language setting.
• Spoken mode also indicates the front or back of note to assist in vending use.
• Simplified on screen instructions (read aloud when device is set to VoiceOver in Accessibility mode)

EyeNote® does not authenticate a note as being either genuine or counterfeit. Please refer to the license agreement on the Apple App Store℠ for additional information. For questions or comments regarding the EyeNote® app contact us at EyeNote@bep.gov.

Installing and Using the EyeNote® App

Installation and Setup

Once the EyeNote® app has been downloaded to the user's device the app icon should be placed either on the bottom left or right corner of the screen for easy access, or in the app dock. This will allow you to easily locate and launch the app when needed. If you put the EyeNote® app icon as the only icon on the dock, it will center itself and always be located just above the Home button.

Using the EyeNote® App

Once the EyeNote® app has been downloaded, launch the app, and then tap to begin. (On the iPad® 2, touch the screen in the control area, or select the '2x' enlargement function, which enlarges the app, making most of the screen a selectable area.)

After the beep, steady the note 6 to 8 inches in front of the camera and tap. The shutter will click and the result will be returned in less than 10 seconds. Double tap to replay the result. Swipe your finger left or right across the screen to switch from Spoken to Privacy mode.

Because of varying conditions of notes, orientation and lighting, we recommend users perform the scan twice and confirm the same result. Using this technique will greatly increase the confidence in the returned result (whether recognized or not). If the results do not match, use another method to denominate the currency. We recommend this action to improve the accuracy of the result and to factor in the quality of the note. You can hold the note in one hand and the device in your other hand. We recommend practicing in private to become familiar with the operation and how to best orient the device and the note to meet your needs.

In VoiceOver mode, the on-screen instructions are spoken aloud as a feature of VoiceOver whenever the app is launched. Users do not have to wait for the speaking to finish before beginning a scan. Even while the instructions are being spoken, the app is ready to scan. They may position the device and note and double tap to start the scanning at any time.

When using VoiceOver, a single tap is now a double tap; a double tap is now a triple tap.

In VoiceOver mode, the left or right swipe gesture across the screen that changes from Spoken to Privacy mode is not currently supported. However by setting the Home Button to Triple-click Home to "VoiceOver," you can quickly change the device from VoiceOver to non-VoiceOver. With EyeNote® running, use the triple click the Home button to temporarily take the device out of VoiceOver, swipe left or right to set the desired output mode, then triple-click the Home button again to reactivate VoiceOver.

Scanning Notes

To complete a successful scan, the note should be positioned 6 to 8 inches away from the camera. The app must scan more than half of the note to recognize it. Adequate natural or artificial lighting is required for proper scanning, but the camera flash is not required. In fact, the camera flash is disabled because the close proximity of the note to the flash causes the note to be too bright and be unrecognizable. For ideal scanning conditions limit hand movement to reduce image blur. For best results, place the note on a flat surface. When the app does not recognize a note, the user will hear, "Error, Reposition" (in Privacy mode the user will get 8 rapid pulses), indicating that a new scan is required and the note must be repositioned in front of the camera.

EyeNote® Features and Optional Settings

The EyeNote® app uses image recognition technology and the device's integrated camera to recognize bank notes and communicate the result back to the user. All current circulating notes from 1996 forward can be recognized by the app:

• One Dollar bill (1)
• Two Dollar bill (2)
• Five Dollar bill (5)
• Ten Dollar bill (10)
• Twenty Dollar bill (20)
• Fifty Dollar bill (50)
• One Hundred Dollar bill (100)

The EyeNote® app supports English and Spanish languages. The device's language setting determines the EyeNote® app voice setting. Switch languages by changing the device's settings menu option. If the device language setting is set to a language other than English or Spanish, the app will default to English. The device's volume controls determine how loud the result is spoken. For privacy in Spoken mode, the user can use the devices earphones.

In Spoken mode, the app "speaks" the denomination of the note and identifies if the front or back of the note was scanned. For example: "One Dollar Front" or "Twenty Dollars Back". The front or back orientation is spoken to assist when needed for vending usage. The spoken message for an unsuccessful scan is "Error, Reposition".

The other selectable output is Privacy mode. In Privacy mode, the app will not speak the denomination, but will communicate results back to the user with a pulse pattern (see below). On the iPhone®, Privacy mode uses the vibration buzzer for the pulses. On the iPod® Touch and iPad® 2, Privacy mode uses an audible beep for the pulses. The patterns follow an easy sequential pattern:

• One Dollar is 1 pulse.
• Two Dollars is 2 pulses.
• Five Dollars is 3 pulses.
• Ten Dollars is 4 pulses.
• Twenty Dollars is 5 pulses.
• Fifty Dollars is 6 pulses.
• One Hundred Dollars is 7 pulses.
• Error, reposition is 8 rapid pulses.

Make sure you set your device correctly:

EyeNote® FAQ

1. What is EyeNote®?

2. What devices will EyeNote work on?

3. Will a user have to pay for EyeNote?

4. Will the government pay for the device?

5. When will EyeNote be available?

6. Will a user need to have a data plan or any other accessory to make EyeNote work?

7. The iPhone®, iPod® Touch and iPad® have a touch screen and few distinguishable buttons or keys, how will a blind person use EyeNote?

8. Will a user have to specially align or hold the banknote to the device?

9. How will the user know what the denomination is?

10. As currency or the devices change, how will the app be updated?

11. Why is the Government doing this program when there is also discussion of providing a tactile feature and providing a free standalone Reader?

12. Why are there on screen instructions when the app is designed for people who cannot see?

13. Does EyeNote detect counterfeit notes?

14. Where can I get more information?

Go to www.moneyfactory.gov