Capturing Text in Mac OS X

In Mac OS X it is possible for the system to recognize text located under the cursor and/or text selected in any application, and return this information to an application. Apple's own system will do this: when Universal Access and the right Text-to-Speech preferences are activated, users can have text "read" from any application. Of course, Apple hasn't bothered to tell other folks how to do this. We would like a module that does this: recognizes text (highlighted and/or positioned under the cursor) within virtually any application and then allows us to access this information. This may be done by intercepting screen fonts or even by OCR of text on the screen. Alternately, code allowing for the (user configurable) remapping of a key may work: a key combination could provoke a double-click (selection of word), copy, activation of our application, followed by a paste. The functionality we are aiming for is similar to OS X services; however, we need to have it work also in applications that are not services enabled. Ideally, the solution would also work within Acrobat pdf files. Must work with OS 10.2 and later. Please let us know what questions, comments and suggestions you have. ## Deliverables 1) Complete and fully-functional working program(s) in executable form as well as complete source code of all work done. 2) Deliverables must be in ready-to-run condition, as follows? (depending on the nature? of the deliverables): a)? For web sites or? other server-side deliverables intended to only ever exist in one place in the Buyer's environment--Deliverables must be installed by the Seller in ready-to-run condition in the Buyer's environment. b) For all others including desktop software or software the buyer intends to distribute: A software? installation package that will install the software in ready-to-run condition on the platform(s) specified in this bid request. 3) All deliverables will be considered "work made for hire" under U.S. Copyright law. Buyer will receive exclusive and complete copyrights to all work purchased. (No GPL, GNU, 3rd party components, etc. unless all copyright ramifications are explained AND AGREED TO by the buyer on the site per the coder's Seller Legal Agreement). ## Platform Mac OS X (10.2 and higher)