Media and gesture recognition apparatus and methods are disclosed. A computerized system views a first printed media using an electronic visual sensor. The system retrieves information corresponding to the viewed printed media from a database. Using the electronic visual sensor, the system views at least a first user gesture relative to at least a portion of the first printed media. The system interprets the gesture as a command, and based at least in part on the first gesture and the retrieved information, the system electronically speaks aloud at least a portion of the retrieved information.