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Total Resource Guide:
As we age, so do our eyes. Diseases like macular
degeneration, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, and cataracts
progress and make reading difficult or even impossible. Then, of
course, many of us were born with low-vision.
Now, because of the ability to scan text, magnify
it, and convert it into speech or Braille output, everyone can be
a reader. However, we also need to be able to read price tags, menus,
cards, books, and magazines, and that requires an effective visual
aid.
If handheld magnifiers don't work for you and
you've quickly exhausted the very limited large print market, it's
time to pull out the heavy artillery—video magnifiers, also
known as closed-circuit televisions. The Infinitec staff has researched
some of these devices, including portable models with battery packs
to tote along and use to navigate one's life.
Telesensory offers a diverse line of high-performing video magnifiers
(CCTVs) and scanners to choose from. Each device is designed for
specific uses. Go to http://www.telesensory.com/index.html
to learn all about Telesensory products. From there you may contact
a customer support representative who will answer your questions
and/or schedule an in-home demonstration.
 Desktop
The Telesensory Aladdin desktop
line comes in color and black and white models, as well as varying
sizes (14- to 20- inch monitors) with special features. Users can
use positive or negative displays, depending on preference. The
desktops are the most versatile for reading any size printed materials
and magnify it up to 50x. The Aladdin Classic
features a large depth of field for viewing three-dimensional objects
and a smooth, non-glare reading table which permits reading heavy
books.
Standard features include focusing adjustment,
brightness, and positive or negative displays. A writing stand facilitates
check-writing or any other type of composition. Some come with the
option to connect to your television screen or even a computer monitor
for displaying in full- or split-screen. Still other models have
shadow masking and underlining features.
Lightweight Portables
 Pico
The Pico is four inches long and
weighs 10 ounces so it fits into a pocket or purse for reading small
items, such as price tags, menu items, product and address labels.
It has a rechargeable battery and magnifies text from 3x to 11x.
The Pico has a light to allow users
to read in dim light. It has a color monitor, and like all of Telesensory's
magnifiers, the option to reverse the appearance of text to white
letters on a black background. This reverse display, also
known as negative display, reduces glare for many
users. The Pico also has other color
displaying features and a built-in writing stand.
 Olympia
The Olympia is a little larger and
more versatile at seven inches long, 2.5 pounds. It will magnify
text from 4.3x up to 26x. The Olympia
can be used for viewing a TV guide or small magazines like a Reader's
Digest or portions of larger magazines or a date book. Also its
built-in writing stand is handy for check writing. However, contrary
to its appearance, it is not practical for reading books in longer
sessions because it's just heavy enough to make it tiresome for
moving back and forth along text.
The Olympia offers
choice of positive or reverse display, and colored LCD screen. The
system comes with its own battery charger, optional car charger,
and carrying case. For greater magnification levels, there is also
an option to connect the Olympia
to a television monitor.
 Speech
Output
Telesensory's Ovation allows users
to accurately and easily scan and store text of any kind and convert
it into adjustable audio-output. The Ovation has a flatbed-scanner
that accommodates newspapers, books, magazines and more. The easy
to use features allow users to adjust speech volume, speed, and
voice tone. Users can move through documents by page, paragraph,
or sentence. It weighs about 14.75 pounds and comes with a professional
carrying case for transporting.
Optelec also produces a very fine line of hand-held and video-magnifiers,
speech and Braille devices. For full product details or contact
information, see the Optelec Web site: http://www.optelec.com.
A customer support representative can answer questions and/or schedule
an in-home demonstration.
 Desktop
ClearViewThe Optelec ClearView
models rivals other desktop video-magnifiers with all electronic
features located in the front of the machine: continuous auto-focus,
brightness, zoom, and a positioning place saver. The ClearView
magnifies from 4x to 44x and the reading tables and writing stands
are user-friendly. However, it is a tall desktop video-magnifier,
which can cause neck strain for users who don't sit very tall, but
it does tilt somewhat, and that might solve the problem.
The Optelec line offers many nice features: positive,
negative, and color displays on 17 and 20-inch monitors. There are
also options to connect to a television, line marking, and windowing
features. One model comes with a flat screen.
 Lightweight
Portables
Compact
The Compact is Optelec's smallest
video-magnifier, made to fit in a pocket or purse. It weighs 10
ounces and has 4x and 8x magnification modes. It features a color
LCD screen or reverse display. There is also a high contrast color
mode of blue, yellow, and black. The Compact
comes with a two-hour rechargeable battery and a carrying case.
 Traveler
This full-color, portable video-magnifier is similar to the Telesensory
Olympia above, but it has a square
display instead of a rectangular display and different features.
Use the Traveler to read tags and
labels, photos, portions of books, magazines, airline tickets, menus,
etc. It magnifies up to 16x and has similar standard features of
the Olympia: auto-focus, color or
black and white, positive or negative display and a writing stand.
(Each unique user will prefer one to the other, so if you're interested
in a portable video-magnifier, be sure to see both.) The Traveler
weighs 1.5 pounds-about one pound less than the Olympia,
which may make it easier to use by some but those who prefer the
Olympia like its maneuverability
better. The Traveler comes with
a battery charger, adapter for a car or television, and a carrying
case.
Note from Infinitec's editor: With any video-magnifier,
it's best to have an in-home demonstration of several models from
more than one company before deciding which one is right for you.
Sales representatives are happy to show them off to you. Like any
other type of assistive technology device, needs and uses are unique
to every single user. (I was dazzled by both company's equipment!)
More Resources for video-magnifiers
and visual aids. (Their products were not reviewed by Infinitec):
Note: There are many used devices for sale
that are much less expensive. Ask your sales representative if they
have one to sell you.
Enhanced Vision
http://www.enhancedvision.com/index.php
Desktop and portable video-magnifiers
Freedom Vision
http://www.freedomvision.net/default.htm
Desktop and portable video-magnifiers
Magnisight
http://www.sforh.com/vision/magnisight-cctv.html
Video-magnifiers and other devices and aids for low-vision
Pulse Data Humanware
http://www.pulsedata.com
Desktop and portable magnifiers, Braille devices, note-takers, scanners,
and software
Vision Technology, Inc.
http://www.visiontechinc.com
Desktop video-magnifiers
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