2. Low Vision Technology: Keeping Up with the Latest Advances Ike Presley American Foundation for the Blind 100 Peachtree St., Suite 620 Atlanta, GA 30303 404-525-2303 presley@afb.net www.afb.org

3. Objectives Identify low tech and high tech tools useful for people with low vision Identify advantages and disadvantages of various tools Brainstorm ideas about keeping updated on low vision technology

4. Large Print Publications Point size: 14, 16, 18, 24

5. Large Print Publications Font: Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, APHont

6. Enlarging Photocopying Machines Stop gap/get by method 11 x 17 paper Difficult to handle 135-150% enlargement Poor quality at higher degrees of enlargement

7. Natural Lighting Control with Blinds / shades / curtains

8. Natural Lighting Light Filtration Systems Noir / Solar Shield % Visible Lower % = less light % UV protection % Blue light protection

9. Artificial Lighting Overhead Incandescent Fluorescent Halogen

10. Artificial Lighting Task lighting Desk/Table lamps Portable Battery powered Floor lamps Other

11. Task Lighting Verilux Travel Lamp Natural Spectrum Rechargeable Task Lamp with 11 Bright LED Bulbs "Portable Light Uses A/C or Rechargeable Batteries"

12. Other Lighting Flashlights

13. Non-optical Devices Reading/Book Stands

14. Non-optical Devices Copy Holders Adjustable articulated arm

15. Optical Devices Spectacles Contact lens

16. Optical Devices Hand held magnifiers Illuminated Non-illuminated

17. Optical Devices Stand magnifiers Non-illuminated Dome - Bar Illuminated (font)

18. Optical Devices Clip-on Spectacle mounted

19. Optical Devices Telescopes Hand-held Spectacle mounted

20. Video Magnifiers Been around since the ’70s (CCTV) Video Magnifier – more descriptive Relatively easy to use Training will improve efficiency Key to training; start with high-interest materials Basic components Camera Display X/Y table ???

21. Types of Video Magnifiers Desktop models, $1,500 – 4,000 Flex-arm camera models, $2,000 – 4,000 Portable models with hand held cameras, $99 – 1,000 Electronic pocket models, $250 – 2,100 Head mounted display models, $3,000 – 4,000 Digital imaging systems - $2,500 – 5,500

22. Video Magnifiers Desktop models Advantages Best for longer reading tasks – continuous text Easier for handwriting Working in two planes? Highest magnification Color / Polarity Masks/Occluders Lines/Blinds Friction brake Margin stops

23. Video Magnifiers Desktop models Adding Additional features Upgrade to color Remote control Page locator button Preset magnification Clock/calendar/calcul ator Computer compatibility

24. Video Magnifiers Desktop models Disadvantages Lack of portability Space requirement No distance viewing

25. Video Magnifiers Desktop models Desktop models that fold for transport

26. Video Magnifiers Desktop models Desktop models that fold for transport

27. Video Magnifiers Desktop models Desktop models that offer monitor positioning

28. Video Magnifiers Desktop models Desktop models that offer distance viewing

29. Video Magnifiers Desktop models Desktop models that offer Near Intermediate Distance viewing

30. Video Magnifiers Desktop models Desktop models that offer Near Intermediate Distance viewing

31. Video Magnifiers Flex-arm camera models Advantages Distance & near viewing

32. Video Magnifiers Flex-arm camera models Advantages Some portability

33. Video Magnifiers Flex-arm camera models Advantages Smaller footprint

34. Video Magnifiers Flex-arm camera models Disadvantages Set-up time Lack of X/Y table Require monitor

35. Video Magnifiers Portable models with hand held cameras Advantages Better for short reading task/spot reading

36. Video Magnifiers Portable models with hand held cameras Advantages Lightweight / Easily transported

37. Video Magnifiers Portable models with hand held cameras Advantages Connect to TV or computer Often less expensive

38. Video Magnifiers Portable models with hand held cameras Disadvantages Manipulating the camera Some require external monitor

39. Video Magnifiers Portable models with hand held cameras Disadvantage Difficulty handwriting

40. Video Magnifiers Electronic pocket models Large Medium Small

41. Video Magnifiers Electronic pocket models Large Large, angled screen Writing option

42. Video Magnifiers Electronic pocket models Large Not so pocket-able

43. Video Magnifiers Electronic pocket models Medium Camera Side Center

44. Video Magnifiers Electronic pocket models Medium Fold-out Handle

45. Video Magnifiers Electronic pocket models Medium Distance viewing

46. Video Magnifiers Electronic pocket models Medium Variety of models

47. Video Magnifiers Electronic pocket models Medium Variety of models

48. Video Magnifiers Electronic pocket models Medium Variety of models

49. Video Magnifiers Electronic pocket models Medium Variety of models

50. Video Magnifiers Electronic pocket models Small Less expensive

51. Video Magnifiers Electronic pocket models Small Truly pocket-able

52. Video Magnifiers Electronic pocket models Small i-vu Solo from Clarity 3.5-12X 3” screen 5 oz Writing ??? 5 high contrast modes Freeze frame 4 hrs

53. Video Magnifiers Electronic pocket models Small Maggie Handheld Electronic Magnifier 4 levels: 4x, 6x, 8x and 11x Full color and b/w Image freeze 3.0 wide screen LCD (measured diagonally) Rechargeable battery, USB/wall charger and cable

54. Video Magnifiers Electronic pocket models Handwriting

55. Video Magnifiers Electronic pocket models Advantages Better for short reading tasks / spot reading Easily transported Less expensive

56. Video Magnifiers Electronic pocket models Disadvantages Camera movement Difficult for handwriting Magnification range

57. Video Magnifiers Head mounted display models Advantages Portability No monitor Disadvantages Expense Appearance

58. Video Magnifiers Head mounted display models Advantages Some can be connected to a monitor Disadvantages Weight becomes an issue after extended use

59. Video Magnifiers Digital imaging systems Advantages Portability – “lugability” Prompter Column mode Tickertape Row mode Single word Word mode myReader

60. Video Magnifiers Digital imaging systems Disadvantages Price - $4,995 Sale $3,995 Loose graphics Difficulty with color backgrounds myReader2

61. Video Magnifiers Digital imaging systems Advantages Lightweight camera & stand Works with laptop PC No X/Y table needed Zoom-Ex

62. Video Magnifiers Digital imaging systems Zoom Ex Modes Live camera Cursor key navigation Retains graphics Word wrap No L/R moving, no graphics Editable text Audio assisted reading Pairs synthesized speech with highlighted text Zoom-Ex

63. Video Magnifiers Digital imaging systems Zoom-Twix Two camera / Two pounds Switch between distance and near viewing Use with Zoom-EX features $2,500 - 3,500

64. Video Magnifiers Digital imaging systems MobilEyes Handheld Portable Reading Machine Performs functions of nine different devices 9 inches wide 5.5 inches high 3.5 inches deep 4 inches deep while actively taking pictures Weight is 2.5 lbs.

65. Video Magnifiers Digital imaging systems MobilEyes Magnification; near & distance Scan & read with optional scanner Play music and audio books Digital recorder Scan barcodes $5,500: total system

66. Video Magnifiers Digital imaging systems Readit Scholar Portable, near and distance viewing $3500

67. Video Magnifiers Digital imaging systems Readit (Digital Capture System) Distance & near viewing Scroll image for viewing Magnify, capture, read aloud and store

68. Video Magnifiers Digital imaging systems Readit Scholar Viewing modes Image view Overlay

69. Video Magnifiers Digital imaging systems Readit Scholar Viewing modes Horizontal Vertical Column

70. Video Magnifiers Digital imaging systems PEARL – FS Portable reading solution Live camera mode Virtual X/Y table Word wrap Uses OpenBook 9 Speech Highlights spoken text No option for distance

71. PEARL – FS $2190 Shipping in May for $1195, camera OpenBook 9 – $995 Upgrade - $150 Half-off introductory $600 until 7/15/2010 No distance viewing www.freedomscientific.com/News/Pressroom/2010/PEARL-introduced.asp http://thebatchannel.wordpress.com/2010/03/24/freedom-scientific-introduces- portable-reading-solution-for-the-visually-impaired/

72. Tools for Accessing Print/Electronic Information Visually – E- book Readers Kindle 2 – Kindle DX / Amazon Scalable fonts Speech Easy ordering Kindle 2Kindle DX

73. Tools for Accessing Print/Electronic Information Visually – E- book Readers Kindle - Accessibility features Limited to text only, not menus Page navigation only Poor contrast on keyboard Controls require good fine motor skills Ordering process not accessible

74. Tools for Accessing Print/Electronic Information Visually – E- book Reader Sony E-reader Limited text sizes

75. Tools for Accessing Print/Electronic Information Visually – E- book Readers “ nook ” Barnes & Noble Dual screens No apparent accessibility

76. Tools for Accessing Print/Electronic Information Visually – E- book Readers ClassMate Reader

77. Multipurpose Tools Intel Reader Some adjustable text sizes OCR & synthesized speech Multipurpose Tools Intel Reader Some adjustable text sizes OCR & synthesized speech

78. Screen Magnification Technology

79. Hardware Options Large Monitors Hardware Screen Magnifiers

80. Screen Magnification Technology Hardware Options Flex-arm Monitor Stands

81. Screen Magnification Technology – Software Adjustments to Windows OS Display Properties Settings Screen area (Screen Resolution) 800 X 600 1024 X 768 1280 X 1024 1600 X 1200 Colors 256 colors High color (16 bit) True color (32 bit)

82. Screen Magnification Technology – Software Adjustments to Windows OS Display Properties Appearance Scheme High Contrast #1 (extra large, large) High Contrast #2 (extra large, large) High Contrast Black (extra large, large) High Contrast White (extra large, large) Windows Classic (extra large, large) Windows Standard (extra large, large) Item Icons, Menus, Tool Tips

83. Screen Magnification Technology – Software Adjustments to Windows OS Mouse pointer Control Panel, Mouse, Pointer Scheme Black, Inverted, Standard (large, extra large) Accessibility Wizard Microsoft Magnifier Adjustments to Mac OS Zoom Voice Over

84. Screen Magnification Technology – Software Mouse Pointer Enlarging Software Cursor Café www.cursorcafe.com Symbols Big Arrows (some flash) Big Cursor Stuff

85. In the mid 90’s reservation centers had the operator using a computer with a mouse, while the employees who were blind used keyboard only interfaces. Once the companies realized that the keyboard users were 20 percent more efficient, they cut the mouse from those applications. Of course they left the mouse for solitaire as it is slow dragging cards via a keyboard. Pat Fischer BrailleArt.com – The Art you Touch www.keyboardhelpers.com/timestudy.html Keyboarding

86. Screen Magnification Technology Screen Magnification Software ShareWare and FreeWare Commercial Screen Magnifiers Lunar (Dolphin) MAGic ZoomText

87. Screen Magnification Technology Screen Magnification Software Commercial USB Screen Magnifiers Win Zoom / iZoom Lightning /w speech System Access To Go Serotek

88. Screen Magnification Technology Screen Magnification Software Lite Versions <$100 WinZoom Lite Magnifier & reader, 1.5x- 4x, 2 view modes, mouse enhancements ZoomText Express Up to 2x, 2 view modes, pointer and cursor enhancements

89. Screen Magnification Technology Screen Magnification Software Features View modes Full Line Lens Area Horizontal split Vertical split

90. Screen Magnification Technology Screen Magnification Software Features Magnification levels Foreground/background colors Cursor enhancements Mouse pointer Insertion cursor Hot spots Shortcut keys Speech support Reading modes

91. Assistive Technology Demonstration Videos Video Magnifiers – Part 1 Desktop and Flex-Arm Models Video Magnifiers – Part 2 Head Mounted Displays and Portable Models Screen Magnification Technologies Screen Magnification Software www.afb.org/at

92. Brainstorming How can we keep up? What resources would you like? How would you like to communicate with others? What level would you pay for?

93. Low Vision Technology: Keeping Up with the Latest Advances For additional information go to www.afb.org/at