Low Vision Technology: Keeping Up with the Latest Advances Ike Presley American Foundation for the Blind 100 Peachtree St., Suite 620 Atlanta, GA

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

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

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

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

Natural Lighting Control with Blinds / shades / curtains

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

Artificial Lighting Overhead Incandescent Fluorescent Halogen

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

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

Other Lighting Flashlights

Non-optical Devices Reading/Book Stands

Non-optical Devices Copy Holders Adjustable articulated arm

Optical Devices Spectacles Contact lens

Optical Devices Hand held magnifiers Illuminated Non-illuminated

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

Optical Devices Clip-on Spectacle mounted

Optical Devices Telescopes Hand-held Spectacle mounted

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 ???

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

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

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

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

Video Magnifiers Desktop models Desktop models that fold for transport

Video Magnifiers Desktop models Desktop models that fold for transport

Video Magnifiers Desktop models Desktop models that offer monitor positioning

Video Magnifiers Desktop models Desktop models that offer distance viewing

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

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

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

Video Magnifiers Flex-arm camera models Advantages Some portability

Video Magnifiers Flex-arm camera models Advantages Smaller footprint

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

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

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

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

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

Video Magnifiers Portable models with hand held cameras Disadvantage Difficulty handwriting

Video Magnifiers Electronic pocket models Large Medium Small

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

Video Magnifiers Electronic pocket models Large Not so pocket-able

Video Magnifiers Electronic pocket models Medium Camera Side Center

Video Magnifiers Electronic pocket models Medium Fold-out Handle

Video Magnifiers Electronic pocket models Medium Distance viewing

Video Magnifiers Electronic pocket models Medium Variety of models

Video Magnifiers Electronic pocket models Medium Variety of models

Video Magnifiers Electronic pocket models Medium Variety of models

Video Magnifiers Electronic pocket models Medium Variety of models

Video Magnifiers Electronic pocket models Small Less expensive

Video Magnifiers Electronic pocket models Small Truly pocket-able

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

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

Video Magnifiers Electronic pocket models Handwriting

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 portable-reading-solution-for-the-visually-impaired/

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

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

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

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

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

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

Screen Magnification Technology

Hardware Options Large Monitors Hardware Screen Magnifiers

Screen Magnification Technology Hardware Options Flex-arm Monitor Stands

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

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

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

Screen Magnification Technology – Software Mouse Pointer Enlarging Software Cursor Café Symbols Big Arrows (some flash) Big Cursor Stuff

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 Keyboarding

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

Low Vision Technology: Keeping Up with the Latest Advances For additional information go to