AT Networks Advise on Portable Video Magnifiers

Kim Cantrell is an Information and Referral Coordinator at AT Network and she writes about daily questions she gets from clients at work. In this article, she responds to a question from someone that has ZoomText at school but needs a magnification for reading assignments at home. What are the alternatives to a CCTV?

“There are a couple of portable digital magnifiers on the market that are low-cost alternatives to a CCTV. Ultimately, your choice will depend on the type of environment in which you are working and the degree of magnification needed. Let’s take a look at two different types of portable video magnification devices,” says Cantrell.

“One alternative is a hand-held digital magnifier that connects to any television. The device bears a striking similarity to a standard computer mouse. Simply plug the magnifying mouse into your television, use the mouse to scan a paper document and watch the magnified image appear on your TV screen. Most devices allow you to reverse the contrast from black letters on a white background to white letters on a black background. Also, some models can read text on curved surfaces such as cans or medicine containers. The degree of magnification varies between devices (usually between 13X to 28X), so you might try to determine the approximate magnification needed before you purchase. The only drawback to the magnifying mouse is that it can be difficult to keep a straight line of text on the screen as you move the somewhat slippery mouse across the page. However, a magnifying mouse gives you freedom by turning any television into a CCTV.”

“Another portable magnifying option is a small device that looks like a personal digital assistant (PDA). It has a small screen, which limits the magnification to approximately 7X the printed size. This magnifier is somewhat steadier to handle than a mouse magnifier, runs on batteries, and is completely self-contained. If you are satisfied with a 7X magnification capacity, then it is an ideal magnifier that you can take anywhere,” she concludes.

Continue with the advice of Kim Cantrell on AT Network’s website  

Source: AT Network