Improving Vision
Published: Oct 22, 2008Many people are familiar with the popular science fiction series Star Trek: The Next Generation, a show featuring a blind character named Geordi La Forge, whose visor-like glasses enable him to see. What many people do not know is that a product very similar to Geordi’s glasses is available to assist people with vision conditions, and a NASA engineer’s expertise contributed to its development.
The JORDY™ (Joint Optical Reflective Display) device, designed and manufactured by a privately-held medical device company known as Enhanced Vision, enables people with low vision to read, write, and watch television. Low vision, which includes macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma, describes eyesight that is 20/70 or worse, and cannot be fully corrected with conventional glasses.
Unlike someone who is blind, a person with low vision retains a small part of his or her useful sight. JORDY enables people to see using their remaining sight by magnifying objects up to 50 times and allowing them to change contrast, brightness, and display modes, depending on what works best for their low vision condition. With this device, people can see objects at any range, from up close to distant. It also provides the flexibility for the user to enjoy theatre, sporting events, and more. JORDY functions as a portable display that is worn like a pair of glasses and as a fully functional desktop video magnifier when placed on a docking stand.
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