New Laptop-Compatible Video Magnifier from Clarity

The AFB AccessWorld wrote a review on the PC Mate, the new generation CCTV from Clarity, here you find a summary.

The Clarity PC Mate offers a number of new features and is definitely a better choice than many other video magnifiers. Though this assistive technology product is very convenient, PCMate is not the preferred device for users needing to read a considerable amount of text in one sitting.

Features

The PCMate camera comes with four tactile buttons (Power, Contrast, Zoom and Mode) to give access to its various features. The camera facilitates desktop as well as distance viewing and is equipped with a remote control for easier access.

The camera comes equipped with an adjustable arm that has two options for bases – a round suction mount that lets the user customize the product that facilitates other writing activities, and an arm-mount plate that slides under the edge of your laptop, leaving little room but convenient for making short notes in a meeting.

• The Mode button on the camera can take you through various viewing modes and other advanced features, and pressing F3 gives you many artificial color choices.
• The Line Marker feature helps you keep your place as you read through your text document or write on unlined paper.
• The Masking feature casts a shadow over the selected area, facilitating reading lines of the text.
• The Manual Focus option helps view 3D objects under the camera and when you write by hand.
• Pressing Ctrl-C or F5 enables you to take a “picture” of an image and save it to your computer.

The PCMate is powered through two USB ports which draws power from your laptop. This assistive technology product can operate between two and three hours.

Print and On-Screen Documentation

The PC Mate assistive technology is equipped with a Quick Start Guide, a detailed Instruction Manual and the Clarity Capture Software CD.

The Quick Start Guide provides basic information about the product, its features and the set up. However, there is not enough product information and the 11-point print is not easy to read for people with visual difficulty.

The instruction manual, though printed in 16-point print, also does not meet the American Printing House for the Blind’s guideline of at least 18-point font. The basic setup Instructions illustrate the installation process with diagrams; however these are too small to comprehend clearly.

The text size of the on-screen documentation is not in large print and the guide comes in PDF, which blurs if the screen magnification is activated. The Clarity Capture software menu is not equipped enough with explanations and instructions, besides some hot keys in the Quick Start Guide.

Software Installation and Setup

The software installation and initial setup of the PC Mate are easy if you have a screen-magnification software running. Just follow the instructions in the CD and you can easily install the Clarity Capture software.

The instruction manual clearly facilitates the installation of the camera for both the desktop and distance viewing.

To access this assistive technology product with your laptop, you require Windows XP or greater and at least two USB ports.

 The PC Mate needs improvement in the following areas:

• Documentation
• Responsiveness of the Auto-Focus feature
• Quality of display under the camera
• Quality of display while using the inverse mode

Source: AccessWorld®Â Â