Hand Held Magnifiers,Stand Magnifiers,Monoculars,Closed Circuit Television Sets

Carol Clayton-Bye LA7- 516

Hand Held Magnifiers 1. near tasks 2. reading a newspaper, reading a booklet, reading a price tag 3. A low vision person can function in a store or with materials that are not available in large print. They can see what they need to see now and without the assistance of others. 4. Depending on the person’s vision, the magnification may be so large that they are reading materials letter by letter. This can be very time consuming if the person is trying to read great amounts of print. This device can also cause problems for students because of reflection and glare. Appropriate lighting is needed to have optimal use of a hand held magnifier. Your arm becomes tired from holding it for long periods of time. In most cases the magnification is not strong enough. 5. Fine motor skills are needed to hold a hand held magnifier and to get the text or picture into focus through the lens takes coordination.

Stand Magnifiers 1. near tasks 2. needle work, seeing hands on projects, seeing small items 3. Stand magnifiers have an advantage for people who have shaky hands by being mounted on a freestanding base. They can be lighted to help see items more clearly. They have a range of magnification between 2-20 times. People can move the items under the stand. 4. They are bulky and uneasy to move or transport. It takes time to get it set up and focused. User needs to be careful because the device has a fragile glass lens that can easily become scratched. 5. People need fine motor skills to move the stand.

Monoculars 1. distance tasks 2. viewing scenery or watching for traffic, reading road signs or boards, watch TV, sporting or drama events 3. Students can be involved in outdoor activities where stadium seating can make it difficult for students to be involved. Students can expand their world by seeing things that are normally out of their range. The device is compact and can be easily stored in a purse or backpack. 4. They are hard to focus and can be very pricey. The students arm becomes tired from holding the device. 5. Fine motor skills are needed to hold the monocular device.

Closed Circuit Television Sets 1. near tasks 2. write checks or see bills, looking at charts, watching science experiments 3. A low vision student can see what is happening with a particular piece of equipment or how something is being manipulated by having the item under the CCTV during class time. The student can switch media under the CCTV without hassle. The student can hold an item with both hands and have it magnified to where they can see what is happening though out the entire process. Some advantages to the different types of CCTV’s are the ability to attach a mirror to magnify for shaving or putting on makeup with the 350,000 pixel full color camera attachment that easily connects to most television. Can be used with a computer and have split screens. Having a portable CCTV small enough that it can be used for traveling between places. Doctors are designing new CCTV’s that are easier to use for people with motor problems. The color contrast can be adjusted. 4. Some disadvantages are the amount of time it takes to find specific information on a sheet of paper once it is under the CCTV and how to move the base of the CCTV without losing the information. The price of these units can also be a disadvantage since Medicaid doesn’t pay for low vision devices. 5. Fine motor skills are needed to manipulate the machine.

Spectacle Mounted Telescopes 1. distance tasks 2. seeing a TV across a room, reading bus numbers, seeing street signs 3. Some advantages include the ability to use with one or both eyes, are light weight, compact and have a wide range of magnification. They can be used for intermediate and distance viewing. The student doesn’t need to hold them, they can be mounted on their eye glasses. 4. The telescopes have a small field of vision and may restrict the view. They are mounted and may be hard to get items into focus. They can also be very pricey. 5. May be hard to manipulate needing fine motor skills.