Laptop Computers and CCTV Video Magnifiers

2008

Using a Laptop Computer as a Portable Video Magnifier Display

Robert McGillivray

Certified Low Vision Therapist

The Carroll Center f/t Blind

Mass Commission f/t Blind

Laptop Computers and CCTV Video Magnifiers

PowerPoint Presentation

Located at:

www.carroll.org/resources

Exhibit Area

Unique opportunity to see and compare technology

Review products with vendor Ask competitor about products

and alternatives Explore other options Get case studies, examples

Increasing Visual Function

Magnification Controlling lighting (brightness) Enhancing contrast Viewing skills

Traditional CCTV Video Magnifiers

Adaptability Transportability Bulk Power Cost

Increased reading speed Increased duration Reduced visual effort Comfortable working

position

Laptop Computers and the CCTV Video Magnifier

Using a Laptop Computer as a Portable Video Magnifier Display

Plan The Concept The Technology The Considerations The Tasks The Products The Concerns The Review The Trends The Resources

The Concept

Most students use laptop/notebook computers Video magnification could be helpful Portable camera using notebook display

The Concept

Multi-Task Computer, read, write, see at a distance

Classroom, Conferences, In-Service Training On-site activities; reports, forms, assessments

The Concept

Software required is available Image quality getting better More resources/choices available

The Concept

Video camera images with Picture in Picture (PIP) Image capture software Media Center programs Input: Video in, USB adapters

General Use: Off the Shelf Limited image quality and response Powered cameras (AC)

Max, MagniCam, OVAC Prisma, Flipper CamCorder

The Concept

Special modified software/systems Professional More acceptable image Visual enhancement features Keyboard controlled USB powered cameras

USB operation gives portability Some drain on laptop battery

Requirements High performance computer High performance video card

The Technology

Video Camera CCTV video magnifiers, others

Camera Power Source USB, Battery, AC

Laptop Computer Requirements

USB Interface/Adaptor Video Imaging/Capture Software

Simple, Advanced, Complex Transportability

The Cameras General Use: Off the Self

Existing CCTV video cameras Analog camera Modified, Adapter, Connector Abilities and limits

Specific/Specialty: Professional Special design for function/task

Power

Computer system powered USB Percent of usage; 10% to 30% Drain

Battery powered Rechargeable Run time, recharge time Replaceable?

Power

Built in battery pack Part of camera, longer life 4 hours to 10 hours

Auxiliary battery pack Part of adapter, long life Replaceable?

AC Availability

The Computer

Laptop (or desktop) Windows XP SP2, Vista Fast and powerful Memory

Typical Requirements Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Vista

Intel Celeron 2.0GHz (minimum) Intel Pentium 4 1.6GHz (min) AMD AthlonXP2400 or higher

USB-2 High Speed port(s)

32MB Video RAM (64MB or more recommended)

480MB RAM (min)

USB Interface

Video to USB USB Connector from camera Video/USB Adaptor Part of power pack

The Software Commercial/Off the Shelf

WinTV 2000 WinAmp TV tuner, Media Center

Proprietary/Specialty Ash Tech Opti Clarity Capture Enhanced Vision USB Bridge Freedom Scientific Eye Merge HumanWare Graduate Optelec ClearNote Zoom Office

Software General Software Features

Full Screen, resizable Picture in Picture (PIP)

Always on Top Image Control

Brightness, contrast, color, etc Viewing Window

Window size, position, image menus, views

Image Capture: jpeg, bmp Storage location, method

Software Advanced Software Features

Visual Enhancement Controlling Software

Mouse Keyboard Combination

Camera control by keyboard Magnification Modes, colors Markers

Setting views/presets, windows, enhanced images

Software Menus

Transportability

Size: base, arm, folding Weight Carrying Case

Special Backpack Laptop Case

The Considerations

Laptop LCD Displays Thin, light weight for portability Flicker free High contrast Good color saturation Viewing angle (laptop, digital camera) Video response rate/times:

Can be poor with moving images Games, Animation, Video Magnifiers,

Screen magnification CCTV: low X, high reading rate

Trends: faster response/rates

The Considerations Image Quality: Camera

Modes: B/W, W/B, HC, color Range of magnification: low, high Depth/range of focus Ambient lighting: material, screen

Image Quality: Computer Brightness level Contrast Image retention; static and moving Processing display Images of poor contrast material

The Considerations

User Interaction Setup: space, technical Camera mount if needed Use of controls: ergonomics Computer conflicts Information gathering Multitasking Transporting/Weight

The Considerations

Support/Service Warranty Local Representation/Tech

Support Repair Centers

The Tasks

Task Specific

General use, specific use Primary, Secondary, Supplemental Portability: worker, student, personal Multi-Tasking: compute, near, desktop,

intermediate & distance Reading, writing, inspection, info gathering Specific Needs: Student, social worker, lawyer,

music student, lecturer, translator.

Distance ViewingIssues

Information gathering Classroom activities Short term tasks Image captures Intensive board work,

distracting Magnification/distance

Distance ViewingArea of View related to Magnification

Available Magnification

Distance Viewing

Camera aiming/tracking effort Information gathering

Screen Magnification Compatibility

Multi Tasking Typically, one or other, magnification

on/off Using magnification may enlarge

video image Video corruption

New compatibility with Screen Magnification Programs

Split view allows simultaneous view of CCTV image and computer image

New updates

Dolphin Products Lunar, Lunar Plus, SuperNova Compatible with a range of

CCTVs Optelec ClearNote LVI Student Ash Tech OPTi Foci iDex

May need upgrades

Zoomtext ZoomText Magnifier, ZoomText

Magnifier/Reader CCTV USB compatibility Vendor compatibility

Optelec ClearNote LVI Student Ash Tech Clarity USA Foci iDex HumanWare Graduate Others

MAGic

Onyx PC Version camera MAGic with Eye Merge Software

The Products An Example of a simple approach

Beirley: ColorMouse USB

Professional Products Ash Technology: OPTi Family Clarity: PCMate Enhanced Vision: Max, Flipper Freedom Scientific Onyx PC HumanWare Graduate LVI: Student Addition Optelec: ClearNote ABISee: Zoom Ex Others

The Products

Beirley: ColorMouse USB www.beirley.com

Ash Tech: OPTi Family www.ashtech.ie www.eschenbach.com

Clarity: PCMate www.clarityusa.com/pcmate.htm

Enhanced Vision: Max, Flipper www.enhancedvision.com

The Products Freedom Scientific Onyx PC

www.freedomscientific.com

HumanWare Graduatewww.humanware.com

LVI: Student www.lvi.se

Optelec: ClearNotewww.optelec.com

ABISee: Zoom Exwww.abisee.com

The Products

Optron iStick

www.optronusa.com

Foci iDex

www.foci.nl

Bierley ColorMouse USB2

Simple color camera USB 2 port powered Fixed magnification (resize) Simple video software

PIP Video image control Brightness, contrast, hue,

etc $597.00

Bierley ColorMouse USB2

Inexpensive Very compact Powered by computer Fixed magnification (resize) No W/B, B/W (yet) Limited software features No Distance Viewing

Ash Technology

OPTi Verso

Desktop and distance Magnification: 2X-20X, 80X digital Built in 6 hours rechargeable

battery Keyboard controlled zoom Keyboard controlled software $2495.00

AshTechnology

OPTi Lite

Prism mini desktop design Integrated USB 2.0 camera, battery,

software 4X to 40X magnification (~screen) Near tasks only Manual focus Relative distance Magnification Weight 2.7 pounds Built in 10 hours rechargeable battery $1795.00

AshTechnology OPTi Mouse

Near and distance USB Adapter with built in 10

hours rechargeable battery 3X to 27X magnification (~screen) Weight 1 pound $1295.00

OPTi Software

Unique OPTi interface toolbar with keyboard control

Laptop or Desktop PC compatible Fully adjustable image size horizontally

and vertically Enhanced positive and negative image Choice of eight high contrast

foreground and background semi-colors

Full control of video display parameters Image capture and save facility

Clarity PCMate

Clarity camera Capture 4.1 software USB 2 powered Requires 2 USB 2 ports Camera mounts Desktop and distance

viewing PIP, full screen $2995.00

Carity PCMate

Clarity PCMate

Powered by USB Requires 2 USB 2

ports Sequence, setup

Remote control camera

Keyboard controlled software

Enhanced Vision Max/Flipper with

USB Bridge

Max hand-scan color camera

Flipper Camera USB adapter/battery

pack To be released early

2009

Freedom Scientific Onyx PC Editions

MAGic Eye Merge Software Image capture and storage Masking and reading lines Split screen features Swing-arm (6 lbs)and Flexible-arm (4 lbs, 7 oz) models Light weight Cost: $2895.00

HumanWare SmartView Graduate

Distance and Desktop viewing Fits in computer bag USB powered Camera and keyboard controls 2.5 pounds Up to 50X Image capture and storage High contrast Viewing modes Adjustable brightness and contrast

LVI: MLS Student Addition

USB powered camera Keyboard controlled camera Keyboard controlled software Dolphin, ZoomText compatible Desktop, distance viewing

Optelec ClearNote

Desktop and distance viewing

2.4GHz, USB 2 Laptop compatible

Advanced Software 3X to 46X Integrated 5 to 6 hour

battery $2695.00

Optelec ClearNote

Ease of camera aiming Built in Light source Camera control

positioning Keyboard controlled

software Keyboard controlled

camera Dolphin, ZoomText

compatible Connectors

ABISeeZoom-Ex

Image capture, USB 2.0 Specialty software Reformats text to fit screen One page at a time, can be

saved Print magnified images Magnification, contrast, image,

navigation, color combos: software controlled

<1X to 50X Live mode $1695.00

ABISeeZoom Ex Family

Zoom Office Zoom-Ex Zoom-Voice (speech) Zoom-Book (entire book)

Zoom-Twix Zoom-Frog (distance) Zoom-EX

Zoom-Ability Zoom-Office Zoom-Twix

Optron: iStick

Desktop, distance viewing

Folding swivel arm TwistCam ring camera Control box Exchangeable,

rechargeable battery Up to 3 hours Video streaming capture

Foci iDex

ZoomText, Dolphin compatible

Document and Distance Viewing

Image Capture Folding camera Windows XP, Vista

Homemade Designs

Commercial Software w/ adapter or video in WinTV WinAmp Media Center

Video Camera; battery, AC Limited Features Lower Contrast

Assessment Factors Evaluation of visual functioning Response to low vision approaches Analysis of tasks, task specific Required performance level Integration of systems Training Trial of system; speed, duration,

productivity Modifications Provision

The Concerns

Tasks Setup: space, connections, sequence Transportation: weight, size Laptop integration: software, applications User interaction: approaches, uses,

trouble shooting, training Multi Tasking: sequences, controls,

reliability , concepts

The Review The Tasks ~ The Camera The Computer Compatibility The Power The Software, The Features The Image Quality Multi tasking Transportability The Training The Costs

The Trends Continued changes, advances, innovation LCD displays;

more common, smaller and faster More Laptop compatibility systems U3 smart tech USB Drives

Run software, save preferences, store data Wireless cameras; Near and distance Digital cameras/cell phones input/output Electronic images and enhancements Internet integration Innovations from UK, Europe, Asia

VendorsUSA

ABISee Inc. www.abisee.com

Bierley Associates www.bierley.com

Clarity Solutions www.clarityusa.com

Enhanced Vision www.enhancedvision.com

Freedom Scientificwww.freedomscientific.com

Innoventions Inc. www.magnicam.com

Optelec www.optelec.com

Optron www.optronusa.com

Video Magnifiers: UK, Europe Ash Technologies

www.ashtech.ie

Foci

www.foci.nl

Low Vision International

www.lvi.se

New Vision Tech

www.newvisiontechnology.com

Reinecker

www.reineckerreha.de/english/index_english.htm

Targarno

www.tagarno.com

The Resources: ArticlesAccess World

www.afb.org/awIs That for Here or to Go: A Series on Portable, Laptop-

Compatible Video Magnifiers Lee HuffmanMay 2006

Is That for Here or to Go: A Series on Portable, Laptop-Compatible Video Magnifiers, Part 2

Lee HuffmanJuly 2006

Is That for Here or to Go: A Series on Portable, Laptop-Compatible Video Magnifiers, Part 3

Lee HuffmanSeptember 2006

Product ReviewsAccess World

Identified areas for improvements Documentation: print size, directions Quality of moving text Contrast in writing on lined paper

The Resources: Web Forums

Closing the Gap Forums

Video Magnification:

The good, the bad and the future

http://www.closingthegap.com/forums

Laptop Computers and CCTV Video Magnifiers

PowerPoint Presentation

Located at:

www.carroll.org/resources

Bob McGillivray

robert.mcgillivray@carroll.org bobmac@carroll.org

www.carroll.org

617-969-6200 X229