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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
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