While the first Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) was created in 1942 it wasn’t until the 1980s that they grew in prominence. Today there are over 25 million CCTV cameras set up worldwide and some pundits estimate that the average American can be seen on one up to 300 times daily. So how and why did these, for all intents and purposes, security cameras get scaled down to be used as magnifiers? How are they used and how are they more beneficial than other types of screen readers?
What are CCTV Magnifiers?
The Low Vision Center offers a concise article on CCTV Magnifiers and the different types available. It reads in part, “CCTV's magnify reading material, medicine bottles, photos, etc. and display the image on a TV screen or monitor. CCTV's can also be used for writing, filing fingernails, and other tasks. CCTV's have a range of magnification and are made in either black and white, or in color. Many can be switched to reverse the image colors when desired. Some models require you to focus the camera; others do it automatically.” The types of CCTV magnifiers mentioned are free standing units, units with text-to-speech, portable CCTVs, head-worn CCTVs, handheld video magnifiers, tablet-based system. Ila has several types of these on sale this week that we’ll take a closer look at. Free Standing Unit: The Mezzo Focus 16" at 11.5 pounds, it can be easily moved from room to room. Magnification can range from 1.6X to 32X, depending on selected settings. Other features include customizable color selections, windowing, line marking, simple 3 button operation. Battery operated unit separately available. Handheld Video Magnifier: You get 2 fabulous devices in one with the Mercury 6 Electronic Magnifier and OCR (Optical Character Reading) Reader. Use its touch-based 5.5" HD screen to have magnification from 3X to 40X while in live mode. Use touch or voice commands to control magnification or color settings. Finger taps control other functions such as auto focus, flashlight access, and menu settings Switch to OCR scanning with one touch; scan (photograph) your reading material and have your scanned material read back to you. Scanned material appears on the touch screen where you can manipulate its magnification, colors, and reading position. Integrated foldable reading stand also provides room for writing. Can also speak in Spanish. Portable CCTV: Humanware has come out with the Explore 8 Handheld Electronic Magnifier which is a portable HD CCTV with a touchscreen. This handheld CCTV electronic magnifier is designed for active people who prefer a large screen but still want maximum portability as It is thinner, lighter, and more affordable than most 7-inch magnifiers on the market while providing a screen that is 8 inches which is 30% larger. The Explorē 8 features two 21-megapixel cameras—one for closeup viewing and the other for distance, with an automatic toggle to switch between the 2 modes. At closeup, it offers up to 30X magnification with stunning HD quality. Large physical buttons provide easy access to key functions; easy-to navigate touchscreen is available for all other settings.How do you use CCTV Magnifiers?
CCTV Magnifiers are like microfilm readers on steroids. Instead of requiring, the now hard to find, microfiche these new readers can enlarge anything that can be put within the camera eye. The larger desktop-based units often have a sliding tray where you place the object you wish to enlarge. You can slide the material back and forth under the camera to show the desired output on the screen. The portable versions often have adjustable cameras so that you can enlarge objects both near and far from you which could be ideal in a classroom setting. The handheld models are smaller in size which allows for easy transport and can be used on the go to enlarge everything from ingredient lists to menu options at a restaurant. To read much more in depth on how CCTV magnifiers are used see Low Vision Aids.Benefits of using CCTV Magnifiers
Whether you’re an older individual experiencing vision loss, a person who has developed macular degeneration, or simply a person whose eyesight goes beyond what standard eyeglasses or contacts can correct CCTV magnifiers could be beneficial to your everyday life. Pulling information from each link above this is a partial list of potential benefits of using CCTV magnifiers:- Reading the newspaper/magazine
- Working on hobbies such as sewing or painting
- Looking at photographs more closely
- Reading a medicine bottle
- Reading ingredient labels
- Reading recipes
- Writing checks
- Trimming fingernails
