Whether it’s watching a mysterious bird from afar, going to a game, or trying to see details more clearly on the TV, distance viewing technology has its advantages. Read further to see how these devices can make any indoor or outdoor activity more enjoyable to watch.

Birdwatching

Audubon is a wonderful website to learn all about birding.  They state, “If you’ve been considering joining the ranks of the 47 million birders in the United States, there's no better time than the present to take the plunge—or at least dip your toes in.” The first thing to consider is your gear. Most people use binoculars to better view birds from a distance but a monocular can be used as well. In fact, a monocular could be a more practical aide to bring as it’s smaller, more compact, and is essentially like using a short telescope. If you’re considering giving a monocular a go the 4 x 12 Monocular on sale this week is an excellent inexpensive option to try.  Other suggested gear includes a weatherproof notebook, a field guide, comfortable clothes, and an easy to use birding app. Before you actually start your first birding adventure the site suggests you learn the American Birding Association Code of Ethics. Once you familiarize yourself with the code of ethics another important step to take is to learn about  safety tips for better birding. It is also advised to check the elements, consider the season, and look up your local species occurrences prior to any outing.

Sporting Events

Whether going to watch friends, family, or just your favorite team play there is evidence that attending sporting events can be good for your health. Sporting events allow you to socialize, get out of the house, network, spend time with family and friends, and even immediately gives you a connection to the people around you. A recent study looks at the association between sporting event attendance and self-rated health.   The results of this 12 year study demonstrate that sporting event attendance positively correlates with self-rated health. In addition, individuals who attended a sporting even within the past year were 33% more likely to indicate a higher level of self-rated health. An article on CNN Health further states “scientists have found that being a sports fan can be good for your emotional, psychological and social health.” Creating lasting memories is another advantage of going to a sporting event. The 7" portable HD CCTV with distance, on sale this week, is a great way to both take photos, store reminders and zoom in up to 32x from as much as 16 feet away. It stores nearly an unlimited number of freeze frame images on a removable 32 GB card. Voice memo feature can add a recorded message to any of those images.  This may not make the game itself easier to view (depending on where your seat is located) but it can be beneficial when reading a program, small print at the concession stand, and can be both a visual and auditory aid in remembering where you parked or where your seat is located.

Watching TV

Everyone know that watching too much TV can be bad for your health but there are several surprising beneficial reasons to turn on the tube as well. Darling Magazine reports on three ways that TV is good for you. The first reason listed is that watching TV can reduce stress. The more time we take in something we enjoy the less stressed we tend to be. The next reason is TV can promote healthy living. In the academic world it is called “entertainment-education.” An example provided is after an episode about PTSD the stars of NCIS also participated in a public service announcement about seeking help for the disorder. The third and final reason listed is it can inspire creativity. Do it yourself shows, cooking shows, and even those showcasing every day people demonstrating their talents can inspire others to do the same. For some people with low vision and/or macular degeneration this pastime can be frustrating. Thanks to new technology such as the Eschenbach MaxTV Glasses individuals can adjust their vision to fit their TV viewing needs. They provide 2.1X magnification and allow the user to focus each eye independently, allowing for more precise focusing. Be sure to check out other great products to help make distance viewing more enjoyable at independent living aids, LLC.