The BLOVI Girl’s Guide for those Who Can’t See Shit-Volume Two: Using Technology
One of the biggest adjustments I had to make as a visually impaired person was in using technology. Things like computers, phones, my IPod and TV. The devices I had as a sighted person no longer worked. So I had to find things that would allow me to use the technology I needed for both work and entertainment. Reading books is a separate issue I will address in a later blog.
Cell Phone: I opted to go back to a basic flip phone that talks all the menus out loud. But for those of you who just need magnification there are smart phone options. IPhone’s can zoom up in size and also have a voice over function where everything on the screen can be read aloud to you. SIRI also allows you to give voice commands that bypass the need to see all the tiny things on the screen. Other phones now have larger screens and some zoom functions. There is also a magnifier you can place over your phone screen. For me, the text could not zoom up enough, the learning curve in voice over on IPhone was too steep, and SIRI just could not seem to understand me. So I went old school and I love my basic flip phone, the Samsung Haven. I have had the phone for almost three years and have dropped it at least 100 times and it still works. Because of this, Samsung no longer makes the Haven because as you know, your phones are supposed to self-destruct right about the two year mark when you are eligible for the upgrade. But there is a similar phone that does the same thing, although I am certain it is not as impervious to destruction. All the menus have voice. It tells me who is calling, so I do not have to have person specific ringtones. It also reads text messages out loud, which is sometimes dicey when messages are inappropriate. It tells me what I am typing so I can text. It also has places to store emergency contacts and medical information.
Computer: When I had the accident I had a 15” laptop and I could not see anything on the screen or the keyboard. What I now use is a laptop with a 17” screen that is hooked up to a 27” monitor. When you need large text, screen size matters. A larger monitor is key to being able to see as is the type of monitor. LCD’s are good and of course the new Retina displays are better. What you may not realize is that it is the glare that makes a big impact in how well you see the screen and how tired your eyes are getting. So, what you need to do is turn down the brightness on your screen and increase the contrast. There are also self-adhesive glare reducers you can place on your monitor, kind of like car window tinting. You can also make any content on your computer screen bigger. The Windows and Apple platforms all have zoom functions. Apple can zoom larger than Windows, so if you are a Windows user and need more than 2,5X magnification, there is a program called ZoomText. I use ZoomText in 8 or 7X and you can set it up to where it also reads aloud. It talks while I am typing and reads a document when I am tired. You can also make it say nasty things in funny accents and computer voices, always a plus. If you can no longer see the keys on your keyboard, and like me, never really learned to type, there are keyboards with larger characters available. My keyboard with large letters allowed me to go back to my super-fast four finger hunt and peck method.
Document Reading: I have a machine called the Acrobat that has a screen and a camera that makes everything bigger and also changes the colors. Low vision people like me read best with white text on a black background. Some prefer white or black text on a yellow background. It depends on each user, but the black on white contrast is usually not best for when you don’t see so well. I use the camera to read my mail, labels, letters, my child’s homework and short documents. I have also used it to blow up my hands to see my nails so I could paint them. And I have turned it on my face to check my grooming, which was a horrible mistake. I am always looking for unconventional ways to use the equipment.
TV/Movie Watching: When your vision is not so great for distance and for those with macular degeneration, TV watching becomes harder. You can see the general theme without the detail and nuances. For those of us with retinal issues the size of the TV screen does not matter much, but the distance to the screen does. For me I would have to literally sit directly in front if the TV almost with my nose touching it to see any detail. And that TV is hot and my eyes get tired-- it is really uncomfortable. So you need devices that bring the TV screen right up to you. These are distance magnifiers or really binoculars. I have telescopic spectacles. Imagine wearing mini telescopes attached to glasses sitting way out on your nose. The low vision specialist said they were for working on the computer or watching TV and that I should not wear them out. No problem there. I do use them to watch shows in which the visual aspect of the program is imperative to enhance the overall theme and tone. And this translates into hot guys scantily clad. But those telescopes weigh like ten pounds and I can only endure them for about an hour at a time, propping up my head for support and removing them during commercials. Now they have these really cool lightweight glare reducing magnifiers for distance. Mine are called MaxEvent. They still look a little crazy because they have a double lens thing and they don’t have the same magnification power, but I can wear them all the time. They will cost you about $200, but they are worth it for not only watching television and movies, but also for plays and other events.
Assistance on the Go: Hand held magnifiers can be a great tool to see things quickly. I a small lightweight hand held basic magnifier with a built in light. I use it all the time to read things like the labels on my electrical box or the settings on the thermostats. I also have a hand held computer magnifier that can be laid over any text and the zoom and contrast can be adjusted just like the Acrobat camera. Mine is called the Pebble, but there are many versions of hand held computer magnifiers. Some can even take a picture of a document and then read it to you.
In sum, there is a whole range of devices that you can use to improve your vision. The truth is that they can be expensive. But I have found they are sometimes necessary. New devices and technology are always available. Check sites like Maxiaids for the latest and greatest toys for the visually impaired.
Keep Moving Forward,
Beth (BLOVI) Medlock
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