Sense tech review: digital magnifiers<\/h2>\n\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Devices_Orange_JPG_RGB-600x600.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat is a digital magnifier?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you imagine a digital screen hovering over a kind of tray \u2013 a bit like a computer tablet on a tall stand \u2013 that\u2019s what my magnifier looks like. The tray is where you put your book or paperwork for the camera to see, then the screen above magnifies and displays the text in real-time. Mine has large buttons for adjusting the settings and focus, or you just move the paper along to read the next bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m describing my magnifier \u2013 the Clover Book Lite \u2013 but others are much larger, with screens the size of computer monitors. Others look more like a low desk lamp, with a camera looking down at anything placed under the \u2018light\u2019. You\u2019d then connect this to a display screen or computer to see the magnified text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then there are all the extra options, like read aloud functions or outward facing cameras for following whiteboard presentations. There are magnifiers for all kinds of visual impairments<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMy magnifier makes work possible<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/employment-icons-Page-2-1024x1024.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe main purpose of my magnifier is to support me at work. Sense Employment<\/a> have been brilliant at supporting me to find jobs with employers that understand my needs. I\u2019ve recently started a new job at an NHS appointments centre \u2013 the second job I\u2019ve secured with support from Sense. They\u2019ve provided me with two magnifiers, both of which are invaluable.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMy role involves a lot of paperwork which, because of the nature of my visual impairment, is very hard for me to read unaided. Without a digital magnifier, it would be extremely difficult \u2013 impossible, really \u2013 for me to do my job. With it, I can show people that I\u2019m able to work just as well as anybody else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the past, people might have read things aloud to me or written key information down in large letters. No one wants to work that way \u2013 it\u2019d be especially problematic in my current field as I work with sensitive information. I need independence and privacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Doubling up my tech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
I keep my main magnifier set up for me to quickly read paperwork arriving at my desk. But if I\u2019m on the move, doing something like photocopying or scanning, I still need some kind of magnifier to support me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Exploration-mag-glass_JPG_RGB.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nA lot of people will just take a magnifying glass. These are great but limited. They\u2019re only so strong and often can\u2019t enlarge something enough for someone with a visual impairment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What I\u2019ve got now, to use alongside my desk magnifier, is a handheld device. It\u2019s portable, it can zoom in on text and buttons, and I can even take photographs. I find this really useful as it saves me having to write out key information, like a reference number, anytime I need to look something up away from my desk. This would have been absolutely invaluable back in the days when my work centred around filing cabinets!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need a device that doesn\u2019t interrupt my flow<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Back when I first started using digital magnifiers, the devices were quite bulky and heavy. If you were going out to a meeting or leaving the office for training, then you\u2019d be lugging this big device with you \u2013 and a charger, it used to be. The model I have now is lighter and more compact. It folds away neatly and has a carrying handle, plus four hours of battery life, so the transportation and set up is really easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/screening_clip_tick_Orange_CMYK.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThere aren\u2019t many downsides to the current models that I can think of. I remember some magnifiers used to have moving trays, which were good because it meant you didn\u2019t have to stop writing or reading to adjust the paper \u2013 you could slide it along as you went. That was great because it kept up with your flow, supporting your work rhythm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\nMy advice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Finding the right magnifier for you can be very hard as it\u2019s not a widely known about piece of tech. During my 20 years of working with magnifiers, I\u2019ve had some bad experiences and misguided recommendations<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nYou\u2019ll need to make sure you do your own research \u2013 and speak to someone from Sense or RNIB. They\u2019ll be able to help you explore your options and advise on what aid might be best for you. That\u2019s where I\u2019d always recommend people to go.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
How Sense can help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you’d like to get more information on assistive technology and devices like digital magnifiers, then get in touch with Sense information and advice. You can reach them by phone, email, post or through a BSL interpreter<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat is a digital magnifier?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you imagine a digital screen hovering over a kind of tray \u2013 a bit like a computer tablet on a tall stand \u2013 that\u2019s what my magnifier looks like. The tray is where you put your book or paperwork for the camera to see, then the screen above magnifies and displays the text in real-time. Mine has large buttons for adjusting the settings and focus, or you just move the paper along to read the next bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m describing my magnifier \u2013 the Clover Book Lite \u2013 but others are much larger, with screens the size of computer monitors. Others look more like a low desk lamp, with a camera looking down at anything placed under the \u2018light\u2019. You\u2019d then connect this to a display screen or computer to see the magnified text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then there are all the extra options, like read aloud functions or outward facing cameras for following whiteboard presentations. There are magnifiers for all kinds of visual impairments<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of my magnifier is to support me at work. Sense Employment<\/a> have been brilliant at supporting me to find jobs with employers that understand my needs. I\u2019ve recently started a new job at an NHS appointments centre \u2013 the second job I\u2019ve secured with support from Sense. They\u2019ve provided me with two magnifiers, both of which are invaluable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My role involves a lot of paperwork which, because of the nature of my visual impairment, is very hard for me to read unaided. Without a digital magnifier, it would be extremely difficult \u2013 impossible, really \u2013 for me to do my job. With it, I can show people that I\u2019m able to work just as well as anybody else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the past, people might have read things aloud to me or written key information down in large letters. No one wants to work that way \u2013 it\u2019d be especially problematic in my current field as I work with sensitive information. I need independence and privacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I keep my main magnifier set up for me to quickly read paperwork arriving at my desk. But if I\u2019m on the move, doing something like photocopying or scanning, I still need some kind of magnifier to support me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A lot of people will just take a magnifying glass. These are great but limited. They\u2019re only so strong and often can\u2019t enlarge something enough for someone with a visual impairment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What I\u2019ve got now, to use alongside my desk magnifier, is a handheld device. It\u2019s portable, it can zoom in on text and buttons, and I can even take photographs. I find this really useful as it saves me having to write out key information, like a reference number, anytime I need to look something up away from my desk. This would have been absolutely invaluable back in the days when my work centred around filing cabinets!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Back when I first started using digital magnifiers, the devices were quite bulky and heavy. If you were going out to a meeting or leaving the office for training, then you\u2019d be lugging this big device with you \u2013 and a charger, it used to be. The model I have now is lighter and more compact. It folds away neatly and has a carrying handle, plus four hours of battery life, so the transportation and set up is really easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There aren\u2019t many downsides to the current models that I can think of. I remember some magnifiers used to have moving trays, which were good because it meant you didn\u2019t have to stop writing or reading to adjust the paper \u2013 you could slide it along as you went. That was great because it kept up with your flow, supporting your work rhythm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finding the right magnifier for you can be very hard as it\u2019s not a widely known about piece of tech. During my 20 years of working with magnifiers, I\u2019ve had some bad experiences and misguided recommendations<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll need to make sure you do your own research \u2013 and speak to someone from Sense or RNIB. They\u2019ll be able to help you explore your options and advise on what aid might be best for you. That\u2019s where I\u2019d always recommend people to go.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n If you’d like to get more information on assistive technology and devices like digital magnifiers, then get in touch with Sense information and advice. You can reach them by phone, email, post or through a BSL interpreter<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMy magnifier makes work possible<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nDoubling up my tech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI need a device that doesn\u2019t interrupt my flow<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMy advice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How Sense can help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n