Tablet Based Magnification System for Low Vision Reading

By: Dan Beacom

MyfathersuffersfromMacularDegeneration. Ithasimpactedhisabilitytoreadcorrespondence,magazines,directions,etc. HeusesaKindlesuccessfullyforbookreadingandhiscomputerforonlinenewspapers.

Aftersearchingwhatwasoutthereintermsofcamerabasedsystems,itseemedthattherewaseithertheveryexpensiveandimmovableCCTVsystems($3,000andnotatallportable)andhandheldswhichhavefairlysmallscreensandstillcostaround$500­$600. AfternoodlingandgooglingforafewweeksandplayingaroundwithmyiPad,Iorderedsomeparts. Buildingyourowndeviceandusingatabletorphonewithamagnificationappisnotauniqueidea,butIcouldnotfindagoodsetofinstructionsorevengoodpicturesofanothersetup,soItriedtheDIYmethodofdo­it­yourself.

Whatweendedupwithlookslikethis:

Parts:

  • iPadAir264GB($600,anyretailerlikeBestBuyorTarget).Wifionlyisfine,doesnotneedacellplan.
  • BrighterandBiggerappbyKAsada(Freefromtheappstore)
  • Mount­ITLaptopstand(laptoptrayplusmonitormount.($60onamazon)
  • HDMICable
  • 20"LCDTV(<$100atbestbuy): Insignia™­19"Class(18.5"Diag.)­LED­720p­HDTV­Black

/ Insignia™­19"Class(18.5"Diag.)
-LED­720p­HDTV...
19" Class(18.5" Diag.)­LED­720p­HDTV,
ReadcustomerreviewsandbuyonlineatBestBuy.
View onPreviewby Yahoo
  • AdaptertolightningandHMDIcable(toconnectiPad,TV,andpower)Apple­LightningDigitalA/VAdapter­White

/ Apple­LightningDigitalA/VAdapter­White
LightningDigitalA/VAdapter,ReadcustomerreviewsandbuyonlineatBestBuy.
View onPreviewby Yahoo

(ItmaybepossibletouseAppleTvorGoogleChromeandskiptheHDMIcable,Iwastryingtokeepthetechnologysimple­lessthingstotroubleshootoverthephoneifproblemsarise).

  • Two small U plates from hardware store for the right edge guide. Used a ½”#10 Bolt, washer, and locknut. Simply overlapped them, one facing left and the other right to make an adjustable guide.

Step by Step Directions:

  • ThefirststepistoattachthemainsupporttubeoftheMounttoatable. Asmallertableabout30”acrosswouldbeperfect. Dad’stableis36”andhehasalittletroublegettingcloseenoughtothemonitor.

  • ThenIattachedthearmstothemount. Thelaptoptrayonthebottomandthemonitormountonthetop:

  • NextwasaligningtheiPadAir2tothetray. WewerefortunatethatbyplacingtheiPadagainstthelaptopholder,onerowoftheperforatedholesinthetraylinedupwiththerearfacingcameraverywell. Wediddrilloutthespecificholetomakealignmentalittleeasierandtoavoidshadowing. Filingtheholeisrecommendedaswell. Sharpedgesafterdrilling!
  • ThenweattachedtheflatplateguideonthebottomrightusingtheUshapedplates,bolt,washer,andlocknut. Probablylotsofthingswouldwork,thisiswhatwecameupwiththeguyatthehardwarestore. Nowtheplacementisexacteverytime.

  • Wetiedthetrayintopositionwithacabletie(throughholestowardsthebackofthetrayaroundthearm). Wemayhavemissedalockingboltonthemount. Notethetraywilltipforwardalittle,itdoesnotlayflat. ThatisOK. Itworksfineasis. ThereisananglecorrectionfeatureintheBrighterandBiggerappshouldyouneedit.
  • NextwemountedtheLCDTV. Weuseda19”InsigniafromBestBuy. Themainthingitneedsisstandardmountingholesontheback. Weusedtheshortermountingscrewsplustwowasherstosecureittothemonitormountsecurely.

  • NextweconnectedtheadaptertotheiPadtoallowforbothpowerandHDMIconnectiontotheTV.

  • ThenwepositionedthetwomountsarmstokeeptheiPadhighenoughoffthetabletogetareasonablefieldofvision(toolowandyoucanonlyfocusonasmallsectionatonetime,toohighandyouhavetocraneyournecktoseetheTV). AsImentionedbefore,Dad’stableisalittletoobigfronttobackat36”. Wethink30”isprobablyideal.
  • Wemountedthetrayarmat8”abovethetableandthemonitorarmat15”abovethetable.EssentiallytheTVissittingjustabovethetray. Itwasstilljustabittootall,soIhadDadgetacushiontositontoraisehimselfanotherinchortwo. Lotsofopportunitiesforcustomadjustments. Mightevenbepossibletoputthemonitortotheside?

Final Notes:

Nowyoushouldbeinbusiness. Youwillneedtolearnhowtousetheapp(thereisaguideintheapp). Youcanadjustmagnification,brightness,contrast,etc. Youcancreateanegativeview(blackonwhitebecomeswhiteonblack). Youcanpauseonaparticularviewandyoucanalsotakeapictureforlater.

Tappingonceinthemiddlebringsupbuttonsandslidersforthefeatures. Thereisalsoasetupbuttonformoreadvancedfeatures. Tryitwithandwithouttheauto­focusenabledtoseewhatworksbestforyou. Iemailedtheappauthorandhesuggestshavingitdisabledandusingthedoubletapdescribednext:

Doubletappinginthemiddlewillmakethecamerafocus.

Moredetailscanbefoundat:

Dadsimplymovesthepaperheisreadingunderthecamera.WetriedausedXYreadingtable,buttheoneweboughtdidnotworkwell.Dad’shandsareverysteady.Youwillneedtoexperimenttoseewhatworksbest. Ittakessomegettingusedto.

Iwouldcautionagainstreallylongsessionsasyoucouldgetasoreneck,back,orarms.BooksarebetterlefttotheKindle­OR,ifyoudon’thaveone,thendownloadthekindleappfortheiPadandreadbooksandothermediadirectlyontheIpadscreen,orconnectedtothemonitor.

Wealsoexperimentedwithportability. Wefoundstabilizingbothsideswitharulerandtwocans(couldbebooksandapieceofwood,whateverishandy). Thatwouldworkforlongersessionslikereviewingbank,medical,orlegalpaperworkinanoffice. Forrestaurantsorquickthings,itsworkstostabilizeoneside(ontopofadrinkingglass?). Examplepicturesbelow.

Remember,thetabletcandomanyotherthings,you’vespentabout$800butmostofthatisthe iPad. DadisusingFaceTimeandSkypewithhiskidsandgrandkids. Youcandownloadakindleapporotherbookreader. IgetmymagazinesontheiPad. Wepickedhimupacaseforcarryingaroundsafely(makesuretogetonethatyoucaneasilyputtheiPadinandtakeitoutwhenyouwant).

NOTE: You can download the BARD Mobile App to the iPad for free and use the Braille and Talking Book Library service on the iPad for audio books!It is quick and easy!