The Magni-Cam

 

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The MAGNI-CAM is a low cost, hand-held electronic magnifier that you can connect to any television set, a computer, or a special headset.

The MAGNI-CAM has been successfully used for over a decade in the United States, and will benefit vision impaired people who need something with the portability of a magnifying glass that also has the image enhancing features of a CCTV – for example retired seniors with Macular Degeneration, students and schoolchildren, people at work in the office, or on the move. 

 

 

Hobbywork

 

This is a picture of a woman seated in front of a television doing some kind of embroidery work. The Magni-Cam is positioned in front of the work, and we can see an image of the work greatly magnified on the television screen.

One of the unique features of the MAGNI-CAM is that it has variable magnification and contrast, but constant focus, enabling easy hands-free viewing of handiwork, hobbies and other close-up work. 

 

The Magni-Cam’s excellent depth-of-field gives a superbly clear “3D” image which means even curved objects like cans, bottles of pills, syringes and so on appear crystal clear at even the largest magnification.

 

< --- [Picture shows how the Magni-Cam can be clamped to a desk, allowing hands free for detailed tasks such as embroidery and other hobbywork – notice how large the needle and thread appear on the TV screen – magnified in full colour up to 45 times!]

 

 

Reading

 

This is a picture of the Magni-Cam on its reading stand, on a printed page. There is a hand holding the Magni-Cam

The MAGNI-CAM can also be used for general reading of mail, hand-written correspondence, books, recipes, bills, newspapers and magazines, stock market reports and so on, and because it is so light and flexible you can read virtually anywhere.

 

< --- [Picture shows how the Magni-Cam can be used to read printed or hand-written materials.  An adjustable set of rollers can be attached easily to the base of the hand-held camera, allowing smooth left-right movement over the paperwork.  The height of the rollers determines the magnification seen on the screen]

 

 

Writing - By inclining the rollers, or by attaching a special angled spacer block, you can also use an ordinary pen or pencil to write notes, Christmas cards, sign cheques and so on.

 

 

Simple Controls

 

 

The Magni-Cam is a hand-held camera weighing less than 200g connected to a small video processor box which takes power from a mains transformer or from an optional rechargeable battery pack. 

 

The camera has only two controls making it exceptionally easy to use.  A knob allows adjustment to contrast and also provides a means of switching between positive and negative images.  A negative image makes black ink on white paper appear white on black - many people find this reversed image clearer and less of a strain on the eye. 

 

The COLOUR version (Magni-Cam TRIAD) gives Full Colour as well as Enhanced Colour and Monochrome images.

 

 

A choice of displays  

 

On any TV  -  At home, the Magni-Cam video processor box can be plugged directly into any make, model or size TV. On larger TVs, such as the 21" Sony Trinitron, ordinary 12 point newsprint appears 3 ½ inches tall at full magnification (about 45 X magnification).  Connection is via either the Video Input socket, or the Antenna socket, and you may of course still use the set as a TV, or to view videos from your VCR, when the Magni-Cam is switched off.

 

 

On a Computer - If you have a Windows  98 (or later version) computer with a USB port, either a desktop or laptop,  then you can connect the Magni-Cam and see the camera image on your computer monitor or laptop screen.  The size of the image is easily selectable between  a custom-sized Window,  a half-screen split and Full Screen. You can continue to use the computer for other tasks, and even use screen magnification software like MAGic.  School children in particular have successfully used the Magni-Cam to read course notes at their desk, moving from class to class either with a laptop or to computers permanently installed in each classroom.  The other appealing aspect of this arrangement is that the vision impaired child does not "stand out", as they merely appear to be using a laptop with a fancy looking mouse.

 

This is a picture of the Magni-Cam on its reading stand on top of a printed page. The magni-Cam is connected to a lap top computer and we can see an image of the print, reversed (white letters on a black screen) full screen on the lap-tops screen.

 

 

< --- [Picture shows how the Magni-Cam can be connected to a computer, in this case a laptop, using the computer screen to display the magnified image]

 

·    Headset - the camera can be connected to the revolutionary Magni-Cam Head Mounted Display System.  This is a sophisticated pair of wrap around goggles weighing less than 200g that can be worn over prescription glasses.  The camera image appears magnified up to 25 times in front of the eyes, equivalent to a 20 inch TV at 3 feet!  Being lightweight, it can easily be slipped on and off, or perched on the forehead when not reading.   The Magni-Cam headset also requires no specialist optical adjustments to suit the individual.  It will run for about 3 hours on the optional battery pack.

 

Clearly the Magni-Cam is a highly flexible reading device. It can be used at home, in the office, at school, in shops, restaurants, on trains and so on. It has been used in the United States, Australia and around the World by thousands of people, including children and the elderly, receiving excellent professional reviews and testimonials.

 

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