Sheesh! This has got to be one of the most *obvious* ideas... <https://www.enhancedvision.com/low-vision-product-line/pebble-hd-hand-held-portable-electronic-magnifier.html> I picked up an older version of same, recently, and suspect it won't be far from my work table henceforth! Good to see simple applications of technology -- even if it seems like overkill! (controls could use some more thought, but...)
D'uh... (low vision product)
Started by ●November 19, 2014
Reply by ●November 19, 20142014-11-19
On 11/19/2014 4:19 AM, Don Y wrote:> > Sheesh! This has got to be one of the most *obvious* ideas... > > <https://www.enhancedvision.com/low-vision-product-line/pebble-hd-hand-held-portable-electronic-magnifier.html> > > > I picked up an older version of same, recently, and suspect it won't be > far from my work table henceforth! Good to see simple applications of > technology -- even if it seems like overkill! > > (controls could use some more thought, but...)My gosh, at $600 I'll rush out and buy two! What does this do that most cell phones won't? -- Rick
Reply by ●November 19, 20142014-11-19
On 19/11/14 10:44, rickman wrote:> On 11/19/2014 4:19 AM, Don Y wrote: >> >> Sheesh! This has got to be one of the most *obvious* ideas... >> >> <https://www.enhancedvision.com/low-vision-product-line/pebble-hd-hand-held-portable-electronic-magnifier.html> >> >> >> >> >>I picked up an older version of same, recently, and suspect it won't be>> far from my work table henceforth! Good to see simple applications >> of technology -- even if it seems like overkill! >> >> (controls could use some more thought, but...) > > My gosh, at $600 I'll rush out and buy two! > > What does this do that most cell phones won't? >More to the point, what does it do /usefully/ that a magnifying glass won't do?
Reply by ●November 19, 20142014-11-19
Don Y wrote:> > Sheesh! This has got to be one of the most *obvious* ideas... > > <https://www.enhancedvision.com/low-vision-product-line/pebble-hd-hand-held-portable-electronic-magnifier.html> > > I picked up an older version of same, recently, and suspect it won't be > far from my work table henceforth! Good to see simple applications of > technology -- even if it seems like overkill! > > (controls could use some more thought, but...)As I already use my mobile phone for such tasks (and it has also been useful for getting at the really awkwardly positioned labels on installed equipment) there is little incentive for me to purchase one. Regards Paul E. Bennett IEng MIET Systems Engineer -- ******************************************************************** Paul E. Bennett IEng MIET.....<email://Paul_E.Bennett@topmail.co.uk> Forth based HIDECS Consultancy.............<http://www.hidecs.co.uk> Mob: +44 (0)7811-639972 Tel: +44 (0)1235-510979 Going Forth Safely ..... EBA. www.electric-boat-association.org.uk.. ********************************************************************
Reply by ●November 19, 20142014-11-19
On a sunny day (Wed, 19 Nov 2014 10:34:46 +0000) it happened Paul E Bennett <Paul_E.Bennett@topmail.co.uk> wrote in <cd3a26Feh5U2@mid.individual.net>:>Don Y wrote: > >> >> Sheesh! This has got to be one of the most *obvious* ideas... >> >> <https://www.enhancedvision.com/low-vision-product-line/pebble-hd-hand-held-portable-electronic-magnifier.html> >> >> I picked up an older version of same, recently, and suspect it won't be >> far from my work table henceforth! Good to see simple applications of >> technology -- even if it seems like overkill! >> >> (controls could use some more thought, but...) > >As I already use my mobile phone for such tasks (and it has also been useful >for getting at the really awkwardly positioned labels on installed >equipment) there is little incentive for me to purchase one. > > >Regards > >Paul E. Bennett IEng MIET >Systems EngineerIt is false advertizing too, it calls itself HD, but the spec says: Resolution: 480 x 272 here you can only use the word HD if it is at least 1920x1080 or something. My Canon camera can do all that and more for a fraction of those 600 dollars. My android can do it and translate the photographed labels. And google ebay for 'electronic magnifier' better prices...
Reply by ●November 19, 20142014-11-19
On 19/11/2014 10:22, David Brown wrote:> On 19/11/14 10:44, rickman wrote: >> On 11/19/2014 4:19 AM, Don Y wrote: >>> >>> Sheesh! This has got to be one of the most *obvious* ideas... >>> >>> <https://www.enhancedvision.com/low-vision-product-line/pebble-hd-hand-held-portable-electronic-magnifier.html> >>> > I picked up an older version of same, recently, and suspect it won't be >>> far from my work table henceforth! Good to see simple applications >>> of technology -- even if it seems like overkill! >>> >>> (controls could use some more thought, but...) >> >> My gosh, at $600 I'll rush out and buy two! >> >> What does this do that most cell phones won't? >> > > More to the point, what does it do /usefully/ that a magnifying glass > won't do?Contrast enhancement and/or thresholding is a possible advantage of a computer aided magnifying app (although this one is seriously overpriced). This can help people with very limited vision. There are plenty of similarly overpriced low vision aid gadgets of various levels of usefulness. You have to count your fingers before and after when dealing with disability salesmen - they make double glazing salesmen look like saints. Check out the prices of wheelchair batteries for instance (and compare to the obvious unit that they have rebadged to sell for 4x the price). -- Regards, Martin Brown
Reply by ●November 19, 20142014-11-19
On 11/19/2014 3:34 AM, Paul E Bennett wrote:> Don Y wrote: > >> >> Sheesh! This has got to be one of the most *obvious* ideas... >> >> <https://www.enhancedvision.com/low-vision-product-line/pebble-hd-hand-held-portable-electronic-magnifier.html> >> >> I picked up an older version of same, recently, and suspect it won't be >> far from my work table henceforth! Good to see simple applications of >> technology -- even if it seems like overkill! >> >> (controls could use some more thought, but...) > > As I already use my mobile phone for such tasks (and it has also been useful > for getting at the really awkwardly positioned labels on installed > equipment) there is little incentive for me to purchase one.I wouldn't suggest *anyone* purchase one -- even if suffering from low vision problems! Most assistive technology is *incredibly* overpriced; $750 four-function calculators, $15,000 laptops; $5,000 power chairs; etc. I've often wondered why the pricing -- a consequence of "subsidies"? Or, a true reflection of the cost of doing business? (special needs customers tend to need more hand-holding, more paperwork, etc.). I also note many assistive tech companies change hands regularly. Either cash cows *or* flailing businesses!
Reply by ●November 19, 20142014-11-19
On 11/19/2014 5:09 AM, Martin Brown wrote:> On 19/11/2014 10:22, David Brown wrote: >>> What does this do that most cell phones won't? >> >> More to the point, what does it do /usefully/ that a magnifying glass >> won't do?A magnifying glass won't "discard chroma" on command. Try reading a silver label on a field of yellow. A magnifying glass won't enhance contrast -- it just makes the images "bigger". A magnifying glass won't convert to false color (folks with vision problems can often see yellow (text) on a field of black far better than black text on a field of white, etc. A magnifying glass won't "take a snapshot". (most) magnifying glass won't "stand" in a fixed position while you work *behind* it. E.g., have it "watch" while I solder a fine pitch SMT device... or, dig a splinter out of a fingertip (cases where both hands are in use). A (generic) magnifying glass is usually ineffective sitting *on* the material you want to magnify -- like a newspaper, magazine, etc. (my first use of this was to read the *insanely* fine print -- on the order of *3* pt -- on the package of NiMH cells that I purchased for it). [Folks with one "disability" are often prone to having *other* disabilities. E.g., folks with macular degeneration are most likely to be older and, thus, higher incidence of ET or PT. Ditto diabetic retinopathy.] (some) magnifying glass don't illuminate their subjects. Non (?) dynamically vary that illumination to compensate for ambient light levels. The brightness of a magnifier's image isn't easily controlled (even with subject illumination). Most magnifying glasses are "low power" and/or introduce distortions at close range. A digital camera (to be used as a magnifying glass) tends to require the user to *view* the subject of interest (e.g., you can't just reach behind your computer *under* your desk and take a snapshot to see which way the network jack is oriented) to know that it is in focus and at the desired level of magnification. Nor can most of them focus at half an inch (none of mine can -- the optics just "hunt" forever!).> Contrast enhancement and/or thresholding is a possible advantage of a computer > aided magnifying app (although this one is seriously overpriced). This can help > people with very limited vision.Yup. The point of my post was that this is a no-brainer idea. I.e., as soon as cameras were available and small LCD's, *this* should have appeared. In much the same way "electronic readers" (instead of those relying on optics) should have exploited TV/monitor interfaces (why sell the user another monitor AND A PLACE TO STORE IT when he's already got something similar?)> There are plenty of similarly overpriced low vision aid gadgets of various > levels of usefulness. You have to count your fingers before and after when > dealing with disability salesmen - they make double glazing salesmen look like > saints.I'm not sure it is all "flim flam". See my comments elsewhere this thread. I don't see many such companies publicly traded and selling at big multiples. Rather, they all seem to be struggling to stay afloat. Small markets, high per-sale cost, high support cost, etc. KCP was fortunate Xerox came in and rescued them. And note that Xerox didn't see the future as "reading assistance" but, rather, document prep.> Check out the prices of wheelchair batteries for instance (and compare to the > obvious unit that they have rebadged to sell for 4x the price).Yup. But the same is also true of UPS batteries. Even the $5 I paid for the magnifying glass (the cost of the batteries to power it) was "outrageous" (reflecting their presumed *value* and not *cost* + decent margin!)
Reply by ●November 19, 20142014-11-19
On Wed, 19 Nov 2014 02:19:48 -0700, Don Y <this@is.not.me.com> wrote:> >Sheesh! This has got to be one of the most *obvious* ideas... > ><https://www.enhancedvision.com/low-vision-product-line/pebble-hd-hand-held-portable-electronic-magnifier.html> > >I picked up an older version of same, recently, and suspect it won't be >far from my work table henceforth! Good to see simple applications of >technology -- even if it seems like overkill! > >(controls could use some more thought, but...)I have a nice little Edmund magnifier lens that I use to read microscopic, zero-contrast laser markings on US8 packages and such. Small. Reliable. Never needs batteries. I'm pretty nearsighted, but nobody can make out this stuff any more without optical assistance. Our machine-vision machines (AOA, PnP) have a hard time, too. -- John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc picosecond timing laser drivers and controllers jlarkin att highlandtechnology dott com http://www.highlandtechnology.com
Reply by ●November 19, 20142014-11-19
On 11/19/2014 11:16 AM, Don Y wrote:> On 11/19/2014 5:09 AM, Martin Brown wrote: >> On 19/11/2014 10:22, David Brown wrote: >>>> What does this do that most cell phones won't? >>> >>> More to the point, what does it do /usefully/ that a magnifying glass >>> won't do? > > A magnifying glass won't "discard chroma" on command. Try reading a silver > label on a field of yellow. > > A magnifying glass won't enhance contrast -- it just makes the images > "bigger". > > A magnifying glass won't convert to false color (folks with vision problems > can often see yellow (text) on a field of black far better than black > text on > a field of white, etc. > > A magnifying glass won't "take a snapshot". > > (most) magnifying glass won't "stand" in a fixed position while you work > *behind* it. E.g., have it "watch" while I solder a fine pitch SMT > device... > or, dig a splinter out of a fingertip (cases where both hands are in use). > > A (generic) magnifying glass is usually ineffective sitting *on* the > material > you want to magnify -- like a newspaper, magazine, etc. (my first use of > this was to read the *insanely* fine print -- on the order of *3* pt -- on > the package of NiMH cells that I purchased for it). > > [Folks with one "disability" are often prone to having *other* > disabilities. > E.g., folks with macular degeneration are most likely to be older and, > thus, > higher incidence of ET or PT. Ditto diabetic retinopathy.] > > (some) magnifying glass don't illuminate their subjects. Non (?) > dynamically > vary that illumination to compensate for ambient light levels. > > The brightness of a magnifier's image isn't easily controlled (even with > subject illumination). > > Most magnifying glasses are "low power" and/or introduce distortions at > close range. > > A digital camera (to be used as a magnifying glass) tends to require the > user > to *view* the subject of interest (e.g., you can't just reach behind your > computer *under* your desk and take a snapshot to see which way the network > jack is oriented) to know that it is in focus and at the desired level of > magnification. Nor can most of them focus at half an inch (none of mine > can -- the optics just "hunt" forever!). >I think you missed, it zooms. I think it's cool, but I won't buy first generation. I'll wait until it's under $100, maybe next year! Mikek --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com
