Computer Screen Magnifiers Suitable for Visually Impaired

Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2009/02/17 - Updated: 2017/06/25
Category Topic: Electronics and Software - Academic Publications

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: Reviews of screen magnifiers software that interfaces with a computers graphical output to present enlarged monitor screen content.

Introduction

A screen magnifier is software that interfaces with a computer's graphical output to present enlarged screen content. It is a type of assistive technology suitable for visually impaired people with some functional vision such as macula degeneration or loss of acuteness. Ranges of 1- to 16 times magnification are common with screen magnifiers. The greater the magnification the smaller the proportion of the original screen content that can be viewed, so users will tend to use the lowest magnification they can manage.

Main Content

Magnifying Glass Pro

Magnifying Glass Pro is a very well presented package and achieves with ease what many other similar products fail to do. Well worth the small price asked for such an excellent product. (Disabled World is not affiliated with this product)

Specifications:

Modification of an onscreen image in real time (e.g., adjust contrast, add special effects, smoothing, and so on).

Adjust the screen position of the magnifying Glass (e.g., a fixed position, under the cursor, angular, and so on).

Save multiple set of viewing preferences as individual Profiles, then switch between those Profiles instantly (e.g., you can have one Profile for viewing text and another for working with graphic images).

Show/hide the Magnifying Glass simply by shaking the mouse cursor from side to side. This is much easier than using the keyboard shortcut when your hand is already on the mouse.

Command Mode, which enables you to quickly change/apply Magnifying Glass options (e.g., Glass size and position, transparency, contrast, effects, and so on).

The Auto-switcher, which enables you to associate individual applications, windows, and screen elements with specific user-defined Profiles (group of Glass settings). As the "target" changes (e.g., you switch applications) the Auto-switcher applies the appropriate Glass settings automatically, based on the defined Profile association, with no interruption to your productivity.

No restrictions on how you can use Magnifying Glass Pro. You control the size and position of the Glass - it can occupy the entire screen, or a smaller, user-defined area. It can even extend beyond the edges of your screen to move to a second monitor. You can quickly and easily apply a myriad of effects to enhance your viewing experience and solve the sophisticated needs of any text or graphics-based project. More info www.workerscollection.com/wcollect/english/html/mg_pro.html

SeeIt Magnifier

Seeit is a new magnifier for the pc and is compatible with Windows XP and Vista. You can magnify anything on your screen by up to 32x, whether it be the whole screen or just an area of your choice.

You can zoom in for easier viewing of videos, E-mails or anyone of your favorite programs. It is controlled by an easy to use control panel which enables you to magnify by strip or lens anything on your screen. Enabling you to set a resolution that fits your needs.

Compared to other similar products it comes at a reasonable price.

Zoomtext

Zoomtext does not only zoom and enhance all that is on your screen, it can make you hear everything you are doing in all of your applications. It will read for you your documents, E-mails and web pages so that you do not have to force your eyes to do it yourself. Zoomtext will provide a high definition image of text at any magnification level making it easier then ever to recognize what you are reading. It also comes with built in productivity tools that will make everything quick and easy to find. All of this can also support dual monitors to further expand your view with two computer screens. You can use the second screen to share a magnified or unmagnified view of your desktop.

Features:

• Dual Monitor Support. Use two monitors to expand your magnified viewing area.
• Enhanced Screen Colors. Innovative color controls improve screen clarity and reduce eyestrain.
• Visible Pointers and Cursors. Size and color enhancements make it easy to see the mouse pointer.
• Desktop Finder helps you find and launch programs and documents on your desktop, system tray and quick launch bar.
• Web Finder helps you find links and controls in any web page, allowing you to navigate the web with faster than ever before.
• Text Finder helps you locate words, phrases and topics of interest in documents, web pages, and application windows.
• Vista Logon Support. Provides essential magnification and screen reading support when logging in Windows Vista.
• New 'NeoSpeech' Synthesizer Voices. NeoSpeech provides human-sounding male and female voices that are closer to the real thing than ever before (English only).
• Complete Screen Reading. ZoomText automatically speaks all program controls, including menus, dialogs, list views and messages.
• Automatic Document Reading. ZoomText's AppReader automatically reads documents, web pages and email within the parent application.
• Full Internet Accessibility. ZoomText reads any web page, in the proper reading order. You can read automatically or manually navigate by word, line, sentence and paragraph.
• Text Navigation. Navigation keys make it easy to read while creating and editing documents. With simple commands you can read by character, word, line, sentence and paragraph, even while selecting text.
• Typing Echo. Each key or word that you type is automatically spoken. You can choose to have all keys spoken or only selected groups of keys.
• Mouse Echo. Mouse echo automatically reads text that you point to. Single words or complete lines of text are spoken instantly or after hovering briefly.
• SpeakIt Tool. The SpeakIt tool allows you to read selected areas of the screen by clicking or dragging the mouse.

Just plug in the ZoomText USB drive and ZoomText automatically starts up. If ZoomText is not installed, the friendly setup program is launched and you'll be up and running in minutes.

Zoomtext is compatible with Windows XP - 2000 and Vista.

BigShot Screen Magnifier

An inexpensive magnification program made to decrease eyestrain and reduce risks of headaches or eye irritations after long hours of work on computers. Bigshot magnifies with 20 different levels of magnification, from 100 to 200 percent.

Features:

• Unique zooming modes allow you to magnify the full screen or just the active application
• Change magnification levels using the mouse
• Intelligent tracking of all program activity keeps important information in view
• Always-on-top toolbar gives you quick access to BigShot settings
• Supports True Color and High Color display modes and all screen resolutions.

Supernova Reader - Magnifier

Supernova offers magnification, speech and Braille support, giving people with visual impairment the freedom to access Windows in the way that suits them best. It is portable and can be used on any computer through a USB port, for low vision to blind computer users from around the world. You can now walk up to any computer and have the software installed in minutes already configured just the way you like it.

Features:

• Supernova includes magnification, speech and Braille output to cater for all types of visual impairments.
• A combined screen reader and magnifier helps to reduce eye strain by allowing users to increase magnification or add speech.
• Runs on many operating systems, network installations, Terminal Server and Citrix support.
• Magnification from the point of logon and choice of magnification style with options such as split screen, whole screen and window to suit your needs.
• True multi language support, choice of over 20 languages and different synthesizer languages included as standard.
• Compatible with a range of digital CCTVs such as Optelec, Clearnote & LVI MLS Student.
• Customize color schemes on screen to meet your sight requirements and replace problem colors.
• DocReader for easier viewing of long documents.
• Full screen magnifier with features such as variable magnification, multiple screen management styles and a variety of color replacement options.
• Includes a full screen reader for people who are blind, which can cope with text and Braille input together with speech and Braille output.
• Works with most popular applications "out of the box", non-standard applications that do not work with can usually be mapped easily.
• Talks as you type, announcing words or characters so you can check what you write.
• A single key allows you to read an entire document, email or web page.
• Fast and accurate multilingual Braille output for text at your fingertips.
• (Grade 1 & 2 computer or literary Braille supported).
• Access complex websites with ease by choosing to list links, headings or frames.
• Read image labels, font styles, Windows menus and icons for easy navigation.
• Customize the speed and volume of the voice and control the level of detail and punctuation that is spoken or sent to Braille.
• Focus highlight and on-screen Braille assists those with residual vision, sighted teachers & helpers.
• Includes SAM (Synthesizer Access Manager) for easy support of third-party synths and Braille displays.

Lunar Screen Magnifier

Lunar Screen Magnifier works with Windows and Windows applications, including word processing, spreadsheets, the Internet and email. It allows you to continue working with the computer in exactly the same way and is therefore highly practical for both office and home situations. Lunar Screen Magnifier's advanced technology means that even on high magnification, text and images remain smooth, clear and easily readable. Further clarification of activity on-screen is available thanks to strong, high contrast colors. Simply choose what works best for you.

Features:

• Choice of magnification style with many options such as split screen, whole screen, lens and window so you can set it up to suit you.
• Highly magnified objects and text are smoothed to remove pixilation and preserve readability.
• Provides magnification from the point of login on the PC so you can see detail from startup.
• Multiple focus highlighting options - for clearer identification of cursor, mouse pointer, line, focus.
• Always stay in focus with Lunar's automatic tracking of the mouse and keyboard presses.
• Create specific settings for certain applications and save them to use again.
• True multi language support, choice of over 20 languages and different synthesizer languages included.
• Automatic software updates via the Internet ensure you always use the latest version.
• Compatible with a range of digital CCTVs such as Optelec, Clearnote & LVI MLS Student.
• Runs on many operating systems and can be installed in a Network environment.
• Choose from high contrast color schemes or build your own to meet your sight requirements and replace problem colors.
• Smooth scrolling when moving around the screen and down long documents, avoids screen jitter.
• Intuitive hot keys for easy keyboard operation and an easy to use point and click interface.
• DocReader for easier viewing of long documents.

The Magnifier

This software is capable of zooming 2x by 10x it may be positioned anywhere on the screen and re-sized to your preference. This is the affordable, full screen magnifier.

Features:

• Operates as a Full Screen Magnifier
• High-Contrast Full Screen reference window
• Up to 40x magnification, quick keyboard selection of 1x, 2x, 3x, thru 9x, and incremental Plus/Minus 0.1x steps
• Keyboard shortcuts to quickly toggle window view (full screen, windowed, round, hide/show, etc.)
• Keyboard panning, sizing, moving
• Magnifies as you type, or move around with the keyboard
• Drag lock for easier operation
• Color inversion
• Transparency settings
• Round (circle) view (like a real old-fashioned magnifying glass)
• Easy to Read Magnifier Menu
• Lock Position of magnified area
• Track Cursor Position feature
• Drag and Magnify feature
• Automatically saves up to 7 different configurations for multiple Magnifiers (Win32).

Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.