Are there any magnifiers for COMPUTER SCREEN for visually impaired

[helenscott08]

I am asking this on behalf of a neighbor who is having serious visual problems but loves being on computer.

I have tried to find something for magnifying the screen for visually impaired but so far with no luck. I am fairly sure there is such a thing but don't know where to find it.

If anyone can direct me to the right area, I will greatly appreciate it.

helen s

[don]

Hi Helen

If she is running Windows XP (and some older versions as I remember) it has built-in magnifier.

Go to:
Start
All Programs
Accessories
Accessibility
Magnifier

Hope this works for you.

Cheers
don

[helenscott08]

I had a reply from a mykil at WaccoBB and it was returned to me...something about mail box full and/or user unknown.

But I do thank you for the info and I have passed it on to the party I was writing about. I will let you know how it works for her.

Thanks again,

helen s:)

[helenscott08]

I wish to thank Don also for his reply to my inquiry. And, I am glad he posted it publicly. I would think his answer can help not only my neighbor but many others with same problem.thumbsup:

Thank you very much. I will post my neighbor's response to these replies.

helen s

[[email protected]]

there are a lot of devices for people with macular degeneration. check some of their sites

[watermarko]

call the Earl Baum Center OF the Blind, on Occidental Road, an incredible resource for things visionly.

[cat]

Call the Dept of Vocational Rehabilitation in Santa Rosa. They would know for sure. Ask for a counselor who works with blind clients. Cat

[Suzanna]

Helen, visually impaired people can change the whole screen's font size and contrast to make it viewable.

Contact the Earl Baum Center for the Blind for help on this.

cheers

Suzanna

[don]

If It's a Windows machine, to set the font size yourself is easy.

Right click on the desktop
go to Properties (bottom of pop-up)
Click on Settings tab
Click on Advanced and there you will find the font size setting.

Disadvantage of making everything so big is that you will limit how much info you can get on the screen and some screens will not reneder properly. For some this might be necessary. Also, the Magnifier that I suggested earlier will give you selectively controllable (changeable) magnification, just like a magnifying glass, and much more magnification than slightly larger fonts if you need it.
Good luck to your friend
Don

Helen, visually impaired people can change the whole screen's font size and contrast to make it viewable.

[helenscott08]

I am asking this on behalf of a neighbor who is having serious visual problems but loves being on computer.

I have tried to find something for magnifying the screen for visually impaired but so far with no luck. I am fairly sure there is such a thing but don't know where to find it.

If anyone can direct me to the right area, I will greatly appreciate it.

helen s

I have also learned that you can enlarge the fonts by holding down the CONTROL key while at same time using the WHEEL on your mouse. Move the mouse while scrolling up or down with the WHEEL. It really makes a big difference. And, if you don't want it for all the screens you have, you move the WHEEL DOWN and that reduces the font back to original size.

hs

[nlpPati]

On a Mac you go into System Preferences, Select Universal Access and configure all the font sizes to a readable size. There are several features for seeing and hearing impaired access.

I have also learned that you can enlarge the fonts by holding down the CONTROL key while at same time using the WHEEL on your mouse. Move the mouse while scrolling up or down with the WHEEL. It really makes a big difference. And, if you don't want it for all the screens you have, you move the WHEEL DOWN and that reduces the font back to original size.

hs

[Barry]

I have also learned that you can enlarge the fonts by holding down the CONTROL key while at same time using the WHEEL on your mouse. Move the mouse while scrolling up or down with the WHEEL.

This is a Firefox feature. It only works in the Firefox browser, both on the mac and PC. It does not apply to other documents or programs.