The Dr. Bill Takeshita Foundation

Last Modified: Fri, 14 Sep 2007

Enhanced Vision Amigo

The Amigo is a very advanced portable video magnification system. It has a 7-inch wide screen that displays text and photos in color, black and white, and white on black. The camera is positioned directly in the center of the screen, which makes it easy for users to know where to position the camera for quick reading. The Amigo can magnify text and images up to 14X and also has a stand to allow users to write with the device.

The amigo is the most exciting video magnifier introduced in 2006. It provides a brilliant image that is comparable to those seen on desktop video magnifiers. The Amigo can be used at libraries, stores, restaurants, and anyplace that users need to read and write. The Amigo can also be connected to a television to allow users to use their television sets to provide a larger image with a wider field of view.

Enhanced Vision Nemo

The Nemo is a very sharp portable video magnifier that can be carried in a purse, backpack, or in a jacket pocket. The Nemo has a 4-inch LCD screen that produces a brilliant image with magnification from 4X to 9X. The rechargeable battery can last up to 3 hours of continuous use and is extremely easy to use. The Nemo has the ability to modify the colors of the print and the background, a most important feature for people with low vision. The Nemo also has a freeze-frame feature that takes a temporary image of telephone numbers, names, or other images magnified on the screen.

We tested the Nemo and were very impressed with the brightness and clarity of the image. It was very easy to use because we could simply place the Nemo on the paper and didn’t have to hold the Nemo off of the paper to adjust the magnification.

Looky

The Looky is a very compact video magnifier that can fit in a shirt pocket and provide from 3X to 8X magnification. The Looky has a 3-½ inch LCD screen that displays a very bright and sharp image in color, black on white, and white on black. Similar to a conventional hand magnifier, the Looky has a handle that can be unfolded to make it very easy for users to hold. It also has a freeze frame feature that will store an image of the magnified print.

Optelec Compact to Portable

Optelec releases the Compact to Portable Video Magnifier. The Compact looks like a hand magnifier and offers the most features of a pocket sized video magnification system. It has a 4" LCD screen which produces a bright and sharp image. Users can simply place the Compact on newspapers, mail, and food labels to read and/or magnify its image.
Features of the Compact include:

• Superior Image Quality
• 4x and 8x magnification modes
• 4" Full Color LCD Screen
• Black and white, and reverse mode
• Writing capability
• Additional foreground and background color combinations
• 2 hour rechargeable battery
• Weight: 10 ounces
• Convenient carrying case / neck strap

The QuickLook Zoom

The QuickLook Zoom is a new portable video magnifier that offers the best features of other portable video magnifiers available today. It has a large LCD screen that is approximately 4 ½ inches but weighs only 8 ounces, making it one of the lightest portable video magnifiers available. The Quicklook Zoom provides a range of magnification from 3X to 18X in color, black and white, or in reverse mode with white letters on a black background. The Quicklook Zoom can also be customized to display a variety of colored backgrounds and text, a very helpful feature for people with macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. The Quicklook has an internal rechargeable battery that powers the Quicklook Zoom from 4 to 7 hours. The Quicklook can also be used for writing and signing checks or credit cards very easily by swiveling the award-winning camera to focus on the writing material. In addition, the Quicklook Zoom comes with a 2-year warranty on the screen and camera and a 1-year warranty on the battery. We evaluated the new Quicklook Zoom and found it to be significantly better than its predecessor the Quicklook. The brightness and contrast of the screen were excellent, producing a very sharp image. It was very easy to alter the magnification, brightness, and color with a press of a button. The Quicklook was very easy to use for writing or signing checks and the high level of magnification was very helpful when reading receipts and medication labels. However, the clarity of the image at 18x was slightly blurred. The Quicklook Zoom is recommended for students and adults who have problems reading with a magnifying glass or those who want a wider field of view.