Magnification of text and images in books, documents, and other items can be as simple as holding up a magnifying glass or wearing prescription glasses. In some cases, someone may want to magnify a web page or other digital document using built-in accessibility features that does so or specific assistive technology software to enlarge their view of every aspect of their device.
Examples of Assistive Tech Solutions for Magnification
ZoomText
Features
ZoomText Magnifier/Reader is a computer program that enlarges and reads the user’s screen.
- Ability to zoom your computer screen in and out (full screen or focused sections)
- Has features to assist with cursor visibility
- Read any web page in the correct reading order by word, line, sentence, and paragraph
- Allow you to navigate through your screen using your mouse
- Smart invert available, which allows for color and brightness filters
Limitations
Depending on the magnification needed, it can be difficult to navigate unfamiliar digital spaces, as you may only have a portion of a screen visible at a time
CCTV
Features
Closed Circuit Television magnifiers allow individuals with low vision to blow up documents and view them on a screen.
- Has a customized camera above a viewing platform
- A mounted arm for steady positioning of the camera hands-free
- A viewing screen or monitor
- Lenses that allow you to zoom in and out
- Has modes for different lighting, color, and contrast
Limitations
- CCTVs are large devices that can be heavy and difficult to move
- Some users find them difficult to use for long periods of time, as they can cause dizziness
Other Tools
Note: None of the technology tools or resources on this tab are offered or managed by the DSC. For more information on cost and system requirements, please visit the links to the websites for each tool.
- Magnifier with your iPhone or iPad is a built-in feature that allows you to use your device for magnification and includes color filters.
- Magnifier is an app for Android devices that turns your phone into a digital magnifier. It utilizes the camera and flashlight on your phone making it simple enough to start using without training.
- Magnifying Glass + Flashlight is an app for iPhones and iPads that works similarly to the Magnifier app for Androids. It also has a Dark Contrast Black Mode.
- Vision Buddy is a wearable Television Watching System with Optical Character Recognition (OCR) capabilities allowing it to zoom in and out and read text aloud to the user.
- Magnification for Android devices has information on built-in accessibility features for enlarging things on Android devices. There is information on that page related to other features like font size and display size, high contrast text, dark theme and color conversion, and color correction.
- SuperNova is a screen magnifier and screen reader for Windows tablets, laptops, and desktops. It is available in 3 editions, to suit different types of sight loss. You can choose a blend of magnification, color, speech, and braille.
For more information, you can also check out the video SuperNova – Crystal Clear Magnification for Windows 10.
If you have questions about assistive technology, or anything on this page, contact dscetext@uci.edu.