An iPhone as a Low Vision device?

Question

eyeguy2020 Author

Level 1

0 points

An iPhone as a Low Vision device?

Is it possible to make the camera on the iPhone easy to use as a magnifier for people that don't see well?

The software would enable low vision challenged people to use an iPhone as a low cost magnifier. Other handheld electronic magnifiers cost between $700 and $1,500.

I would love to see the only Low Vision patient in a Governors Office using an iPhone instead of leaning over so much on the front page of the Metro section on the NY Times.

Steve Rubinstein,OD
Low Vision Certified in New York State by the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

PowerBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.4.1)

Posted on May 24, 2008 8:02 PM

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Answer 1

Locust76

Level 1

35 points

May 25, 2008 4:20 AM in response to eyeguy2020

Um. Magnifying glasses cost, like, 5 bucks and require no batteries, don't need to be updated and don't need to be restarted because they can't crash. On top of that, they've been used for hundreds of years by the visually impaired and are quite effective.

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Answer 2

eyeguy2020 Author

Level 1

0 points

May 25, 2008 5:45 AM in response to Locust76

Absolutely true, however, the best magnification you can get from a hand held lens is 4 x. And that is holding something very close to the eye.

An electronoc magnifier can achieve magnification rates of 3x to 10x. Think about the zoom on a picture yo would take with your iPhone....

"the portable magnifiers, with their built-in illumination and powerful electronics, have many advantages over traditional optical devices like magnifying glasses. “Optical devices can’t increase the contrast like these devices,” he said. “Loss in contrast causes as many problems as loss of visual acuity.”" quoted from an article on hand held electronic magnifiers in the NY Times last week.

I think this explains why I asked the question.

Steve Rubinstein,OD

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Answer 3

Jason L

Community Specialist

May 25, 2008 12:41 PM in response to eyeguy2020

Hey eyeguy2020,

You can leave feedback or request features added to the iPhone online here:
http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

Jason

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Answer 4

eyeguy2020 Author

Level 1

0 points

May 25, 2008 12:46 PM in response to Jason L

Thank you Jason,

I posted my original request on that "enhancement request" site.

If it can be done, it will help millions of people!! at a substantially lower cost than available now. The idea came from a picture in todays NY Times(which I saw electronically last night).

Steve Rubinstein,OD

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Answer 5

Jason L

Community Specialist

May 25, 2008 12:56 PM in response to eyeguy2020

Your Welcome.

This also might be something that a iPhone software developer can make.
http://developer.apple.com/iphone/program/

Jason

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Answer 6

May 26, 2008 4:28 PM in response to eyeguy2020

Great idea and it should be done. I had the same idea when I saw that article. Low vision patients need this easy fix. People with macular degeneration - the leading cause of blindness in the US - would flock to the iphone, and rightly so. I also agree with Steve that digital magnification is far superior optically and more useful for these patients.

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