Abstract
Video magnifiers provide people with low vision a means to maintain a degree of independence by helping them to read and write. The design of these machines has remained essentially unchanged for 20 years, despite advances in computer technology. Designing reading aids with increased technological complexity and added functionality requires an understanding of the specific needs of this user group. The research described in this paper determines aspects that need to be considered and analyses comparative performance on a simple reading task between an existing closed circuit television video magnifier (CCTV) and a more complex low-vision reading aid, myReader, under development in New Zealand. Performance, comfort ratings and preference results suggest that myReader provides a more pleasurable reading experience than traditional CCTVs. Common error analysis highlights aspects of myReader that should be altered to improve the experience by eliminating actions that cause errors and resulting negative emotions.
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Acknowledgements
This research was funded by a Technology in Industry Fellowship (TIF) grant from the Foundation for Science Research and Technology in New Zealand, in association with Christchurch based Pulse Data Limited, as an HIT Lab NZ project. I would like to sincerely thank all the people who invited me into their homes and participated in the study.
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Harrison, C.M. Low-vision reading aids: reading as a pleasurable experience. Pers Ubiquit Comput 8, 213–220 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00779-004-0280-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00779-004-0280-0