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[access-uk] Re: Are CCTVs that useful?

From: "Justin R" <mypc128@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 2004 13:46:24 +0100

Hi Ray,
interesting discussion.  I don't use a CCTV although, many would feel i'd
benefit from one.  WEll, in a sense, yeah it would be the solution for me
however, you've mentioned some of the points against using a CCTV that I
indentify with totally.  it's the trying to fill in forms, or just write
with them.  Sure, what i can see through them is crystal clear however, I
can never see exactly where I'm aiming my pen!  Really! although I can see
the pen only too well on screen, I can't see where I'm aiming it and find
that i write in a totally different place to where I want to write!  i find
this bizarre!  just makes no sense but, it's so true.  The experience here I
was referring to was at the blind society trying to write down names,
address & tel numbers of people to contact.   Well, reading their database
and trying to follow the line of information across wasn't easy at all.  I'd
often miss a a line of information totally, or write down a name and then,
the address of the next person down!  it was a strain to bop my head down to
write, up again to look at the CCTV and get more info.  I was like a seal on
speed and, just wasn't doing my neck and eyesight much good at all.
I could use them for reading short correspondence well enough, although,
with moving the table underneath, they are not smooth operating, find I'm
skipping lines sometimes when having access to one to read.  moving ZT's
magnifier over the computer screen is a lot smoother however, I do need to
concentrate if I'm reading cold, without the speech intervention.  Not
something I can do if I'm faced with several pages of info.  The CCTV would
be handy for this however, I've noticed that reading off screen is harder
than reading from printed material with a magnifier.  Strange yes, i know, I
can't work that out but, that's what my experience tells me.

I do read the "odd" book with a 7x magnifier even though, i come unstuck
sometimes and I have to read the odd sentence three times.  I get more
reading done by audio book and get more pleasure and benefit out of that.
However, my magnifier is good for leaflets with a standard size print and
colour contrast is an issue with me.  I think the magnifier is just more
portable although, reading a newspaper with them is just a pain!  The CCTV's
are way too expensive for me to bother with as, they are too big and... I
don't have the room for them.  I'm not in a position where they'd make my
life much easier.  I think the new pocket magnifiers would though and I'd
love somthing like the Pico video mag or, whatever that other one is called.
there are two on the market but, not sure of names.

Just my thoughts really.

Justin
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ray's Home" <rays-home@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2004 11:53 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Are CCTVs that useful?


> This question is, of course, prompted by tonight's In Touch.  Maybe the
> worth of training, and what Goverment or large charities can do to ease
the
> affordability of access equipment will be commented on further.  It's
CCTVs
> that are occupying my thoughtsjust now though.  I apologise again if this
is
> pretty rambling, but I hope it may get a little response.
>
> I'm sure some will answer 'Yes!' to my question.  Maybe, as in so many
> things, I'm the odd one out;  but I am someone who might be thought to be
> your stereotypical user, of CCTV if amount of eyesight is the prime
> consideration.  Yet I've never felt a great urge to have one.
>
> My accuity is around 2-3x20.  Certainly registable as blind, which I have
> been since age eight.  I've always made good use of the little sight I
have.
> I taught myself to read print using an x10 glass, given me by an optition
> who was belwildered about what to offer me.  It was just what I needed.
> From then on I read Practical Wireless, comics and anything that took my
> fancy, including, sometimes, newspapers.
>
> At first CCTV seemed a brilliant idea.  But when I realised how cumbersome
> they were, both in size and in use - moving that table around all the
time,
> and trying to find what you wanted - I was much less impressed.  By the
> price too!  I mean, a thousand quid or more for a camera a CRT and a few
> controls, not very different from a TV, to twiddle?
>
> I've modified my opinion since, but still do not see, (smile) the big
deal.
> Not for me.  I still read a lot with an x10, these days with in-built LED
> light.  I read whole novels, quite slowly of course, but quickly enough to
> get great enjoyment.  I also use audio books from time to time too.  Not
to
> mention BBC7 and Oneword.  OK, the last two radio options do not give you
> what you want, when you want, but still I get a good deal from those
> sources.
>
> So who is the clientel for these marvelous CCTVs?  Older people who have
> lost a fair deal of eyesight is one group.  I suspect many are very
quickly
> disappointed though  as they never get anywhere near the ease and speed of
> reading they were used to when they had normal sight. Judging by the
numbers
> of used CCTVs I used to see in New Beacon, I think I might be right here.
> Maybe some younger people have been steered in the CCTV direction and also
> maybe resist the ways of the blind in tackling reading, as though its the
> final admission of defeat to use audio.  I suspect too that some helpers
and
> professionals feel much more at ease with a group and a method coser to
> their own visual way of doing things.
>
> Maybe I am forgetting that some want this method to deal with short
> corespondence and the like.  As for using them to fill in forms, even here
I
> do not get the point.  I often use my magnifier for that too.  Or
sometimes
> I am happy for someone else to do it if its not urgent.  I suppose a more
> fomfortable posture is an advantage.
>
> So folks, who uses CCTV?  For what?  And, do you feel its worth the often
> considerable outlay?  I would say that some of the more reasonable
offerings
> from New Vision and one or two others may help change my mind.  Much more
> compact, much less desk hogs.  And I could see myself using such devices
> maybe for map reading, or a little copy typing.  But for reading novels,
> give me my trusty x10 any day.
>
> Oh, did I mention, I also read Braille?  Well, very little these days, but
I
> can read it fluently enough to enjoy using that medium too.  Aren't I a
> lucky so and so?
>
> Ray.
>
>
>
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References:

[access-uk] Freeserve broadband questions.
From: andy logue

[access-uk] Re: Freeserve broadband questions.
From: blindo

[access-uk] Re: Freeserve broadband questions.
From: andy logue

[access-uk] Re: Freeserve broadband questions.
From: blindo

[access-uk] Re: Freeserve broadband questions.
From: Dave Taylor

[access-uk] Access Technology from your friendly Social Worker?
From: Ray's Home

[access-uk] Re: Access Technology from your friendly Social Worker?
From: iain LACKIE

[access-uk] Are CCTVs that useful?
From: Ray's Home

[access-uk] Re: Are CCTVs that useful?

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