Host: Hello, this is Ability Anyware Radio, a disability advocacy podcast. Today is Wednesday, November 7, 2018. We’re streaming live from the Accessible Community Technology Fair at the New York Public Library. I’m here with…
Paul: Paul Hanson from Eye Assist, and my son Steven.
Host: Great, nice to meet you, Paul.
Paul: Nice to meet you also.
Host: Can you tell me about your assistive technology, Eye Assist?
Paul: Absolutely, we are the distributor here in New York and New Jersey. And we feature products from Enhanced vision, which is a manufacturer based in California. They design and develop and rebuild our products here for distribution around the world. And essentially, these are low vision electronic magnification devices. Whether they be a handheld type of device for spot reading, right on up to our latest technology, which is the DaVinici. Now the DaVinici is a 24-inch monitor, utilizing a high-definition camera, which sits up on top. The camera naturally extends forward, facing straight down to magnify the material, choosing the different color contrast benefitting those with low vision . The camera can also be used for distance viewing. And you can also use it to help you for self-use, such as makeup, things of this nature. Now, that is the primary purpose of the device for magnification in helping you to be able to read things yourself.
However, I’m visually impaired. My eyes may be getting a little bit tired. I have the opportunity to press a button. And you will hear the machine say, “Please place your document inside the frame.” Because at this point, a rectangular box appears on the screen. You simply place your document. You may not be able to read it at the size. But you can see the parameters of the document. It’s inside the frame. Press the button. You will hear it print. It takes the photo of the document. It begins processing it into text into speech. So you are listening to what your eyes are now tired of trying to read.
Host: Wow, that’s excellent. What a terrific piece of assistive technology! Thank so much for sharing with us today.
Paul: You are quite welcome .