Closed Circuit Television

One of the more common and popular high-tech aids is the Closed Circuit Television, also known as a CCTV or reading machine. CCTV's magnify reading material, medicine bottles, photos, etc. and display the image on a TV screen or monitor. CCTV's can also be used for writing, filing fingernails, and other tasks. CCTV's have a range of magnification and are made in either black and white, or in color.  Many can be switched to reverse the image colors when desired.  Some models require you to focus the camera; others do it automatically.

There are many different kinds of CCTV's, each offering its own advantages:

• Free-standing Units -- Sometimes called "desktop" systems, these units consist of a monitor above a flat platform. The user places the material to be read on the platform and moves the platform around to read. The material appears on the monitor magnified as much as the person desires.  Some models have the monitor built into the base unit.  Others have a separate monitor that can be placed atop the base unit; in this case, it may be possible to substitute a different monitor or TV to meet your needs.
  
  
• Portable CCTV's -- Portable CCTV's can be plugged into any television.  One such unit is a camera on a stand, which can be aimed at the material to be viewed.  This kind has the advantage that it can be used on objects some distance away, as well as closer objects.  Another device is about the size of a computer mouse and is rolled across the material to be read; the magnified image appears on the TV.
  
  
• Head-Worn CCTV's -- These units use the same mouse-like device, but the image appears not on a TV but in a pair of goggles one wears.
  
  
• Video Magnifiers -- These battery-powered devices combine the camera, light source, and small video screen into a single handheld unit.