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Screen Magnifiers
A screen magnifier functions like that of a magnifying glass. Screen magnifiers allow users to access the screen content in an enlarged view. Users can select from a wide range of magnification levels available, in order to access the computer. A screen magnifier can work together with other applications running at any given time.
Screen magnifiers provide flexibility to the users to use either a keyboard or a mouse for interacting with the computer. Different screen magnifiers provide the flexibility to the users to magnify either entire screen, parts of the screen, or magnify only that portion of the screen which contains the cursor. As the cursor moves from one position to another, the information gets magnified.
Screen magnifiers are used by people with visual disabilities, such as low vision. A person with low vision can find the information displayed on the monitor screen, including icons, text, menu bar and toolbar commands difficult to read. With the help of a screen magnifier, it becomes easier for low vision users to access the information displayed on the screen.
Screen magnifiers are also used by senior citizens for working on the computer. Due to deteriorating vision, senior citizens find it difficult to access the information displayed on the screen. In addition, screen magnifiers can also be useful for those who have forgotten their glasses at home and require to use a computer at their work place.
Features
Some of the basic features of screen magnifiers include:
- Adjust the magnification level;
- Screen reader support;
- Adjust the color settings;
- Track the cursor location;
- Adjust the pointer colors.
Different Screen Magnifiers
Some of the screen magnifiers available in the market are:
- Magic: A product by Freedom Scientific, works on Windows operating system. For more information, visit FreedomScientific website (External Website) (http://www.freedomscientific.com/fs_products/software_magic.asp).
- Supernova: A product by Dolphin Computer Systems, works on Windows operating system. Supernova is a screen magnifier with screen reader that also includes support for braille displays. For more information,
visit Dolphin website - Supernova (External Website) (http://www.yourdolphin.com/productdetail.asp?id=1). - Lunar: A screen magnifier by Dolphin Computer Systems that works on Windows operating system. For more information, visit Dolphin website - Lunar (External Website) (http://www.yourdolphin.com/productdetail.asp?id=3).
- ZoomText Magnifier: A product by AI Squared, works on Windows operating system.
For more information, visit AI Squared website - ZoomText Magnifier (External Website) (http://www.aisquared.com/Products/zoomtextmag/index.cfm).
- ZoomText Magnifier/Reader: A product by AI Squared, works on Windows operating system.
For more information,
visit AI Squared website - ZoomText Magnifier/Reader (External Website) (http://www.aisquared.com/Products/zoomtextmrd/index.cfm). - Desktop Zoom: Desktop Zoom is an open source screen magnifier that works on Windows operating system. For more information, visit users.telenet website (External Website) (http://users.telenet.be/littlegems/MySoft/DesktopZoom/Index.html).
- KMagnifier: KMagnifier is an open source screen magnifier that works on Linux operating system. For more information, visit KMagnifier website (External Website) (http://kmag.sourceforge.net/download.html).
