What is a Closed Circuit Television Magnifier (CCTV)?
Individuals with a low vision problem can often use aids that have a combination of bright light and magnification to help make text readable. When the amount of magnification needed to read becomes very large, use of CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) magnification systems become especially useful, and can help some people regain what they thought was lost forever. These systems use television technology to capture and magnify print onto a monitor screen for viewing. The basic operation of most of the different models of CCTV magnifiers are similar, and a typical system is described here. The system consists of a TV camera with a zoom lens, mounted on a stand, and uses a television to show the image. A lamp in the stand lights the area to be examined, and the material to be read is placed in the viewing area below the camera lens. A movable platform, called an X-Y Platform or a two-axis positioner, is used to move the material left and right, or toward and away from the user. This allow
