A Review of Pulse Data's Smartview Series Color Video Magnifiers

Mark M. Us/an Typically, video magnifiers, or closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems, offer control of the video camera and the display. Knobs are used to control focus, magnification, contrast, and in some units, reading guide features for highlighting a line of text. Unique to Pulse Data's Smartview video magnifiers are on-screen features that are controlled from an external keypad or keyboard. The Smartview CS, which is designed for use with computer systems, offers an on-screen calculator, calendar, and clock. The Smartview CT is a stand-alone, non-computer-compatible system that offers either the same on-screen features as the CS or a personal organizer that has the on-screen CS features and an address book, an appointment calendar, and a memo pad. The Smartview CT uses a television (TV) and the Smartview CS can share a computer's monitor, eliminating the need for two displays. Both the CT and CS models are color video magnification systems that use a stand-mounted camera configuration, which is a modular design that allows for various display options. The display is placed above the camera and a moveable x-y table is affixed to the base. Displays larger than 17 inches must be placed on a monitor stand designed to hold the added