Weighing less than twenty pounds, the Aladdin Companion from Telesensory is a compact portable electronic magnifying device for people with low vision (including the legally blind). It magnifies any printed or written material using a 5-to-1 zoom lens. Magnification from 2.8x up to 14x allows many people with serious eye problems, such as macular degeneration, retinitis pighttp://www.telesensory.commentosa, glaucoma and cataracts, to read and write effectively, so they can maintain their independence and privacy.
It includes built-in lighting for the reading material, simplified controls, a 9" (diagonal measure) CRT viewing screen, and a built in handle. Available accessories include a moveable viewing table for reading material, a carrying case and a cable for connection to a TV set to permit even larger images.
The light weight of the unit, less than half the weight of most CRT-based units on the market, would make it very appealing to those with a need for portability, such as special education teachers and students. The single basic model comes with "universal power capability" and can be used worldwide. Telesensory, Sunnyvale, CA, (800) 804-8004, www.telesensory.com.
This article originally appeared in the 06/01/1999 issue of THE Journal.