A smart handheld magnifier for reflowing printed text notices in public spaces

Frode Eika Sandnes ¹, Nechrvan Murad ¹, Mohammad Khaled ¹

⁰Department of Computer Science, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway.

Disability and Rehabilitation. Assistive Technology +

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April 1, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This study introduces a smart digital magnifier that reflows text for easier reading on smartphones. Users found this novel approach superior to traditional magnification methods for visual impairments.

Area Of Science

Human-Computer Interaction
Assistive Technology
Computer Vision

Background

Individuals with reduced vision often use handheld magnifiers for reading various texts.
Smartphones are increasingly adopted as magnification devices, but current methods like 2D panning are inefficient.
Existing smartphone magnification techniques can be cumbersome, confusing, and slow for users.

Purpose Of The Study

To develop and evaluate a proof-of-concept smart digital magnifier that improves text readability for visually impaired users.
To implement a novel text reflow algorithm for enhanced smartphone-based magnification.
To address the limitations of current smartphone magnification by offering a more intuitive user experience.

Main Methods

Developed a proof-of-concept digital magnifier utilizing a novel pixel-based text reflow image analysis algorithm.
Implemented text reflow functionality to adapt content width to the device's viewport.
Enabled user navigation through reflowed text via simple up/down scrolling.

Main Results

The prototype successfully reflows text from printed materials, such as notices.
Initial user testing indicated a preference for the smart digital magnifier over conventional magnification methods.
The system demonstrated improved usability for reading reflowed text.

Conclusions

The developed smart digital magnifier offers a promising alternative for individuals with visual impairments.
Further research is required to address complex use cases like electronic information boards and product packaging.
Future work will focus on refining the technology and exploring broader applications for smart magnifiers.

Keywords:

Low-vision magnification reading reflow text size