[First experiences with an instrument for TV display of digitally encoded text information for the visually...

An instrument was developed which allows the display, in enlarged form--especially for visually handicapped persons--of text information as used in modern data-acquisition systems such as writing automats, screen editing devices, and television text display (in England, Ceefax). With the aid of electronic character generators, the text is displayed continually, moving from right to left in one line on the screen of a commercial TV set. Rate of movement, size, brightness, and color of the characters (and/or the background) can be selected arbitrarily. We performed a preliminary reading test with visually handicapped subjects from a rehabilitation center for blind persons. The resulting optimal parameters for text display and the achieved reading speed with the system are discussed.