Fun alternatives for smartphone screen magnifier

[kestrell]

I saw these two screen magnifiers on a list of stocking stuffers for movie fans, but thought it would be a fun option for low vision folks, plus it's less expensive than the disability tax options.

1. Luckies of London Retro Screen Magnifier
2x magnification plus enlarges your smartphone screen to 8 inches
https://www.amazon.com/Phone-Screen-Magnifier-8-Inch-Magnification/dp/B01KV3BFD6/?tag=whtgh-20
2. A 12-inch screen option
https://www.amazon.com/Screen-Magnifier-Smartphone-Compatible-Smartphones/dp/B07VC383LJ/?tag=whtgh-20&th=1

Comments

[jesse_the_k]

Intriguing idea.

Parsing the reviews, both use a flimsy sheet of plastic fresnel lens, so the magnification is not very high quality.

[kestrell]

Yes, these are cheap alternatives, but I figure that this gives people an opportunity to test the fom factor, which includes enlarging the screen; if this increases access even a little, it might indicate that investing in a better, more expensive, version would be worth it.

I always think of the time when I was losing what little vision I had, but could still read print sometimes, given the right factors. A friend sent me one of those little pocket-size cheap plastic magnifiers with a tiny light in the lens, and suddenly I could read at least short amounts of text.
What I took away from this is that sometimes the cheap mainstream tech can still make the difference in making something more accessible, plus it might provide the inspiration to look for a better version of th tech.

[jesse_the_k]

Thanks — the "inspiration to seek more capable versions" is an important role.