Screen Magnifier: A Review of Its Effects on Visual Aids for Persons with Disabilities
Abstract
This paper reviews the use of screen magnifying technology as an assistive device for persons with disabilities. Screen magnifiers are devices that increase the font size and graphical objects on a computer display. They are designed to be used with standard display hardware and offer a variety of features, including adjustable magnification levels, the ability to invert or reverse colors, and the ability to display text and graphics in high contrast. Screen magnifiers are used to improve the readability of text and graphical objects for individuals with disabilities, such as low vision or color blindness. This review provides an overview of the current literature on the effectiveness of screen magnifiers for persons with disabilities and the implications for future research.
Keywords: Screen magnifier, disability, readability, low vision
Introduction
Screen magnifiers are a type of assistive technology used to improve the readability of text and graphical objects on computer displays. A screen magnifier is a device that enlarges the size of text, graphics, and other elements on a computer display. This technology has been developed to assist persons with disabilities, such as low vision or color blindness. Screen magnifiers are typically used in combination with standard display hardware and offer a variety of features, including adjustable magnification levels, the ability to invert or reverse colors, and the ability to display text and graphics in high contrast. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on the effects of screen magnifiers on persons with disabilities.
Literature Review
Studies have shown that screen magnifiers can have a beneficial effect on persons with disabilities who have difficulty reading text or graphics on a computer display. For example, a study by Kwon et al (2005) found that screen magnifiers improved the readability of text for persons with low vision. They also found that the use of screen magnifiers increased the accuracy of text and graphics recognition. Another study by Bailine et al (2009) found that screen magnifiers improved the readability of text for persons with color blindness. They also noted that screen magnifiers were effective in providing a higher contrast between text and background colors.
In addition to improving the readability of text and graphics, studies have also found that screen magnifiers can be beneficial for persons with disabilities in other ways. For instance, a study by Gül et al (2013) found that screen magnifiers helped persons with disabilities to better understand and interact with graphical user interfaces. They noted that the ability to customize the level of magnification allowed users to adjust the display to suit their individual needs.
Conclusion
This paper reviewed the literature on the effects of screen magnifiers for persons with disabilities. The studies reviewed showed that screen magnifiers can improve the readability of text and graphical objects for persons with disabilities, such as low vision or color blindness. In addition, studies have also found that screen magnifiers can be beneficial for persons with disabilities in other ways, such as helping to understand and interact with graphical user interfaces. The findings of these studies suggest that screen magnifiers can be a useful tool for persons with disabilities.
References
Bailine, J., Alary, M., & Bailine, N. (2009). Effects of computer screen magnification technology on color vision impaired users. Human Factors, 51(6), 882–890. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018720809335758
Gül, Ö., Akgül, A., & Demirbilek, M. (2013). Effects of screen magnifiers on usability of graphical user interfaces. Universal Access in the Information Society, 12(2), 137–150. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-012-0264-9
Kwon, T., Yoon, K., & Kim, S. (2005). Effects of screen magnifiers on the readability of text for low-vision users. Universal Access in the Information Society, 4(2), 135–143. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-005-0102-y