I share Ruth's thoughts on split-screen CCTVs - I'm regularly asked
to recommend them, but always suggest a good try out first.
Where space is not a problem, the majority of clients opt for a
stand-alone when given sufficient information on which to base a
choice.
Date sent: Wed, 18 Jul 2001 15:38:51 +0100
Send reply to: "Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff." <[log in to unmask]>
From: Ruth Loebl <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: long message - tecchie things from Sight Village
To: [log in to unmask]
Dear Peter
Split screen (screen sharing) CCTV: This is mainly offered because it can
be done, not necessarily because it's useful. There are some very limited
circumstances where I have found people like it: one is where there is
limited space for both CCTV and PC screens (but you might still want the
reading table so it doesn't take up much less room). Some visual conditions
make it very difficult to look from one thing to another, both in locating
the two objects and then focussing to read: in this case using a single
screen and switching from one image to the other is helpful.
Another use is specifically for copy-typing, but to do this effectively you
also need to control the CCTV table with foot pedals. Transferring
information from paper to PC, as in data entry, can sometimes be made
easier by sharing the screen too. That's my view from the recommendation
end - in most situations where there's space I would recommend not sharing
the PC screen with a CCTV. Perhaps real CCTV users know better.
>Can anyone recommend a CCTV for library use?
Ask your users, and decide on a list of requirements. Do you need a full
colour camera? Autofocus? What size screen? What after-sales support is
needed or available from the supplier? Does it need to be portable, on a
trolley, or locked down against theft? What about adjustable height (screen
and reading table)? Do you need it to connect to a TV? How much money have
you got (perhaps that question should be first)? Can you get (do you need)
an on-site demo?
RNIB's factsheet on the different video magnifiers/CCTVs might help you
narrow down the choice once you've fixed on your requirements - it's
available at
http://www.rnib.org.uk/technology/factsheets/videomagnifiers.htm
Or you could just ask different suppliers and work with the one which seems
the most helpful/answers the phone most promptly/has an office staffed more
often than not/can come and set it up and show library staff how it works...
Hope this helps: as always I don't believe there's a neat and tidy answer
and three users may have four different opinions.
Cheers
Ruth
On Tue, 17 Jul 2001 22:50:48 +0100, Peter Hill <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:
>Hi
>
>I'll be going along to Sight Village tomorrow. We need (amongst other
things)
>to order a CCTV for use in the library. I confess to being a little
confused by
>the vast array available and by the associated marketing blurb. I saw a
Pulse
>Data model recently which had a split screen option - so that a PC Screen
could
>read next to the enlarged text. The PC, however, required its own
magnification
>software. I can't see how this option would be particularly useful. Am I
>missing something?
>
>Can anyone recommend a CCTV for library use?
>
>Regards
>
>Peter Hill
>
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