Mr. Jule Greene is a retired sales manager. About two years ago his eyesight started to weaken. His problem was diagnosed as retinal cell dystrophy, usually a problem that turns up in teenagers. "I'm pleased the onset was delayed," Mr. Greene commented. "Now I'm partially sighted."
Mr. Greene recently purchased a low-vision reading machine known as a video magnifier, screen magnifier or CCTV. It allows him to magnify reading material from four to twenty-five times on a 14-inch non-glare, black/white screen. "I'm extremely unmechanical but this aid is really easy to use," he said.
"I saw a similar unit at our Library and I wanted one I could use in the privacy of my home. I hadn't read a newspaper in two years - until I purchased this machine. Now I can read newspapers, magazines, bills, write checks, see my handwriting. Best of all, I can keep up my part time hobby - accounting. I couldn't do this type of detail work without it," he added.
"Unfortunately, many doctors don't tell people about these aids because they think they are too expensive. You can't put a value on privacy and independence" remarks Mr. Greene. "We're leaving for Florida for 3 months and my machine is going with us."
The above quotations were taken from a true interview with CCTV user, Jule Greene. However, the photographic representation is not that of Mr Greene.