IPad Helps 99-Year-Old Rediscover Reading

[stevedeshazer]

Glaucoma Made It Hard For Woman To Read, Write

LAKE OSWEGO, Ore. -- A 99-year-old Lake Oswego woman has rediscovered her passion for reading and writing thanks to Apple's newest gadget, Portland TV station KPTV reported.

Writing was always a big part of Virginia Campbell's life, but glaucoma recently made it difficult for her to read.

"I found recently that I wasn't even able to read large-print library books because there wasn't enough contrast between the print and the page," she said. "I could write them all right, but I couldn't read what I wrote."

When penning her passion became too difficult, her family brought the near-centenarian into the 21st century by giving her an Apple iPad -- the tablet computer with a touch screen.

http://www.kptv.com/technology/23231501/detail.html

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She says it's "kind of addicting". :)

[Oregone]

1. Wow.

It only made me rediscover my passion for vomiting

[Spike89]

2. with you on that

Nice that the lady can read and write again, but for christ's sake the iPad did not invent computer text.

[MilesColtrane]

20. JOBSSS!!

http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/30808143/William+Shatner+KHAAAN.jpg

[Tesha]

3. But, but, but...

...people have *ASSURED US* that it's impossibly difficult
to read text on the iPad's beautiful backlit IPS AMLCD screen.

(These are people who have never actually looked at an
iPad, of course.)

Tesha

[Taverner]

4. Because you can resize the type

At will

Any book - don't have to wait for the Big letter version

However - you could do this with Kindle, or any computer

[REP]

5. iPad can be held in one hand, unlike most computers; not B&W only; plus very large screen

When people ask me to demo mine, it's almost always older (60+) folks who comment on how easy it is for them to read. (I'm posting on my iPhone now, so knock wood, problems reading small type is a long way off for me).

[Taverner]

6. Well hey, if it hits a niche, then good on them

B&W is enough for most books for me - I have a problem with the sheer hype of iPad

[alfredo]

8. I am going to buy one soon. My eyesight is going downhill

fast and I need something that can deliver media to my tired old eyes. I see that Dragon dictation is available, and that is perfect for those days my arms cannot handle typing and the mouse.

[REP]

11. I bet you'll like it - I like mine a lot!

One of my favorite apps is the least useful: The Elements, a gorgeous periodic table, with 3D images, fully rotatable images, lots of info and Tom Lehrer's song. I have no use for it, but I NEEDED it!

I also really like Weatherbug Extreme or Elite or whatever it's called - very cool weather app.

[alfredo]

14. I'm a weather junkie. Like to monitor earthquakes too. It

has motion sensors, so it must have a seismograph app somewhere.

[suffragette]

13. Dragon Dictate and Voiceover work well on it

Just added/enabled those on a friend's iPad today.
Have to use somewhat different gestures for the Voiceover, but it worked well and you can toggle it off if you just want to use it for reading and not navigation.
Fantastic accessibility.

[alfredo]

15. That's so good to know. The last thing I want is to be

isolated from my online communities. Not sure if I will ever really need them, but I'm an old Boy Scout: be prepared.

[suffragette]

25. The implementation of Dragon on the iPad is great

Super simple and accurate.

It's free for now - have no idea when they plan to start charging and what it will cost at that point.

Once I get an iPad (away in the future, but I likely will at some point) that's something I will want right away. Essential for those who will need that input, but also useful for those who just want it. Good example of successful Universal Design.

short vid on using it that I found: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agG6vqpTyoY

[alfredo]

26. I went ahead and downloaded it, so I will have it.

That seems a lot better than the old Via Voice from a few years back.

[suffragette]

27. Entirely different process from software versions

Imagine there will be pluses and minuses because of that.
From what I've read about it, what you input goes to a server, then is returned as text.
So, you don't need to train it to your voice as you do with software. Downside could be that you can't train it to your specifics.

[alfredo]

29. I can't wait to try it out.

Just got my new glasses today. I love them, but my wife hates them. Next time she will come with me when I need new glasses.

[suffragette]

30. Sounds just like my sister and brother-in-law

Always good to get that second opinion on the frames :)

[alfredo]

31. She's trying to like them.

[ShamelessHussy]

7. a wonderful story - here's a video link

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x458162

thank you, to all the good folks at apple :toast:

[eleny]

9. This is great!

[Leftist Agitator]

10. "...but glaucoma recently made it difficult for her to read."

How sad it is that we already have a safe, efficacious medication for her malady, but a bunch of puritanical fuckheads won't let her and countless others have access to much-needed medicine.

[REP]

12. Aren't pot drops allowed???

I have high intraocular pressure but no other signs of glaucoma, so I treat my symptom ... without drops, but I thought the drops were approved?

[BlooInBloo]

16. Confirmed: the ipad is the only device that has ever existed that lets you make text larger.

[stevedeshazer]

24. 22.

Feel better bagging on a 99 year old?

I'm disappointed in you.

[Frank Booth]

17. If it weren't for Apple, I would cease to exist.

Every day I thank the heavens for the day that Apple® Computer, Inc. entered my life. Apple is my guiding light, my true joy, my lifelong companion though this uncaring world. Oh, Apple® Computer, Inc., I will never cease to sing your praises, to wonder at your mastery, to slake my thirst for happiness at your endless well of perfection.

[stevedeshazer]

23. See #22, loser.

[TCJ70]

18. Good for her...

Having one myself, there are so many different places I could see them being used. Business, school, personal uses. Glad to hear it's doing some good.

[MilesColtrane]

19. .

[ecstatic]

21. Great. Another advertorial for Apple, posing as news

:eyes:

[stevedeshazer]

22. You know what, just eff off.

I posted the story because I thought it was cool that an old lady could read again. You and others in this thread want to use it as an excuse to pile on Apple.

Shame on all of you.

Jesus H. Christ.

I couldn't give a crap which corporation did it, I'm just glad one did.

[TroglodyteScholar]

32. What makes you take their responses personally?

This is the internet. Some people will acknowledge that the story gives them a warm fuzzy, and others will...well, do what you complained of. Did you have so much riding on this post that your feelings should be at stake?

[suffragette]

28. K&R for Universal Design and instant accessibility