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| Looky Pocket CCTV Review by Nick Sturley Assisitve technology for the deafblind, blind and visually impaired deaf and hearing people continue to get better and cheaper these days although the latter still remains an on-going issue for many of us as they still remain quite expensive due to their high productivity costs for a small market, but they're still slowly getting cheaper. The Looky pocket CCTV device is no exception. As the name suggests, it's an electronic pocket magnifier and it's the smallest and lightest in the market so far. Of course, there are quite a few other pocket CCTV devices around, however, Looky, seems to stand heads and shoulders above the rest that has been explored. Click Play below to play the YouTube video demonstration. |  | |||||||||||||||
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Measuring at only 110mm W x 75mm H and 32mm (with folding handle closed) or 16mm (with folding handle open) D and weighing at only 140grams, this device consists of a 3.5" bright and crispy LCD screen, a folding handle and two buttons: blue one for power on/off & freeze frame function and the yellow one for colour/BW/negative control. Best of all, it's powered by two rechargeable AA batteries which means you can replace the flat ones with freshly recharged ones and a A/C power plug (and no bulky adaptor brick!) is also included to recharge the batteries through the device. This is unlike any other pocket CCCTV devices that use built-in Lithium battery which only lasts for up to two hours of continuos use and you would have to wait till you get home to recharge it again. The rechargeable AA batteries for Looky also lasts up to two hours, but at least you'll have spare recharged ones handy... Looky is well built and quite robust, so it can withstand a few knocks. The camera and the bright lights underneath are also well protected from possible damage. The folding handle has its few uses:
The 3.5" LCD screen is excellent: bright and crispy unlike a few other pocket CCTV devices which tended to be sometimes slightly flickery and fuzzy even in the negative mode, but Looky is the best of all in terms of screen quality. The blue power on/off button has to be depressed for about 3 seconds to switch it on/off which does take a bit getting used to, but that's okay. The yellow button is the colour/BW/negative control. By pressing the blue button once, it enables a freeze frame function (like taking a photo) and you can even use the yellow button to switch screen modes during the freeze frame function and that is very useful. Press the blue button again, the freeze frame ends. The device is ideal for reading menus, train timetables, food packaging labels, forms, etc although reading on a magazine or a book may not be easy, but can still be done though. Besides, it's designed to take a "look" at things rather than as a reading device itself. The box also comes with a very good carrying case that includes a belt strap and a ring for the neck strap (also included), two AA rechargeable batteries and Looky Support, a kind of flexible leg rest in which you can slide under the device to keep it stable during reading. The size and weight of Looky also enables you to easily tuck it into your trouser and coat pockets or in a handbag. Priced at £420 ex VAT from Force Ten Co Ltd may make you chew on your credit card, but what can we argue about it as noted earlier that the assisitve technology is still pretty expensive though a £300 or slightly less for Looky might be a better price tag for everyone. Those of you who are registered blind and disabled are exempt from paying VAT and you'll need to sign a VAT exemption form from Force Ten. | |||||||||||||||||
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