# Is there a screen magnifier? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 28, 2004, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-screen-magnifier/252615 "2004-06-28T22:23:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-screen-magnifier/252615/1 "2004-06-28T22:23:12Z")
My sister woke up with a swollen optic nerve and can’t see out of her one eye. Mom want to put someting over the screen to magnify it to let my sister see. I suggested the magnifying software that comes with Windows, but for some reason, that ain’t good enough. Is there something out there that will slip over the screen and magnify it? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-screen-magnifier/252615/2 "2004-06-28T22:26:42Z")
Any office supply store should carry a [full sheet magnifier](http://www.officedepot.com/ddSKU.do?level=SK&id=327016&location_info=_SK_327016). Of course, you’d have to figure out a way to mount it. ---
**Author:** ![daffyduck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ec9cab/32.png) [@daffyduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/daffyduck)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-screen-magnifier/252615/3 "2004-06-28T22:28:54Z")
Here is a magnifier/filter designed specifically for use with computers. [OptiClear Magnifier Filter](http://www.seniorshops.com/magcomscreen.html) ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-screen-magnifier/252615/4 "2004-06-28T22:55:31Z")
> [@daffyduck](#): > > Here is a magnifier/filter designed specifically for use with computers. > > [OptiClear Magnifier Filter](http://www.seniorshops.com/magcomscreen.html) Did anyone else notice that they claim it will turn a 17" monitor into a 21" size, but the biggest size they carry is for a 14" - 15" monitor? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ccd318/32.png) [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-screen-magnifier/252615/5 "2004-06-28T23:22:33Z")
You could try setting the monitor to a lower resolution. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-screen-magnifier/252615/6 "2004-06-29T00:14:14Z")
Some versions of Windows have a magnifier built into the system. Check your control panel. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-screen-magnifier/252615/7 "2004-06-29T01:18:06Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > Some versions of Windows have a magnifier built into the system. > > Check your control panel. On Windows XP on my PC its accessed through the Programmes menu, Accessories, Accessibility. There are more accessibility options on the control panel too. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-screen-magnifier/252615/8 "2004-06-29T01:26:12Z")
There are several software packages designed for computer users who are blind or otherwise visually disabled. Most of these include an option to magnify the screen, or a portion of the screen near where the cursor is, etc. This is usually in addition to screen reader software, which recognizes the text on the screen and reads it out loud to you. A search on google should probably find several of these. Look for terms like blind, screen reader, magnifier, enlarger, etc. Here’s one I know of [[http://www.gwmicro.com/](http://www.gwmicro.com/)]]( [url) [http://www.gwmicro.com/](http://www.gwmicro.com/) Often, your local public library will have a computer or 2 with this software installed, and somebody there will be able to tell you what brand they use and how they like it. Many of these seem rather high-priced to me. (Possibly because they are often paid for by government agencies, insurance companies, etc., or are often deductible on your taxes.) But many of them offer downloadable versions for a free trail demo period. If this is a temporary injury, this might be all you need. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-screen-magnifier/252615/9 "2004-06-29T01:35:26Z")
Thanks for the info on the magnifying software that comes with windows guys, but as I said in the OP > [@Khadaji](#): > > I suggested the magnifying software that comes with Windows, but for some reason, that ain’t good enough. I guess Mom is looking for an external device, much like some of the others have suggested with the magnifying filter, or other similar solutions. ---
**Author:** ![easy\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb8c5e/32.png) [@easy\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/easy_e)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-screen-magnifier/252615/10 "2004-06-29T02:19:18Z")
FYI, all of the accessiblilty features in Windows and Mac systems were devised by the [TRACE Center](http://trace.wisc.edu/) at my alma mater, the University of Wisconsin-Madison. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-screen-magnifier/252615/11 "2004-06-29T11:44:07Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > Thanks for the info on the magnifying software that comes with windows guys, but as I said in the OP > I guess Mom is looking for an external device, much like some of the others have suggested with the magnifying filter, or other similar solutions. Perhaps she doesn’t know that you can increase or decrease magnification, & the size of the magnifier? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-screen-magnifier/252615/12 "2004-06-29T12:17:01Z")
Using built-in software seems a better solution to me than attaching a magnifier. That bringhs up mental images from the film **Brazil**. Software magnification will give you better quality images, and you don;'t have to worry about mounting anything on your monitor. If you’re determined to go the actual magnifier route, the ones people are suggesting are _Fresnel Lenses_. You can get absolutely enormous ones from Edumnd Industrial Optics. ([www.edmundoptics.com](http://www.edmundoptics.com) ) Their model **R46-572** costs $300, but it’s a whopping 31" X 41". ---
**Author:** ![dmartin29](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5e9695/32.png) [@dmartin29](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dmartin29)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-screen-magnifier/252615/13 "2004-06-29T12:33:23Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > Is there something out there that will slip over the screen and magnify it? Bausch & Lomb makes one that I have seen that does work quite well [http://www.bausch.com/us/resource/visioncare/otc/pcmagniviewer.jsp](http://www.bausch.com/us/resource/visioncare/otc/pcmagniviewer.jsp) I believe it was a bit pricey though.