Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30153239›Full record

ArticleOptometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry2018

Effectiveness of the Apple iPad as a Spot-reading Magnifier.

Walter Wittich, Jonathan Jarry, Elliott Morrice, Aaron Johnson

Open access · hybridAbstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed
12.9field-weighted citation impact, top 2% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed, 33 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Recent Developments in Research to Make the World Better for People with Low Vision.Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians (Optometrists) · 2026
    Review
  2. Article
  3. The Evolving Landscape of Vision Rehabilitation: Current Status and Future Directions.Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians (Optometrists) · 2026
    Review
  4. Review
  5. Review
  6. Screen Magnification for Readers with Low Vision: A Study on Usability and Performance.ASSETS. Annual ACM Conference on Assistive Technologies · 2023
    Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. A Mobile Application for Keyword Search in Real-World Scenes.IEEE journal of translational engineering in health and medicine · 2019
    Article
  11. Usability and Accessibility of the ArtontheBrainInquiry : a journal of medical care organization, provision and financing
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Walter WittichSchool of Optometry, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Jonathan JarrySchool of Optometry, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Elliott MorriceCRIR/Centre de réadaptation MAB-Mackay du CIUSSS du Centre-Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Aaron JohnsonCRIR/Centre de réadaptation MAB-Mackay du CIUSSS du Centre-Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux du Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

significanceThere are no data available comparing the iPad as a portable magnification device with a portable video magnifier. Our study supports the use and integration of mainstream tablet computers into vision rehabilitation to overcome potential barriers to device uptake due to the stigma attached to traditional devices. PURPOSE: Portable personal tablet computers have taken on an important role as assistive devices for individuals with visual impairment; however, their use is rarely supported by independent data. Our study aims to contribute to evidence-based practice by comparing a tablet computer with a portable video magnifier in their use as spot-reading devices.

methodsWe compared the Optelec Compact 5 HD portable video magnifier (Optelec, Longueuil, Canada) and the Apple iPad Air tablet computer (Apple Inc, Cupertino, CA) using the SuperVision+ Magnifier app by asking 60 adults with low vision (age range, 19 to 97 years; mean visual acuity, 20/136) to spot read information on a bill, a medication box, and a food label. Their ability to complete each task was timed; they completed the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with assistive Technology questionnaire and indicated their preferred device.

resultsPerformance speed indicated that easier tasks were completed faster; however, there were no statistically significant differences in performance between the two device conditions. The highest satisfaction scores for both devices were identical: dimensions, ease of use, and effectiveness. Preference between the two devices was split at 25 for iPad, 33 for the portable closed-circuit television, and 2 for undecided.

conclusionsThe results indicate that performance speed on our spot-reading tasks was comparable across the two devices. In addition, subjective judgment of the device features and personal preferences lead us to conclude that both the iPad and the portable magnifier may have certain equivalence in their functionality, depending on the user and the task for which they are used.

Indexed as

Computers, HandheldReadingSelf-Help DevicesSensory AidsAgedAged, 80 and overCanadaFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSurveys and QuestionnairesVision, LowVisual Acuity

Identifiers

PMID30153239
PMCPMC6133231
OpenAlexW2888971253

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.