SmartView Synergy Advanced
Product type: Assistive technology
Manufacturer: Humanware
Rating: 3 Star rating
By: Daniel Warrington
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The Synergy Advanced is a CCTV which is a stationary standalone device that uses cameras to magnify large format printed materials and objects. The materials are inserted into a shelf in the device, which displays the magnified images on-screen.
The key feature of the Synergy Advanced is text magnification but it also has additional features like text highlighters and brightness control. I found magnifying text a relatively simple process as the Synergy Advanced features a straightforward enough 4 button design which includes a large rotating tactile button to zoom in and out of documents. In my experience the text highlighter was quite useful because it prevented me from getting lost in the document by enabling me to highlight the part of the document I wanted to read. There are additional low vision features like underlining text with a red line or shining a red light on the physical copy of the document to stay aware of the passage of text being highlighted. I have Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) and found the red line and red light hard for me to see but others may find it easier to see.
Overall the Synergy Advanced has a lot to offer and is worth considering, however, it is advisable to visit an Action for Blind People Resource Centre to get a better idea of your needs as the kind of features available in CCTVs range from the above to CCTVs which have built-in screen readers, automatic zoom, anti-glare screens and remote controls. There are also CCTVs that come without a document tray and have a higher monitor height adjustment, which may be better for people to write freehand and magnify larger objects.
