Frequently Asked Questions:
Q. Do you accept phone orders?
A. Yes. Please click on this link Contact Us for the phone number and business hours.
Q. Will your video magnifiers connect to a computer or just a TV?
A. We do sale a VGA and USB adapter as optional accessories for our video magnifiers. The VGA adapter
allows our video magnifiers to be connected to the VGA connector of a computer monitor in such a way that the
computer can still be used and the user can switch between the PC and the video magnifier. The VGA adapter
also allows for the use of a monitor by itself without a PC. Some users prefer to connect to a USB port. Our USB
adapter and software allow our video magnifiers to be connected to Windows XP/Vista computers through a
USB port. Mac users: please contact us for more information about connecting to your computer.
Q. What is the difference between color and black and white vision aids?
A. We produce only color video magnifiers because black and white vision aids work well on black and white
items, but can wash out or ghost color print and detail making it either impossible or nearly impossible to view.
Many times ghosted details are extremely difficult to view for users with perfect eyesight. For example, it can be
very difficult for black and white vision aids to view handwriting and may not display it at all when it is on color
paper like checks and greeting cards. Full color vision aids will allow the user to view many more types of
items and does not have problems displaying details based on color.
Q. What difference does the camera quality make?
A. The reason that we use higher resolution cameras is that when magnifying poor images or detail such as
newspaper print, instructions or advertisements, a lower resolution camera has problems displaying them
clearly and can make it impossible for a vision sufferer to view properly. But there are some details that are so
poor that even higher resolution cameras cannot display them well.
Q. Will I be able to view the whole page?
A. As with any video magnifier, whether it is one produced by Vaughn Engineering or another company, the
image is captured with a camera. And, just like when you take a picture with a camera, if you want to see a larger
view, you have two choices; keep the dimensions of image (picture) the same size but see less of the object
(zoom in), or, blow up the whole image to a larger size like a poster or bill board. To achieve magnification with
any video magnifier requires that you either view a small area or you use a really big TV or Monitor. The amount
of the page that you will be able to see depends on the magnification that you need, the capabilities of the video
magnifier and the TV or monitor size that you will be using. For help, please feel free to contact us.
Q. Do you ship to other countries?
A. We will only ship to certain countries in North America. Attempted use of our products in most countries outside
of North America usually results in the magnifier being damaged and completely unusable and always results in the
warranty and return policy being voided. Since we cannot stand behind our products when used in those regions,
will not ship to those areas.
Q. Why won't your video magnifiers work outside of North America?
A. Two reasons.: The first and most important is that our magnifiers will only operate within a precise voltage range
and even the slightest bit over that range will damage the camera and make it inoperable. Most power adapters
cannot maintain the voltage range in this precise manner which usually leads to permanent damage of the video
magnifier. The second reason is that different regions use different video signals and formats that are not
compatible with each other.
Q. Why do some images or details have a pixilated affect or look like they were printed with a poor dot
matrix printer?
A. Many forms of printing do not print solid images. They print a lot like the old dot matrix printer but finer. When
magnified, any flaws or missing ink will become visible. These flaws can make it very difficult to view for lower
resolution vision aids and, if the flaws are very bad, can even affect the ability of higher resolution vision aids.
Q. I have sensitive eyes due to my eye condition. Do your video magnifiers produce much glare.
A. All of our video magnifiers take measures to allow the user to virtually eliminate glare. The EZVU and EZ1
use low light cameras that work well in normal and low lighting conditions. If your eyes are extremely sensitive to
light, reducing the lighting in the room and adjusting your TV or monitor to soften the brightness will usually provide
a comfortable viewing experience for even the most sensitive eyes. Our Zoom Shroom uses the same low light
camera technology, but has a light diffuser to soften its internal light virtually eliminating any glare. Adjusting the
TV or monitor to soften the brightness will also help those with extremely sensitive eyes.
Q. Do I need a handheld or desktop vision aid?
A. That depends on how it is used or if the user has any physical limitations. People who have problems with
manual dexterity or hand eye coordination may not be able to use a handheld device and will probably be better
off with a desktop version. Our Desk models with the movable arm and pivoting head are very versatile and are
used for a wide variety of tasks such as reading,writing, sewing, repairs to items with very small parts and our
customers are frequently finding new uses for them. The movable arm and pivoting head allow the user to view
items that are not only on the table with the vision aid, but to view off the edge to a lower point, items placed to
the side or even above making these video magnifiers very versatile.
Our handhelds are great for use in areas with limited space where there is not enough room for a vision aid and
the item to be viewed or if you just want to relax in your favorite chair and read from your lap.
Q. What magnification do I need?
A. Magnification needs very by user and their degree of vision loss. The Zoom Shroom has been developed
with a higher degree of magnification than most handhelds so that it can accommodate more degrees of vision
loss. Our EZVU is our most versatile video magnifier since the magnification can be changed to accommodate
most degrees of vision loss. One way to estimate the magnification needed is to measure the height or width (not
both) of the smallest letter or item to be viewed and then measure the same dimension of a letter or item that is
just largest enough to be seen clearly. Divide the larger measurement by the smaller measurement to get the
magnification power.
Example: A vision sufferers newspaper print is 0.0625" high (3/32") and the smallest print that this person can
read with only their glasses is 0.75" high (3/4"). Then, 0.75/0.0625=12. This person needs at least 12X
magnification to read their newspaper.
Please see our Magnification Chart and our Sample Letter size page or contact us for more assistance.
Q. Why are the magnifications listed as approximate.
A. First, since the image is being viewed on a TV, larger TVs have larger pictures and increase the
magnification. Second, TVs can very by model and Brand. For example, brand X’s 20” TV might have a screen
that is ½” larger diagonally than brand Y’s TV screen. This difference in size will affect the magnification. There
may also be a difference in the way different brands and models display images through their video input jacks.
Q. I noticed that some other brands of video vision aids have a lot of controls and buttons. Where
are these controls and buttons on the your products?
A. We Developed the EZ Series and Zoom Shroom to be as versatile as possible and in our research, we
learned that there are conditions that can make all these buttons and controls difficult to use such as users with
higher degrees of vision loss, loss of coordination.
Q. If I find that the Zoom Shroom or EZ Series is not suitable to my needs, can I return it?
A. If within the first 14 days of owning your Zoom Shroom or EZ Series video magnifier you find that it does
not meet your needs, you may return it for a refund under the terms of our 14 day return policy. Click here to
review return policy.
Q. What does the warranty cover?
A. Click here to view the 1 year limited warranty.
Q. What if I have problems hooking up or operating the vision aid?
A. When you purchase a Zoom Shroom or EZ Series you will be provided with a phone number and email
address for customer service and support. We urge our customers to contact us if they have any questions or
problems.
Please contact us if you have questions that are not addressed above.
Q. Do you accept phone orders?
A. Yes. Please click on this link Contact Us for the phone number and business hours.
Q. Will your video magnifiers connect to a computer or just a TV?
A. We do sale a VGA and USB adapter as optional accessories for our video magnifiers. The VGA adapter
allows our video magnifiers to be connected to the VGA connector of a computer monitor in such a way that the
computer can still be used and the user can switch between the PC and the video magnifier. The VGA adapter
also allows for the use of a monitor by itself without a PC. Some users prefer to connect to a USB port. Our USB
adapter and software allow our video magnifiers to be connected to Windows XP/Vista computers through a
USB port. Mac users: please contact us for more information about connecting to your computer.
Q. What is the difference between color and black and white vision aids?
A. We produce only color video magnifiers because black and white vision aids work well on black and white
items, but can wash out or ghost color print and detail making it either impossible or nearly impossible to view.
Many times ghosted details are extremely difficult to view for users with perfect eyesight. For example, it can be
very difficult for black and white vision aids to view handwriting and may not display it at all when it is on color
paper like checks and greeting cards. Full color vision aids will allow the user to view many more types of
items and does not have problems displaying details based on color.
Q. What difference does the camera quality make?
A. The reason that we use higher resolution cameras is that when magnifying poor images or detail such as
newspaper print, instructions or advertisements, a lower resolution camera has problems displaying them
clearly and can make it impossible for a vision sufferer to view properly. But there are some details that are so
poor that even higher resolution cameras cannot display them well.
Q. Will I be able to view the whole page?
A. As with any video magnifier, whether it is one produced by Vaughn Engineering or another company, the
image is captured with a camera. And, just like when you take a picture with a camera, if you want to see a larger
view, you have two choices; keep the dimensions of image (picture) the same size but see less of the object
(zoom in), or, blow up the whole image to a larger size like a poster or bill board. To achieve magnification with
any video magnifier requires that you either view a small area or you use a really big TV or Monitor. The amount
of the page that you will be able to see depends on the magnification that you need, the capabilities of the video
magnifier and the TV or monitor size that you will be using. For help, please feel free to contact us.
Q. Do you ship to other countries?
A. We will only ship to certain countries in North America. Attempted use of our products in most countries outside
of North America usually results in the magnifier being damaged and completely unusable and always results in the
warranty and return policy being voided. Since we cannot stand behind our products when used in those regions,
will not ship to those areas.
Q. Why won't your video magnifiers work outside of North America?
A. Two reasons.: The first and most important is that our magnifiers will only operate within a precise voltage range
and even the slightest bit over that range will damage the camera and make it inoperable. Most power adapters
cannot maintain the voltage range in this precise manner which usually leads to permanent damage of the video
magnifier. The second reason is that different regions use different video signals and formats that are not
compatible with each other.
Q. Why do some images or details have a pixilated affect or look like they were printed with a poor dot
matrix printer?
A. Many forms of printing do not print solid images. They print a lot like the old dot matrix printer but finer. When
magnified, any flaws or missing ink will become visible. These flaws can make it very difficult to view for lower
resolution vision aids and, if the flaws are very bad, can even affect the ability of higher resolution vision aids.
Q. I have sensitive eyes due to my eye condition. Do your video magnifiers produce much glare.
A. All of our video magnifiers take measures to allow the user to virtually eliminate glare. The EZVU and EZ1
use low light cameras that work well in normal and low lighting conditions. If your eyes are extremely sensitive to
light, reducing the lighting in the room and adjusting your TV or monitor to soften the brightness will usually provide
a comfortable viewing experience for even the most sensitive eyes. Our Zoom Shroom uses the same low light
camera technology, but has a light diffuser to soften its internal light virtually eliminating any glare. Adjusting the
TV or monitor to soften the brightness will also help those with extremely sensitive eyes.
Q. Do I need a handheld or desktop vision aid?
A. That depends on how it is used or if the user has any physical limitations. People who have problems with
manual dexterity or hand eye coordination may not be able to use a handheld device and will probably be better
off with a desktop version. Our Desk models with the movable arm and pivoting head are very versatile and are
used for a wide variety of tasks such as reading,writing, sewing, repairs to items with very small parts and our
customers are frequently finding new uses for them. The movable arm and pivoting head allow the user to view
items that are not only on the table with the vision aid, but to view off the edge to a lower point, items placed to
the side or even above making these video magnifiers very versatile.
Our handhelds are great for use in areas with limited space where there is not enough room for a vision aid and
the item to be viewed or if you just want to relax in your favorite chair and read from your lap.
Q. What magnification do I need?
A. Magnification needs very by user and their degree of vision loss. The Zoom Shroom has been developed
with a higher degree of magnification than most handhelds so that it can accommodate more degrees of vision
loss. Our EZVU is our most versatile video magnifier since the magnification can be changed to accommodate
most degrees of vision loss. One way to estimate the magnification needed is to measure the height or width (not
both) of the smallest letter or item to be viewed and then measure the same dimension of a letter or item that is
just largest enough to be seen clearly. Divide the larger measurement by the smaller measurement to get the
magnification power.
Example: A vision sufferers newspaper print is 0.0625" high (3/32") and the smallest print that this person can
read with only their glasses is 0.75" high (3/4"). Then, 0.75/0.0625=12. This person needs at least 12X
magnification to read their newspaper.
Please see our Magnification Chart and our Sample Letter size page or contact us for more assistance.
Q. Why are the magnifications listed as approximate.
A. First, since the image is being viewed on a TV, larger TVs have larger pictures and increase the
magnification. Second, TVs can very by model and Brand. For example, brand X’s 20” TV might have a screen
that is ½” larger diagonally than brand Y’s TV screen. This difference in size will affect the magnification. There
may also be a difference in the way different brands and models display images through their video input jacks.
Q. I noticed that some other brands of video vision aids have a lot of controls and buttons. Where
are these controls and buttons on the your products?
A. We Developed the EZ Series and Zoom Shroom to be as versatile as possible and in our research, we
learned that there are conditions that can make all these buttons and controls difficult to use such as users with
higher degrees of vision loss, loss of coordination.
Q. If I find that the Zoom Shroom or EZ Series is not suitable to my needs, can I return it?
A. If within the first 14 days of owning your Zoom Shroom or EZ Series video magnifier you find that it does
not meet your needs, you may return it for a refund under the terms of our 14 day return policy. Click here to
review return policy.
Q. What does the warranty cover?
A. Click here to view the 1 year limited warranty.
Q. What if I have problems hooking up or operating the vision aid?
A. When you purchase a Zoom Shroom or EZ Series you will be provided with a phone number and email
address for customer service and support. We urge our customers to contact us if they have any questions or
problems.
Please contact us if you have questions that are not addressed above.
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