I'm looking for ideas on how to accommodate a worshipper with low vision.
The worshipper sits fairly close to the screen (could be a pew or two closer but it probably wouldn't make that much difference to what can been seen.) I'm basically stuck with Source Sans Pro with a font size of 65-85 to have the text readable.
After worship last week, I was asked if the text could always be white on an always black background. While the answer of course is, "Yes" (that would solve a lot of issues of creating my own Smart Media) it would be a rather bland presentation of the liturgical texts. This week I've resorted to using the images I've had planned as the backgrounds and have formatted each of the text boxes as having a black background with white text. I'm hoping that's a workable compromise. We'll see this weekend.
How do others help low vision worshippers engage with the presentation? (I have two low vision worshippers -- only one asks for changes -- and neither is tech-savvy, so following the presentation on a tablet doesn't work -- we tried that.)
- I realise you've tried the tablet option Colin Cameron, but did you try the confidence monitor view on the tablet?? I'll tell you about our experience as it works quite well- we have members with poor vision & disability using iPads/tablets to follow the service. We make use of the confidence monitor view as it strips out your beautiful backgrounds and gives white text on black. One of our members uses the tablet as a backup if the colours make it difficult or he's fatigued, another holds the tablet and zooms in using accessibility settings, another places it on a stand and switches between the main screen and iPad as he needs. Totally understand that they might not be tech-savvy, which is why our tech volunteers provide assistance to get them started when they arrive (they then just need to look, not touch!). Jordan's tip on Guided Access is also a winner. And another idea to try would be to try a normal confidence monitor/tv which is visible at the place they sit, or mounting the tablet ready to go on the seat in front to achieve the same effect.
- Thanks Steve. I have been thinking more about the tablet idea. I'm the pastor at a small church (average Sunday attendance is 45 people). I am the tech department. My kids are the projectionists. If the people owned tablets and brought them to worship, my kids could easily set up the displays for them. When we last tried it with them it was on a borrowed tablet. I may have to just go out and buy a tablet and donate it to the church for their use.
bret.schmerker — Edited
After reading the exchange this Thread, I see an area for ongoing research. At OMS Japanese Christian, we already have a large Samsung flat-screen for Slides in Shinoda Hall and I've identified a need to raise it approximately two feet to mitigate downstage interference for the front row, which will also improve the view for overflow attendance in the Conference Room; but the poor seeing Colin Cameron mentioned would require either a display size upgrade in the Hall or a repeater display in the Conference Room.