Patriot Pro - The Blind Life

[@0neforgiven1]

You will never know how much your information helps me. I am a very active, healthy 70 yr old woman. Had to retire from nursing due to progressive, dry AMD. I’ve been totally blind in my left eye for 25 years - unrelated. I say all that to tell you I’m not ready to sit in a rocking chair and you have pulled that rocking chair right out from under me! Think I’ll name my cane “Sam”😎 Oh and I just purchased 2 shirts. Thanks,

[@theblindlife]

My new favorite comment! LOL, that’s awesome, keep up that wonderful attitude! And thanks for getting the shirts!

[@smmsjw]

I wonder if the there will be a Patriot Pro App for those of us who already have an iPad Pro 12.9 model.

[@andynovak7578]

Good question, I would like to know that as well!

[@brianrayburn5430]

Our question exactly!

[@rocknroz1]

Exactly. I need the stand and software. I can’t pay another US$4000. Maybe something for Apple to research and get into the low vision market even more!

[@memoryofthefuture2379]

Does anyone know where to reach the company to ask if they'll sell the stand and application? I already have a iPad Pro 12.9.

[@LEXPIX]

That's a cool product since the iPad has one of he best screens out there.

[@myvisuallyimpairedlife5674]

Well, I'm sure to look more into things like this if I ever decide to go to Apple. However, I always love watching your videos Sam, no matter what you're reviewing. Great video.

[@ZomeDash]

I wouldn't go apple if I were you, they're an awful company making awful products

[@myvisuallyimpairedlife5674]

@@ZomeDash well I have to say I've never been a fan of Apple. When I was in college for art I used Mac computers and I always found myself still wanting to go back to PC. I remember when the iPod came out and everyone I knew paid insane amounts of money for them and they ended up broken and freezing up all the time. I just always knew to stay away from Apple products. However, when I became visually impaired I heard nothing but good news about the accessibility features. They had far more for us then Android. I say that Android is the light side of the force and that iOS is the dark side of the force. All the time hahaha I stick with Android because they are always advancing more and more all the time. And I just feel really comfortable with learning android-based accessibility. But, I have to say if down the road I was to find a iPad or MacBook Pro for extremely cheap I would definitely hop on that. I am still curious every day the differences. Thanks for the advice.

[@KonjikiKonjiki]

@@myvisuallyimpairedlife5674 I find i O S really unintuitive, but I've had a bunch of iPod devices and they were great as portable music players. I avoided them for a few years to let them get the bigger issues fixed, then got a Classic, eventually two Shuffles, and then a Nano. Darrell let me use his iPod Touch but I never got too into it because of the touch screen. I preferred just hitting buttons. I used to work in sterile products in the hospital, mixing I V bags and syringes up. Each shift was eighty percent you with your thoughts as you perform repetitive tasks in a sterile hood and wait for stuff to dissolve. Everyone in the department had an iPod., not because of peer pressure but because they're lightweight, easy to work while wearing gloves through a gown and scrubs., and held a charge for more than a single shift. All that said, I've been avoiding Mac and iPads because of iOS. But this Patriot Pro reader addresses a lot of difficulties I've found with other CCTVs so haven't ruled Apple out completely.

[@myvisuallyimpairedlife5674]

@@KonjikiKonjiki I agree. I have not ruled Apple out 100% yet. But, the prices are just way way out there. I remember the Nano I loved that thing. I like the older version when I had to round scroll button setup. Thing was just flawless.

[@theblindlife]

I think you guys both have valid points and agree with most of what you said. Before getting my current job as an AT trainer I had never even touched an Apple device. I was strictly android and happy to be so! After getting an iPad for work and learning how to use it so that I could train on it, I’ve come to appreciate its accessibility. I’ve been very vocal about my opinion regarding android versus Apple Pay accessibility. And of course, it is just that, my opinion. I think Apple does a better job with screen reading and android does a better job with magnification. As far as an operating system, I very much prefer android over Apple.

[@Kevinrichardsonministries]

Excellent Demo Brother... GOD Bless You !! Thumbs Up !!

[@sweetjazzygirl86]

Just discovered your channel and am loving it! My mother is legally blind and I am wondering about trade shows where she can try some of the technology out. Do you know of any or have a video on this?

[@theblindlife]

There are several different conferences and conventions held each year here in the US. The two big ones are ATIA in January down in Orlando Florida andCSUN in March held in Anaheim California. There’s also in FB which will be in Las Vegas in July and ACBwhich will be in Rochester New York, also in July this year. There’s other smaller ones sprinkled throughout the year. You could Google assistive technology conferences or tradeshows to get a better list.

[@sweetjazzygirl86]

@@theblindlife Thank you so much!

[@BlindtoBillionaire]

Cool video. Thank you

[@KonjikiKonjiki]

Hi Sam, I find this CCTV to be a really exciting option compared to the traditional tabletop CCTV; the one I'm currently borrowing has great features, but it's sixty pounds so I need help moving it off my desk if I need the space for other tasks. The Canadian National Institute for the Blind also has a tablet-based model by Optilec, where instead of putting your reading material on an X Y table, the tablet is on an X Y slider mount on a white acrylic stand that holds it above your book, etc. I really liked that model, but it seemed a little cramped for turning pages or writing an address on an envelope. The Patriot Pro seems to be an improvement over this design because you can fold the stand flat, and it also seems quite easy to move around the house. No X Y table, but it has other features and also seems pretty versatile. the only other aspect of CCTV readers that stresses me out is how long they take to fire up. My current loaner takes 20 seconds or so to launch, and the low vision specialist at C N I B mentioned the Optilec tablet style reader takes even longer. Do you remember how long it takes the Patriot Pro to launch into reading mode?

[@theblindlife]

It switches between magnification and OCR reading very quickly. In fact I demonstrated in the video and it doesn’t take that long at all.

[@snowpony001]

Thanks for the great demo. Love your channel.

[@PurfectRelaxation]

Great demo! Thanks so much for sharing this!

[@brianrayburn5430]

Love the video! It's a shame that they're marking up the price of the iPad so much. They need to have an option for those who have an iPad and don't have 4-5k

[@BLINDHAVOK]

Great video sam and that is some great tech. I would have need this while I was studying :) I also wanted to let you know that the links in the description aren't there.

[@theblindlife]

Yes, someone else pointed that out to me. I must have forgot to go back and put them in! I’m going to fix that later today, thanks!

[@emilykucyr2485]

I like it but the camera placement would bother me.

[@sherryb1110]

Does it have. Bluetooth capability so I can print things I free framed?

[@codyjeffares4627]

You should check out the new cyber eyez gear vr headset!!

[@johnpalmer4093]

Also check out the Patriot ViewPoint from MagnifyingAmerica.com

[@theblindlife]

I did a very short demo at the ACB conference last year. I’ve been talking with Sean, the creator of the device, about getting my hands on it for a review video. Probably will happen very soon in the future!

[@junaidahmad3023]

I bought the humanware connect 12 couple years ago and I would've expected an iPad for the price I paid for that cheap tablet they use.. That said, I am a student and it has helped me in the classroom. How would the Patriot pro stack up to connect 12? Wonder if you could do a video on that? Also how does this work for distance?

[@theblindlife]

They are probably very similar with only small differences such as screen size and speed of OCR. Doing a comparison video is a good idea! As far as distance viewing, you have more flexibility with the connect 12 as it uses a separate camera.

[@coneymoney5190]

Hey Sam, Does your best corrected visual acuity change based on the setup used to measure it. Mine does as I explain below. While measuring it on the standard mirror based setup, I am unable to read even the top big E. So the doctors start holding up fingers and ask me to count. With this, they conclude that my BCVA is around 20/400 - 20/600. At some clinics however, they have a small digital screen mounted on the wall which they claim matches the distance of 3 metres ( with the letters sized accordingly ). On such a setup, I am able to read the top most line and the doctors therefore inform that my BCVA is 20/200. So I am not clear myself what my true BCVA is. Have you experienced such differences in your visual acuity ? Does yours also fluctuate ?

[@theblindlife]

Absolutely! I think part of the problem is that there isn’t a standard test that everyone does. Therefore the results can be vastly different from one clinic to another. It can’t be very frustrating not knowing what your true acuity is.

[@coneymoney5190]

@@theblindlife So are you able to read the chart ?

[@solinashowdown9983]

Would you be able to do a review of the Mercury 12 cctv?

[@theblindlife]

I can look into that!

[@alexisrivas307]

Can this CCTV be used to help apply makeup?

[@theblindlife]

You may be able to use the front facing camera for that. However, a separate Bluetooth camera would work better.

[@uuutech2949]

Love your videos can you please suggest any keyboard for Android I have been having really difficulty in typing

[@theblindlife]

At work we use the Logitech Bluetooth keyboard K480. It works great with android and Apple and can’t support multiple devices at once. It also has large tactile keys. You can find it on Best Buy and Amazon for around 30 bucks.

[@uuutech2949]

Thank you can you also suggest me any keyboard for my Android phone I have Samsung Galaxy Note 8

[@memoryofthefuture2379]

Does anyone know how to reach the company to ask if they'll sell the stand by itselft? Thank you.

[@theblindlife]

The companies name is magnifying America and they are located in Ocalla Florida. If you Google them, you should be able to find a phone number.

[@sweetjazzygirl86]

Can this be used with the new I Pad Air?

[@theblindlife]

I don’t know. I don’t think it will though because the metal stand has holes cut for the camera. The iPad air may not fit.

[@KingKokoTv]

what price

[@allaboutmycats454]

$?

[@solinashowdown9983]

Around 2995 $

[@GloriaNak]

Are you freaking kidding me? Who can afford $4K? Do they not know the average income of the people they would be selling thisto? Ridiculous!