The Polk County Committee on Aging (PCCA) recently purchased two “sight machines” (also known as “reading machines”) for area Senior Centers. One was given to the Golden Link in Crookston and the second to the East Grand Forks Senior Center.
The machines are constructed by the Lions Club of Nisswa, Minnesota and sold for $350, with the proceeds donated to the Minnesota Lions Vision Foundation. A similar machine on the commercial market can cost $3,000 or more.
The machines benefit anyone with reduced vision, so they can more easily read letters, newspapers, magazines, recipes, prescription bottles, and more. How it works: a TV monitor is placed on top of a specially built stand. A camera below the monitor faces down and captures a live image of any item placed under it. The video projects the image on the TV monitor, magnifying the item up to 14 times.
The PCCA plans to purchase additional “sight machines” for the other Senior Centers in Polk County.
Founded in 1978, the Polk County Committee on Aging is county non-profit organizations of volunteer seniors dedicated to serving seniors of the county.
