Ability to Change Focus

perfik · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 16, 2006 Posts: 11

I was wondering, as a person who needs glasses for distance vision and therfroe when I drive, is there a GPS device that will allow you to actually change the focus of the screen on the market. If not I would imagine that it would be a good inclusion in future releases as I have problems clearly seeing the GPS screen as it is out of focus with my glasses on, when driving.

Darren · Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 7:09 pm Post subject:

There isn't. As a driver how do you focus on the instruments if you cannot focus on the GPS screen? Would bi-focals or vari-focals not be the answer here?
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Darren Griffin

perfik · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 16, 2006 Posts: 11

I am afraid that it is instinctive, with the instruments, as you can see the speedo etc quite plainly and you can see where the dials are pointing to etc, but what I mean about the GPS is that you can not read the small writing or the messages etc. I am afraid that Bi-focals or varifocals would not teally help as they only cover parts of the field of vision and you have to move your head around to get the parts required in to view etc. Just a thought for the manufacturers in the future though, it must be possible, surely.

Darren · Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 7:28 pm Post subject:

Possible yes but such a small target market that it's highly unlikely. I'm at a loss at to why bi or vari-focals wouldn't be an answer. They are designed for such purposes after all?
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Darren Griffin

perfik · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 16, 2006 Posts: 11

You obviously do not have to wear glasses when driving or you would know that wearing Bi or Vari focals wre not actually designed for this type of environment as the angles etc. are not ideal and I disagree about the market only being small as I would guess that millions of drivers have to wear some form of visual aid when driving. Wink

Rememebr that the READING part of Bi-focals is at the bottom and when used to read normally the head would adopt a natural angle, but as the GPS device is USUALLY on the windscreen (much higher than any other item being read), this would make it like having to crane your neck backwards a long way to bring the device in to the line of sight for the bottom of the glasses.

Just a simple focusing device for the screen would solve it 100%

Andy_P · Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 10:43 pm Post subject:

perfik · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 16, 2006 Posts: 11

Well surely that is how I would imagine Binoculars or Microscopes work, by being able to adjust the Focal length's and making it in focus for varying eyeisghts ?? If a person with 20/20 vision was to put on a pair of glasses with prescription NOT meant for his eyes, then they would make things out of focus, BUT for the person they were made for they compensate and surely a "Simple Focusing Device" would do the same and be adjustable for many people.

Darren · Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 10:55 pm Post subject: Re: Not True

Andy_P · Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 11:02 pm Post subject: Re: Binoculars

perfik · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 16, 2006 Posts: 11

No one actually said that they can NOT read instruments while driving, if you read my FIRST post, I was simply asking if any of the GPS devices around at the moment were capable of this and again if you read my earlier post, you will see that I said that reading instruments in a car is NOT the same as reading TEXT etc on a screen, unless your vehicle actually prints all the messages in TEXT format, relating to your instruments, on your windscreen for you, like an aircraft HUD, which I am sure it does not.

kartracer · Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 11:22 pm Post subject:

Most systems give audio directions coupled with big arrows to visually indicate turns. You don't really have to read any text to use a Satnav device whilst driving, just when entering the destination, which should of course be done before setting off. For this reason I have found that even a 2" small screen on a mobile phone is adequate for Satnav purposes.
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Kam

xda · Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 11:44 pm Post subject: Re: Not True

xda · Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 11:57 pm Post subject: Re: Missed point.

DennisN · Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 12:03 am Post subject:

I too wear varifocals.
My device is mounted at the base of my windscreen, just above the dashboard. To see it, I shift my vision almost imperceptively and within the "teardrop" of the varifocal lens.
I do have difficulty reading the small print on the satnav - I'm talking about having difficulty reading the camera id if I click on a camera to find its identity to check or change it. But whilst stationary, it's simply a case of unmounting the device and bringing it closer to my eyes. All the "normal" navigational icons, text, etc are well within my reading ability.

I don't think a focussing feature would work - I think you really need an enlarging feature, but that would reduce the amount of information displayable on the screen.
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Dennis

If it tastes good - it's fattening.

Two of them are obesiting!!

Darren · Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 7:37 am Post subject: Re: Binoculars

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