From Little Things ….In a previous edition of this newsletter we offered to send a felt tipped black pen to any reader as a gift to mark our 30th birthday celebrations.

It elicited the biggest response we have ever had to any article in the history of this newsletter. So what lesson have we learnt from that?

Well the first is that clearly it is not easy to find a good writing pen suitable for someone losing their sight. Secondly, and more importantly it is often the small things that make the biggest impact.

We sell vision aids, often quite expensive ones. However, the things that can make the biggest difference to individuals are often the small things. Like making sure your vision aid is positioned correctly in your home, organising to get the right small table, putting the cushion on your chair so you sit at the right height, coming back to your house whenever you need it.

What makes Quantum different is the level of service we provide. We do have good products but it is the little extras that all add up to good old customer service.

Good service may be declining generally but for us it is integral to who we are.P.S. we still have some pens left!

Never Give Up!Valmai Stone is 91 years young and has been dealing with vision loss for a number of years. She has been using a video magnifier successfully for several years but over the last 12 months has found that extended reading was becoming increasingly difficult.

Even with higher levels of magnification, the image was becoming blurry. It was sufficient for quickly looking at something but she was not able to read long documents.

Valmai recently up-graded to a ClearView Speech and is now able to continue to use her vision for small reading tasks, and use the Speech facility to read out longer documents. There is a saying that “those who keep doing, keep going”. Ask us about the vision aids that will enable you to keep doing!

Issue 40Summer 2017 LIVEWIRE LOW VISION

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OrCam MyEyeThis is an extract of an article in the Daily Mail (UK) by VINCENT GRAFF November 2016 describing the amazing new OrCam MyEye reading aid.

If users of OrCam MyEye don't already wear glasses, when they wear the device they'll need a 'dummy' pair of spectacles with clear glass so that the camera has something to attach to. In my case, I swapped my own spectacles for clear glass ones so that I wouldn't be able to read a word — normally I am dependent on my glasses.

And once I had the device in place I barely noticed it was there.

So how well does OrCam MyEye work? In my experience, very well — most of the time. Show it a paperback book and it reads it perfectly every time. Every time you turn the page, you point at the first line, and OrCam MyEye begins reading again.

OrCam MyEye also copes well when it is shown words in rather more exotic locations: a restaurant menu on a chalk board, for example. And the intonation is much better than I'd expected. It reads your book to you in easy-to-understand human sentences.

Rather. Than. Just. Speaking. Words. At. You. This isn't to say that it gets everything right first time. Newspapers can be a challenge. It's only when you use a device like this that you realise how clever our eyes and brains are.

For example, as you read this, you will know to follow the words down to the bottom of one column and then to jump up to the top of the next one (rather than reading all the words horizontally across the page).

Amazingly, OrCam MyEye knows this too.

OrCam MyEye is making a huge impact all around the world, and creating a great deal of excitement for everyone working in the Low Vision field. And it is not just people with Low Vision that are benefitting. We have customers who are totally blind, and also increasing interest from people who can’t read due to dyslexia and other cognitive issues.

Contact us if you want to try OrCam MyEye for yourself. We guarantee you will be amazed. Also keep tuned for an OrCam

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roadshow later this year – coming to a town near you!

Vision Australia Now Selling Quantum ProductsIn December just prior to Christmas, Quantum signed a supply agreement with Vision Australia. This means that most of the Quantum range of products can now also be purchased through Vision Australia.

In every Vision Australia office there is now a ClearView One (pictured) available for demonstration.

The ClearView One is a high quality desktop video magnifier that features the unique C-shaped frame common to all of the ClearView range. This provides uninterrupted positioning of larger documents, such as newspapers.

“We are very pleased to have our range of products available through Vision Australia. The more options that people have to experience a vision aid before they buy it is a good thing” said Rob Drummond, Quantum’s Director of Sales. We are looking forward to a long and

fruitful relationship supporting Vision Australia and their many staff around Australia.

Aged Care Funding for Vision AidsAnyone over the age of 65 years cannot access the support provided through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

The Federal Government has said that no-one over 65 years of age will be disadvantaged by not being able to enter the NDIS. Well, that is still proving to be a bit of an overstatement. Things are changing but very slowly.

If you receive Aged Care funding through a local Provider, under the Home Care Package Scheme or the Commonwealth Home Support Program, talk to your Provider and ask them about funding your vision needs.

Some Providers are up to date and already assisting their clients.

“My client was able to use funds in her Home Care Package to purchase a reading machine. She is very happy with it and it has given her a new sense of independence. She is able to read her Christmas letters and this is a great beginning.”

Cheryl MutchRegistered NurseHome Nursing Group, Armidale NSW

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If your Provider is unaware of the options available please give them our phone number and one of our Low Vision Consultants will be happy to discuss.

More than One Tool in This Toolbox!Joe Moharich is an active 78 year old living in Brisbane who recently purchased a number of Quantum aids and has been so pleased with them and his customer experience that he happily agreed to give a testimonial for this edition of Livewire.

Like many active people in his age group, getting Macular Degeneration has been a big blow – Joe had to give up driving his beloved car, and was struggling to keep up with his many interests.

After a highly successful career in the helicopter and aviation industries, Joe is still keen to keep abreast of developments in the world, through newspapers, magazines, and the internet.

Joe visited the Quantum showroom at Wickham Terrace Brisbane one afternoon and so began a whirlwind introduction to some wonderful reading devices. After a series of discussions and home visits, Joe

purchased the equipment he needed – a Clearview C Wideview Speech for his newspapers (see article on page 1), and an OrCam MyReader for reading whilst out and about (see page 2).

Joe says “You have to use a variety of aids.I still get a benefit from the jeweller’sloupe I carry in my pocket, but I need theClearview for my main reading. It’sterrific. The Orcam is a more sociable device, for example for reading at the family breakfast table.

My kids joke “Dad, you have all the gear, and no idea” but secretly they are rather impressed that I’m doing so well with all this stuff.”

Joe has offered to chat to anybody in a similar predicament, maybe struggling to get to grips with all the new technology available. The friendly staff at our Brisbane office will put you in touch with him.

Most low vision toolboxes will contain at least one hand-held optical magnifier.

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Find out what is going to work best for you.

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“What happens when magnification no longer works for you?”There is a lot of evidence-based research showing that magnification helps most people with failing eyesight to continue to read and do many activities that they would otherwise struggle with.

However, with degenerative diseases such as Macular Degeneration there may come a time when magnification is no longer useful. For many people that can take a very long time or may never happen. For those that are affected, new strategies and tools are needed.

In the majority of cases this degeneration in vision occurs while people are using magnifiers; anything from a magnifying glass to a video magnifier. Often they have been through an assessment process and interacted with a variety of agencies to get to that point. So when their magnification tool becomes less useful they feel they are at the “end of the road”.

We are meeting an increasing number of people that are simply unaware of what the next steps may be. Next steps include seeking advice from your eye-care specialists, re-assessment of your needs, and making yourself aware of the tools that may help you with even less sight.

Quantum has a wide range of tools that can assist. There are devices that you can sit on your desk and will “read” information to you. These “reading machines” come in many sizes and shapes.

The ClearReaderThe ClearReader is deliberately designed to look like an old fashioned radio, so that it is less intimidating for someone who is not used to using technology products. It

has a simple “one-button” operation. Simply place your reading material under the camera and press the button and any text on

the page will be read to you in an Australian voice.

The Eye-Pal Reader The Eye-Pal Reader is just as simple to use and is particularly good at reading text on objects such as pill bottles (pictured) or food packaging.

To use the Eye-Pal Reader simply place your document on the reading table and it will automatically detect the text and read it out to you.

There are also plenty of other options for having text read out to you. This function can be built into a video magnifier, such as the ClearView Speech, or is available as an add-on to a computer.

Finally there is the exciting new OrCam, wearable reading device that attaches to your glasses. For more information on any

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of these devices please contact us to speak to your local Low Vision Consultant.

Experience Counts!Last year we celebrated 30 years of providing service to people who are losing their sight.

Our success is due in no small part to the fantastic people that make up the Quantum team. So we would like to regularly profile one of them so that you get to know them better. This edition we are telling you more about Jeff Landers.

Jeff started with OPSM on 17th January 1977 (a mere 40 years ago if anyone is counting) as a Cadet, working during the day and studying at night with the Guild of Dispensing Opticians.

In 1988 he established a chain of retail optical shops/ optometry practices with a partner. Retail rapidly became a 7 day a week venture so after nearly 10 years Jeff sold up and became the sales and training manager for a contact lens company assisting patients with acute vision loss due to eye diseases such as kerataconus, eye trauma or extremely strong myopia.

It was during this time his passion to assist people with vision loss that could not be corrected by spectacles was born.

In 2011 Jeff joined Quantum as a low vision specialist, covering the south of Sydney, southern NSW and the ACT. Jeff loves his current role helping people enjoy life. He is available to visit in-home or

appointments can be made at our Sydney south office at Gymea.

Participate in research: Investigating Concerns about Falling in People with Visual ImpairmentResearchers at QUT (Queensland University of Technology) are looking for people to participate in a research project investigating how central vision loss impacts on concerns about falling and how this may influence falls and activity levels.

The research team are looking for adults over 65 years of age, living independently in the community who have central visual impairment ie. loss of central vision due to macular degeneration. Your participation will involve attending an initial assessment at the QUT Kelvin Grove campus, followed by a one-year follow-up visit. Transport may be available in some instances.

If you are interested in participating and would like to find out more please contact: Ursula White: 07 31385713 email: ursula.white@qut.edu.au

On-Line Low Vision Shop8

MyLowVisionShop is a website that offers a fully digital service for people that prefer on-line shopping.

It represents products from a number of suppliers around Australia and has been growing rapidly.

In addition to regular vision aids such as magnifiers, MyLowVisionShop has a wide range of daily living aids; the kind of small everyday items that can make life so much easier for people that are losing their vision.

Last Christmas there was a big increase in traffic on the MyLowVision website, particularly from the children and carers of people with vision loss, who were

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February24 Feb

27 Feb28 Feb

Open Day Clearance Sale (QRLV) –Thornleigh, NSWMDF Low Vision Talk- Bega, NSWMDF Low Vision Talk - Batemans Bay, NSW

March7 Mar14 Mar16 Mar

21 Mar

24 Mar

VAMS (Guide Dogs)- Sunshine Coast, QLDVAMS (Guide Dogs)- Townsville, QLDLow Vision Display with the MDF - Bankstown, NSWLow Vision Display with the MDF -Gymea, NSWOpen Day QRLV*: Launching new products - Thornleigh, NSW

April1 Apr

5 Apr11 Apr12 Apr12 Apr

Low Vision Display with the MDF, with guest Ophthalmologist, Prof. Nitin Verma – Sandy Bay, TASPublic Talk with the MDF- Woden, ACTVAMS (Guide Dogs)- Townsville, QLDVAMS (Guide Dogs)- Toowoomba, QLDOpen Day QRLV*: Launching new products – Hampton East, VIC

May2 May

2 May3 May

10/11

15 May17 May

24 May

Low Vision Display with the MDF – Belmont, NSWVAMS (Guide Dogs)- Brisbane, QLDLow Vision Display with the MDF - Hornsby, NSWATSA Independent Living Expo- Homebush, NSWVAMS (Guide Dogs)- Bundaberg, QLDLow Vision Seminar with the MDF- Tamworth, NSWATSA Independent Living Expo- Brisbane, QLD

June7 June

13 Jun

Low Vision Seminar with the MDF- Coffs Harbour, NSWVAMS (Guide Dogs)- Townsville, QLD

19 Jun Open Day Clearance Sale (QRLV)* –NSW, QLD, and VIC

looking for just the right Christmas present.

The largest selling item in 2016 was the Daylight range of lights. These provide similar light to being outside and do not get hot to the touch.

Quantum Events in 2017*(VAMS is a low vision clinic)*(QRLV - Quantum Reading Learning Vision)* (MDF - Macular Disease Foundation)

Webinar SchedulePlease call us or send an email to reserve your place at any of these webinars.Title Presenter Date Time Cost

The future has arrived - wearable devices that read for you

Peter Cracknell 28/02/2017 3pm Free

Using the new features in JAWS 18 Screen reader

Daniel Keogh 22/03/2017 3pm Free

When magnification isn't enough-whats next?

Rebecca Clark 5/04/2017 3pm Free

Introducing the ElBraille Daniel Keogh 26/04/2017 3pm FreeWhat’s new in ZoomText 11 Magnification and Reading Software.

Rebecca Clark 16/05/2017 3pm Free

Why use a braille display? Daniel Keogh 7/06/2017 3pm FreeGetting the most from OpenBook Peter Cracknell 28/06/2017 3pm Free

Customising JAWS - using the settings centre

Daniel Keogh 19/07/2017 3pm Free

Break down online barriers with Browsealoud. New tools to make your website accessible.

Rebecca Clark 28/07/2017 12pm Free

Software solutions for people with learning difficulties

Trevor Boyd 9/08/2017 3pm Free

Practical Low vision technology for students in the primary classoom.

Peter Cracknell 23/08/2017 3pm Free

Enhance access to your public computers with Browsealoud PAC.

Rebecca Clark 8/09/2017 12pm Free

JAWS and Google Docs Daniel Keogh 20/09/2017 3pm FreeIntroducing ZoomText Fusion Trevor Boyd 11/10/2017 3pm FreeZoomText Reading tools Rebecca Clark 31/10/2017 3pm Free

Ergonomics and workplace modifications

Peter Cracknell 8/11/2017 3pm

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Tel: 1300 883 85330 Years Helping Australians with Low Vision

Overview of Low vision technology solutions

Rob Drummond 22/11/2017 3pm Paid

Advanced features of the Mountbatten Brailler

Trevor Boyd 12/12/2017 3pm Free

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