Equipment and products
We hold a range of products designed for people with sight impairments and our staff can give you advice and help on the best equipment to meet your individual needs.
Please scroll down to see information on some of the products available for demonstration in our Resource Rooms.
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Demonstration of equipment
We've included below links to RNIB's shop so you can view equipment online. If you see something you think might be helpful, why not visit our Resource Rooms to see a demonstration before you buy it?
If you would like to view a specific piece of equipment in our Resource Rooms, please telephone first to check we have it in stock.
Audio
If you want to listen to Digital Kent Talking News from a memory stick then you can use a Boombox. The Boombox has a large volume control, a play/pause button, a previous track button, and a next track button. You can use these to skip through the articles or music on the memory stick. If you stop the player, it will remember its place when you resume. It can be run on batteries or plugged into the mains with the supplied adaptor.
CCTVs
There are many different makes and models of closed circuit televisions available but the majority of features are the same. All come with a 19 inch screen or bigger, and all come with the options of full colour, black on white or white on black as standard. Magnification varies from 2x to 70x.
CCTVs can be used to read text like newspapers or recipes, view photographs, write greeting cards or do crosswords. They are also ideal for filling in forms, signing documents, or writing a letter.
A wide range of portable hand held electronic magnifiers is also available. Again these have a range of colour and magnification options.
Clocks
Most of the clocks we display have a one button system allowing you to have the time read out to you in a clear voice. You can choose to have a male or female speaker. Some also tell you the date at a push of the button. All have the option to set alarms and some have a stopwatch facility.
Other clocks are available that have tactile faces or an LED display that will also talk to you. This type of clock is useful for when sighted people in the house are using it too. Keychain clocks are also available for those wanting something to use on the go.
Clocks available at RNIB's online shop
Watches
For people with some vision, large-face watches are available that are easy to see, with clear contrasting face and hands. For people with no sight, talking watches are available, in both male and female voices and tactile watches are available for Braille users. All watches come with either a metallic bracelet strap or a traditional leather-style clasp strap.
Cooking and healthcare products
Liquid Level Indicators
These are handy devices that sit in your cup and either sound an alarm and/or vibrate to tell you when your cup is getting full. This prevents you over-filling your cup and scalding yourself. They can be used with any size cup, mug or glass. They also have an intermittent beep which advises you when to add milk to your tea or coffee!
Top Tip: carry a brightly coloured coaster when out and about so you can put your glass of wine on it and know where your drink is. No one will notice.
Mobile Phones
Mobile phones are now becoming much more accessible for those with sight impairments. All come with colour contrasting buttons and a larger than usual screen. Many mobiles have the ability for you to pre set your most frequently called numbers, so eliminating the need for dialling. Some mainstream mobiles from the high street have the option to add on speech software packages.
Task lighting
Everybody needs good lighting to read, write or carry out a task. For most sight impaired people, good lighting is essential to enable them to make best use of their remaining vision. The light should be placed in front of you so it reflects down on the task in hand.
The Daylight PL desk lamp
This is an angle-poise lamp with a 'daylight' fluorescent head. The adjustable angled stem of the lamp gives precision flexibility to enable movement to the best position and the fluorescent head swivels to help angle the light. The lamp gives a good spread of light and although it doesn't stay cold, it doesn't get as hot as a conventional or halogen lamp so is more comfortable to use. The lamp comes with a heavy base and a clamp, giving you choice of where to put it.
Portable lamp
This lamp also has a 'daylight' fluorescent head giving a good spread of light. The fluorescent head does not swivel, but the lamp is very easy to use: lift the lamp head up to switch on; fold it down to switch off. An ideal lamp for a small space, for working on a table or if you need a lamp to easily move around the house.
Equipment suppliers
Cobolt Systems Ltd
Clocks and watches, healthcare and household products, kitchen aids, personal items
Phone Cobolt: 01493 700172