EyeReader App – Use Your iPhone to Magnify and Illuminate hard to read text

Trying to read small print, or struggling to see a menu in a dimly lit restaurant, is frustrating a growing number of Americans as the Baby Boom population reaches senior citizen status.

The EyeReader by Net|Soft Engineering is the first in a series of Silver Apps – applications designed for users 45 and older.  The brainchild of engineer Gerry Lavender, EyeReader takes only half a megabyte and is just $1.99 to download from iTunes store.

EyeReader is the only app of its kind to utilize iPhone 4′s full 3.5-inch widescreen display, giving users the ability to zoom in and out with two fingers via touch-screen technology.  

Unlike an ordinary magnifier, the EyeReader efficiently uses the iPhone 4 bright LED light to illuminate any surface up to 5X magnification.  

“Older adults are looking for apps that meet their needs,” says Lavender. “You may forget your reading glasses, but you’re never without your iPhone.  As a Baby Boomer myself I fully understand the challenges seniors face and it’s been the inspiration for Silver Apps, all designed to make life easier for that population.”  

It is interesting to see apps being developed not only for the young generation but also this area of “Silver Apps” as the uptake of smartphones is reaching older generations as well.

I won’t be surprised to see this area of apps for assistive technology increase in the next year.