Low Vision Computing

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10 Foot Main View

By separating the four 4k 50" 4k screens and moving them off to the sides, and moving the two 65" 4k screens to the center, I've created the 10' (120") Main View.

This was out of necessity to keep on-screen menus and dialogs readable without having to scale up fonts. While scaling up fonts works, it reduces the number of characters visible, which made it impossible to work with window's "split windows on one screen" feature (select a window, hold down the Windows key and use an arrow key to split the window vertically or horizontally), something that everyone should be using to reduce screen clutter, but that is even more important for those with low vision.

For those wondering about the emphasis on Flight Simulator in this page, there are two reasons:

  1. Starting off a conversation about low vision computing by talking about low vision computing doesn't really work;

  2. Showing pictures and videos of MSFS gets people looking, (especially if using either their home town or a famous vacation spot) and gives an opening to talk about how it's part of the low vision computing project.

Just as Mine Sweeper was the original "Trojan Horse" to get users of DOS used to pointing and clicking, MSFS 2020 is my trojan horse conversation starter for lowvisioncomputing.com.

All the features of the previous multi-user setups are retained.

The following graphics are scaled down to 1000 pixels wide rather than the default 256 pixel width used elsewhere to give a better idea of how dramatic the difference is with a 10' main display.


Above: Start-up screen for Bora Bora Scenario in ultra-wide 8k x 2k view (scaled down to 1k)

NOTE: The bright center half of the screen is the part that is the normal splash screen when starting a flight. However, due to the extra-wide aspect ratio of running in 8kx2k, the splash screen is copied to the left and right sides that would normally be blank, and dimmed.

In normal use (flight, the various options screens, etc) the screen shows just over twice as much as a regular 4k display (see footnote at the bottom) and you can still enable the side screens to show instrument popouts and other information.


Above: 2 person internet work station transformed into pilot/copilot setup


Above: Closer view: 2 person internet work station transformed into pilot/copilot setup


Above: Side view including one of the two 50" x 50" towers where users can open up new flight windows, help screens, instrument pop-outs, etc.


Above: Start of scenario.


Above: Initial approach to volcanic island: external view


Above: Approaching the volcanic island - cockpit view


Above: Setup as seen from left side (photo credit Alexandra)


Above: Setup as seen from right side (photo credit Alexandra)

The current technology:
(some people ask)

  Asus PRIME H670-PLUS D4 REV 1 with all updates, ReBAR enabled;

  4 x 4096x2160 50" UHD Samsung Smart TVs running at their native 4096x2160;

  2 x 4096x2160 65" UHD LG Smart TVs running at their native 4096x2160;

  2 x Intel Arc A770LE video cards - total of 32gb RAM, one driving both 65" and one 50" display, the other driving the other 3 displays;

  1 x Intel i5-12400 CPU

  1 x 2-3 fan beQuiet heat pipe CPU cooler

  9 x 140 mm case fans

  128 gb Kingston fury 3600 mhz ram

  1000 Watt Corsair HX modular power supply

  8 x WD 4 TB NAS drives;

  2 pairs of rudder/toe brake pedals

External and internal backup drives, etc.

Not shown : Thrustmaster Couger MFD panels, Thrustmaster HoTaS 4 stick, 2 Trustmaster flight sticks 2 wireless headsets, 2 wireless gamepads, 2 10" tablets with stands.

Thanks to quick-disconnect USB3 cables and hubs, setup for flying takes two to three minutes, and disassembly to return to regular 2-person workstation one to two minutes.



Note: The graphics displays in MSFS 2020 are normalized for 108° views per output window at 4096x2160, 2560x1440, or 1920x1080.

Stretching the main view to 8192 pixels wide results in a virtual viewing angle of 216° "compressed" into about 120° of phsical viewing space.

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Email: barbra@lowvisioncomputing.com

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