Trying to read labels inn supermarkets (and elsewhere)

When the covid tests first appeared I sometimes found the tiny writing on them (serial numbers) hard to read. I used to photograph them on my phone and then enlarge. I use my phone for reading writing in awkward places too. My husband was ready to try and move an ancient generator, that probably weighed as much as me, to see the writing on the back, but I managed to get a hand down there and take a photo. It took 3 attempts to get a good picture, but saved a lot of work.

Let alone reading product bottles in the shower..

Oh! I'm not as alone as I thought I was!!
Are they intentionally making the print really tiny so that we must squint, use magnifiers, or push up our spectacles to see with our naked eyes?
I fear the youth of today needing glasses far earlier than we did!!

Such a great idea ExDancer; thank you!

shysal

When buying new spectacle frames in store, I photograph myself in them as I can't see myself in the mirror without my own lenses.
There is an on-line 'trying on' option but the results are not perfect.

I used to have this problem shysal but one shop in the city where I lived took photos of you in them and showed them on a computer screen it was really handy, I am now back to steaming up the glass getting near enough with one eye shut to see what I look like. The last time the chap put a pair without glass on top of my own I should have asked him to do the same with the price tag.

The thing I find annoying is the labels on clothes which are supposed to tell you what they're made of.
I'm trying not to buy any more "plastic" clothes i.e. made of acrylic, polyester or whatever, but the labels are not clearly printed and the print is minute, in about 10 languages.
Obviously it's impossible to avoid man-made fabrics altogether for tights etc.

I think they make the ingredients list as tiny as possible to avoid saying what's in some prepared foods.

I find it useful to take a photo of appliance serial numbers before they get put into places hard to retrieve from. Also if you need to read the wifi code from a router when you're away from home.

When buying new spectacle frames in store, I photograph myself in them as I can't see myself in the mirror without my own lenses.
There is an on-line 'trying on' option but the results are not perfect.

I’m partially sighted and often get odd looks when I use the torch on my phone to see what’s on the shelves in our local shop. The Seeing AI app is free to download reads labels out for you, very helpful.

I take a photo on my phone and enlarge it too, a magnifying glass would be one more thing to carry!

The size of print for ingredients, instructions and warnings on packaging have got so small now that there should be some recognised requirement for them to be legible for those who don't have 20:20 vision.

Much as I appreciate my varifocals, I do find that they make it difficult for me to read labels and prices of goods on the higher shelves in the supermarkets. But I will remember the tip about taking a picture and enlarging it - that is, if I've remembered to bring my phone.

Manufacturers are far more keen on making the packaging noticeable than helpful.

If I forget my glasses I use my phone, at home I use a magnifying glass that belonged to my dad.
Brings back fond memories of him.

Cabbie21

When you get the items home it is very hard to read any instructions which are always in very small print.

If you use an iPad there is a magnifying app on there. Take a pic then you have the bigger screen.

I often photo stuff so I can enlarge it and iphones have a magnifier on them and a torch

When you get the items home it is very hard to read any instructions which are always in very small print.

I carry my late Pa's spy glass with me in order that I can more easily check.

I do that with the electric meter, ExDancer. I am vertically challenged and the meter is high up, but if I reach up and take a photo I can then enlarge it enough to read it without having to climb to the top of the ladder.

I take photos of clothing I like but am unsure about buying at that time, also to check if I can get it cheaper elsewhere.

when shopping.

I always read labels on foodstuffs I haven't bought before.

Before I needed glasses all the time I used to wear a magnifying glass on a cord around my neck.