It captures anything under the camera and displays it on a connected HDMI screen. It can be controlled with push buttons, the buttons of a mouse or a (numeric) keyboard to iterate through a few predefined magnification levels, but can also switch colour mode (colour inversion and others) or read out text via TTS while staying completely on device.

I originally started this for my grandmother who had Macular Degeneration, to give her a second device beside her commercial video magnifier (which costs a few 1000s), and have been updating it regularly over the years. The code is python and the hardware setup is mostly up to you, although I provide a few examples from simply sticking the device to a desk lamp or monitor, up to a nice portable 3d printed design.

If you build it, please let me know any feedback or improvements. Happy holidays!