The Mission: High-Tech Hacks for a High-Def World

Most of the world is built in 4K. But for those of us living with Keratoconus, macular degeneration, glaucoma, or other low-vision conditions, reality is a bit more pixelated.

Low-Rez Living is a newsletter and community built to bridge that gap. We believe that a "blurry" life doesn't have to be a small one. Whether you are looking for the latest AI-powered smart glasses, a no-bullshit explanation of corneal research, or just a t-shirt that explains why you are squinting at someone, you are in the right place.

Meet the Founder: Russell Nielsen

By day, I am a Security Support Engineer at Amazon Web Services (AWS). I spend my hours troubleshooting complex security infrastructure and making sure data centers around the world stay safe and online.

By night, I am a builder of other worlds. As a board game designer and creator of the upcoming fantasy novel series The Midgardians and the Nine Realms, I am obsessed with how systems work. Whether it is a magic system in a book or a technical issue with a security system, I believe that if a system is not accessible to everyone, it is broken.

I am navigating the same Low-Rez reality as you. After years of dealing with the specific hurdles of the low vision community, from the physical struggle of scleral lenses to the empathy gap with friends and family, I realized that the information we need is often too clinical or just plain missing.

I started Low-Rez Living to change that. I am combining my engineer brain for systems with the creative problem solving of a game designer to help our community thrive in a high def world.

Who This Is For

• The Low-Vision Community: If you use a screen reader, wear specialty lenses, or carry a white cane, this is your home base for tech, news, and peer support.

• The Allies and Advocates: For the spouses, parents, and friends who want to help but don't want to be overbearing. We provide the "co-pilot" guides you actually need.

• The Career Seekers: Because blind-friendly work should not be a mystery. We curate opportunities and tips for thriving in the modern workforce.

Why the "Z"?

We use a "Z" in Low-Rez because, let's be honest: when your corneas are shaped like traffic cones or your vision is a collection of ghost images, nothing in life is quite a straight line. The "Z" represents our slightly distorted, tech-hacked, and resilient way of seeing the world.

Join the Club

The view might be blurry, but the mission is crystal clear.