Actually, I've never used scanner technology until now. I'm a proficient
Optacon user coming up on 45 years. It's much more efficient to read
mail with an Optacon. There's no need to go through all the effort to
read a prescription label. My pharmacist gives me a regular printout
8.5x11" that lays flat on the reading pad. Same amount of info and more.
I admit I seldom use prescription drugs, though. I discovered the
scanning capability of this HP Color LaserJet purely by accident. We had
to scan in a regular print document for which I'd lost of MS Word file.
When we did so, we discovered a remarkable compatibility with JAWS. I'll
be able to scan in such documents in future on my own from a Focus 80
Blue on JAWS V. 19. That's the only reason I'd use it: To digitize files
from already printed material. My point is that mainstream technology
can be adapted to an assistive technology outcome. Look for the simple
answer first.
Maureen
On 11/18/2019 11:48 PM, (Redacted sender knobman for DMARC) wrote:
This printer has wiped out the need for an OCR capability on my system....
True, until you get into some kind of print that a scanner won't read
accurately when absolute accuracy is required. Sometimes, you need access
to the shapes of the characters on something to decode the letters yourself
when a scanner won't get it. I have a flat-bed scanner which I use a lot
when I want to just drop a piece of mail on it and punch two or three
keystrokes to learn what it is; but I've seen labels on round medicine
bottles which I cannot read on a scanner unless I peel off the label,
hopefully without tearing it. I admit that it isn't easy to do; but before
I got the Script Talk system and began receiving medicines from a company
which can add the Script talk labels, I read the labels once a month by
placing a bottle between my knees and moving one leg with respect to the
other to roll the bottle back and forth to identify it. I then swapped the
cap containing a two- or three-character braille label code agreed upon by
my wife and me from the previous month's bottle to the new bottle and poured
the few pills remaining in the previous bottle into the new one. I had to
have an Optacon to do that reading.
Of course, many of you know that I have historically read technical material
and displays on some electronic equipment - all of which requires that the
camera be movable in a controlled manner often in two dimensions outside of
straight lines normally followed in textual reading. To do that, you have
to have two-dimensional motor control to take the camera where it needs to
go and a decoder to interpret what is found and give feedback to the camera
motor. All this stuff has to reside within the person reading the material.
Up to this point, we don't have computer-based machine technology that will
do that.
But if you need to read mostly text from mail and other items, I concede
that a high-quality scanner such as your HP scanner will probably take care
of your needs with very few exceptions. For my part, though, I am thankful
that I have a couple of Optacons around here.
-----Original Message-----
From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On
Behalf Of Maureen Hogg
Sent: Monday, November 18, 2019 8:07 PM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Braille Users, a bit off-topic
That's true, Dan. But, recall, it wasn't an organization for the blind that
created the Optacon to begin with. It was Dr. John Linville, a professor at
Stanford. He did it because his daughter, Candace, was visually impaired.
Organizations for the blind or civic groups who worked with the blind as a
community project got on board later. In the 21st century, some mainstream
technologies are replacing specialized systems for the blind. This list has
talked about iPhone apps that do it. For my part, I just purchased a HP
Color LaserJet Pro M478F printer.
Its scan capability is totally accessible to JAWS V 19. That is in text only
output for a refreshable braille display. This printer has wiped out the
need for an OCR capability on my system. A nice benefit for a mainstream
product.
Maureen
On 11/18/2019 3:57 PM, dan.tevelde@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
In my case the topic is relevant. I learned to read print with theboth hands.
optacon with my left hand but have always been able to read print with
Now I only remember basic block letters. Since I don't use an optaconremotely interested.
anymore, I forgot things like numbers, punctuation, and different fonts.
With Braille I can only read with my right hand.
I would think that any possible newly-developed optacon would allow
the user a hand preference. The device should have a wireless option
which I think would be desirable. This might help the user reach
places where conventional OCR won't go.
I'm just curious if a project to develop a new optacon is still alive.
With all the advances in camera, OCr, and tactile haptic technology I
would think development would be relatively easy. The most difficult
things would be the tactile array and the software. We already have
high resolution cameras. It's a shame no organization of the blind is
Danquotes) in the message subject.
-----Original Message-----
From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
On Behalf Of peter wilkins
Sent: Tuesday, November 12, 2019 12:34 PM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Braille Users, a bit off-topic
I use my index finger on both hands to read Braille. The index
finger on my left-hand also is used for the Optacon, which I
still use every day. However, with Optacon II you can use other
fingers and even your right hand if you wish because the array is central.
Peter
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