RE: Camera That Talks

  • From: "W. Nick Dotson" <nickdotson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: "optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Fri, 07 Jul 2006 10:56:39 -0500

Precisely.  Each person has to decide whether the capabilities and limitations 
of any device or technique fit into the framework of their own plan for leading 
as independent a life as is possible.

Nick

On Fri, 7 Jul 2006 08:05:37 -0700, Rose Combs wrote:

 I am an Optacon user, have been for a long time but, I could see a place for
 this device in my life, not for fine-reading details, however, I don't take
 the Optacon to places where I might want to read a brochure, or to the
 store, or to restaurants, places where accuracy of what I am reading isn't
 the main goal but to get the information I want quickly and immediately is.
 I could see that both devices could help a blind person become more
 independent.  I would never use the device to look up words in a dictionary
 like I do the Optacon, but to read an office memo that came only on paper,
 maybe, to peruse a menu and save my table companions from reading it to me
 or telling me what interests them, most definitely.  

 I am not buying one just yet, but I can see such a device in my future,
 maybe, and I have a scanner at home, it is great for a lot of things but if
 I need to find something particular on a page, the Optacon is my method.  

 I figure if we can either afford or find funding, all the tools we can
 manage leads us to more independence.  

  


 Rose Combs
 rosecombs@xxxxxxxxx 
 -----Original Message-----
 From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
 On Behalf Of Cynthia Handel
 Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 4:44 PM
 To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
 Subject: Re: Camera That Talks

 I understand that there's supposed to be some improvement in reading curved
 surfaces, in future software upgrades of the KNFB Reader.

 Cindy


 ----- Original Message -----
 From: "Ham Steve" <k8sp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
 To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
 Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 7:35 PM
 Subject: Re: Camera That Talks


 Charles,

 I think this isn't a real workable idea.  If one had a camera such as the
 NFB Reader, which operates by taking a picture of a page from about sixteen
 inches away, depending on material, there wouldn't be the immediate feedback
 which we have in an optacon.  This was the main drawback to Oleg's P2RD
 machine, IMO.  YOu could not easily scan an image and look for certain areas
 without zooming in and retaking the picture, if it were possible to do.

 A second delay in the KNFB implementation is that there is about an eight
 second delay from when you snap the pictyure until it goes through its
 auto-focusing routine and actually snaps the picture.

 Yes, it will read some rounded containers; probably a 90 degree swath, not
 really sure on how wide of a band it will read, but it can't be much wider
 than that.

 Steve
 Lansing, MI
 ----- Original Message ----- 
 From: "Charles Pond" <dg140@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
 To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
 Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 4:48 PM
 Subject: Re: Camera That Talks


 > rather than simply rebuilding the optacon using the original circuit
 > designs with today's technology, it might be sensible to build a
 > USB-compatible tactile array in a box with the needed controls, and plug
 > it into something like this "camera that talks".  I other words, alter and
 > refine oleg's readiog machine-based approach.  Does it make sense to
 > re-develop a stand-alone optacon?  From what I am piecing together over
 > time of how the optacon R1D and II work (here a little, there a little),
 > and with today's technology, it would seem feasible to build an optacon
 > about the size of a cassette tape case or thereabouts. (maybe not
 > including battery?)
 >
 > Charles
 >
 >
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