I think, that maybe other than slate and stylus to write Braille notes,
right up with that or above is my Optacon. Right now, I need to send mine in
for repair, and I feel so handicapped, can't even find a place on a letter
to sign, can't find out if a pen is writing to sign just to touch the tip of
the iceberg.
GIFT (God is forever true),
Carolyn
----- Original Message -----
From: "Daniel Tonge" <danieltonge2011@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, June 05, 2015 11:13 AM
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Facts
In the past several years, I have expounded on the Optacon's greatness
and the uses I put it to. It helped me in so many ways, many or most
of which I have shared with the list. It allowed for independence I
could never attained from any other device. My tremmors have come
back to an extent, so my days of reading with the Optacon are pretty
much over. I guess I don't need to be a broken record about my uses
and experiences and learning of print format and being able to use it
on the computer screen before I ever had access to speech. It is,
without a doubt, the one device to which I owe so much, and the most
exciting thing I had the privilege of using. I probably won't have
much more to say on this list, but to everyone who has had anything to
do with the repair and personal training on the Optacon, my hearfelt
and undying thanks.
On 6/4/15, Carolyn Arnold <4carolyna@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
The Optacon has been responsible for me and others to get and keep jobsto view the list archives, go to:
that
we could not have done without it.
In one office where I worked as a secretary, one of the doctors was so
interested in it and noticed that I used Braille too for notes and short
hand. He said, "oh, you work in two languages."
GIFT (God is forever true),
Carolyn
----- Original Message -----
From: "david" <knobman@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, June 04, 2015 6:00 PM
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Facts
I am certainly indebted to many people - most of whom I will likely never
know - not only for researching and testing to find the best design
possible
at the time, but for the people who made it possible for me to have an
Optacon by paying only for the training. Granted, I have tools which
will
read information to me, and I use the one which I think best for the
reading
task I have at the moment. The Optacon, however, has given me access to
some information which no scanner-type system on earth will touch! For
several years when I did a good bit of experimentation with electronic
logic
circuits in small projects, the Optacon was the only means available to
read
the schematics, "basing diagrams", and pin charts required to use those
chips. By having the "camera motor control" and the "decoder/processor"
in
my mind, I could "send" that camera anywhere on the page at any angle to
follow the diagrams in a logical order so that I could dictate the
schematics onto a cassette. By the way, I am also indebted to Robert
Gunderson and several others from the 1940s on for devising the general
"language" for describing schematics found on a printed page. In our
house,
I have several toolboxes, and I use the appropriate tool for whatever
repair
I undertake in our house. Similarly, I am glad that we now have several
"tools" available to us for accessing information. None of them can
access
everything we want to read; but I read many things with the Optacon
several
years before I had a talking computer, talking calculator, or scanning
device. If I were able to make any improvements to create the "ideal
Optacon," I would add the capability to read displays on appliances in
real
time; a feature to "freeze" the Optacon's readout to solve the often
rapid
flashing on and off of displays; and some type of camera design to allow
it
to read those "sunken" or "angled" displays; and maybe a bit more robust
camera cable. Having said that, however, I must nevertheless "sing loud
praise" for the Optacon and all the people who have researched, tested,
built, repaired, and trained people to use it. May the Optacon long
remain
as one very effective way to access several types of printed
information.
And, how would many of us ever realized many of the formatting
characteristics of the printed page had we not actually had our hands on
the
printed page?
----- Original Message -----
From: "Pat Byrne" <k9jau@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, June 04, 2015 3:45 PM
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Facts
Thanks Catherine.
pat ByrneAt 02:38 PM 6/4/2015, you wrote:
The members of the Optacon list know for a fact that the technical
ezpertise of Charles, David and Richard comes from years of experience
using and repairing Optacons. We know that they are thoroughly
acquainted
with the designs of the various models and with the extensive research
that was done on the Optacon's various aspects. Most of us on the list
are
not in a position to judge the technical merits of any design proposal
unless there are concrete examples that we can look at and test.
To the best of our knowledge, there is no actual new Optacon-like
device
or even a design for one. Therefore, it's a little early to be grabbing
any sort of credit.
Over the years many people have been interested in the Optacon, how it
works, its uses and its potential for big bucks. We've watched dozens
of
devices come and go, most of them being glorified scanners. When people
have asked about the Optacon, this list has answered everyone's
questions
freely and I expect that we will continue to do so.
We hope to preserve for the next generation a device that can read
on paper and on other surfaces in real time without re-interpretation.
This unique feature is what separates the Optacon from the hundreds of
access devices already in existence. We hope that the Optacon will be
able
to read computer screens and other displays and colors in real time
also.
The more things that can be read with the Optacon, using the brain as
interpreter, e.g. TV screens, CD displays, cell phones, monitors, smart
phones, touch-screens, etc., the more potential users might be drawn to
the Optacon. The Optacon will never be the device of choice for those
who
wish the instant gratification of being read to. The things that
Optacon
users know about print page layouts are not even a part of the
awareness
of those who have never experienced them. Unfortunately, my best guess
is
that most potential Optacon users would rather go with a passive
(read-to-me" device in spite of many limitations. In other words, the
Optacon will never be a for-profit device.
Nevertheless, for countless reasons we would like to preserve this
method
of accessing information. Anyone who wishes to contribute technical
expertiseout of a genuine interest is asked to contribute with no hope
of
financial gain.
We hope that everyone interested in Optacon design can work out there
differences PRIVATELY.
We all hope for the best.
Catherine
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Catherine Thomas
braille@xxxxxxxxx /
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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