Re: Modern Optacon
- From: Rachel <rachel720@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2004 13:30:42 -0500
Mike, I'm intrigued by your assertion that numerous blind people could
never adequately master the use of the Optacon. I wasn't aware of that. I
happened to be introduced to the Optacon back in elementary school in the
late 70's; and though I remember having trouble with it in the beginning, I
grew to be able to read relatively quickly with it. Could it be that the
age at which a person learns the Optacon impacts their ability to use
it? I would suspect so, as I know it's harder to gain proficiency in
Braille the older you are.
And that's something else I've been mulling over, too. I recognize a
number of names on this list from the PBD-L list and can't help but wonder
if there's any correlation between the ability to read Braille and the
ability to use the Optacon. Please, someone, tell me if I'm totally off-base.
Oh, and btw, my spatial abilities are not very good. I tend to have a lot
of trouble with mobility.
Rachel
At 10:23 AM 11/18/2004, you wrote:
>Olga:
>
>If we are to ever have a new Optacon, we must avoid the hype with which
>TeleSensory surrounded it. In particular, we must face the fact that, for
>largely unknown reasons, numerous blind persons found it impossible to learn
>to use the Optacon. In saying this, I don't think I could be accused of
>being an Optacon detractor; I've used an Optacon since 1979 and it was my
>eight-hours-a-day companion on the job until 1984. I dread the day when mine
>dies. But I think we must be realistic and acknowledge that some -- nay,
>quite a few -- blind persons had the Devil's own time learning to use the
>Optacon.
>
>As I say, I have never seen scientifically-valid research (if one can even
>have such with a small population such as that of the blind). However, one
>clue may be gleaned from anecdotal evidence of one former Optacon instructor
>of my acquaintance. She observed that those who travelld well generally
>learned the Optacon easily; those who did not travel well had a much tougher
>time learning to use the Optacon.
>
>I think that we must acknowledge that not only must we come up with the
>capital to produce and market a new Optacon but we will have to overcome
>this training problem or else the Optacon will be just another expensive
>technology.
>
>Mike
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Ollie" <sinisorsa@xxxxxxxxxx>
>To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2004 6:41 AM
>Subject: Re: Modern Optacon
>
>
> > Beth, I was born blind, and I read Braille all my life - until I learned
> > the Optacon!
> > I assure you, it can be done! And there's nothing like feeling the "real
> > thing", the real shape of characters and symbols under your finger!!!
> > It narrows the gap, even from a psychological point of view, between us
> > and
> > sighted people.
> > At leas, that's my personal experience.
> > Chers,
> > Olga
> >
> >
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> >
>
>
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