[optacon-l] Re: Needing the Basics
- From: "Eileen Misrahi" <eileenmis@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 5 Nov 2012 08:21:33 -0800
Hi Dave,
Thanks for your lengthy explanation. With others on this list, I know that I
have a fighting chance to learn this wonderful device. I personally feel
that there is a place for the Optacon. Look at me! I lost my vision long
after it was invented and I am thrilled that I was able to purchase one.
Funny that some have stated that instructors were negative in promoting the
training of the Optacon. It was one of my instructors at the Colorado Center
for the Blind (my own blind training) that suggested to find this device and
purchase it.
Thanks again for your detailed description on how to set up my training
materials.
Eileen
-----Original Message-----
From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of David
Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 3:30 PM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Needing the Basics
Let's add on to that suggestion, one more thing. I did use this aproach a
few years ago, when creating some fliers. But it might be a good resource
for training as well.
Let's say, you simply print all the alpha-numeric symbols, as one paragraph.
Split them on three lines:
1 - the UPPERCASED version of the alphabet;
2 - the lower-cased alphabet;
and 3 - the numbers from 0 through 9.
Your first paragraph could hold print with font size 8. You might even want
to introduce the paragraph with a line, saying something like:
Arial, size 8.
Your next paragraph will be a true copy of the first one, except from you
now increasing the size to 9. Accordingly, update the first line of the
paragraph.
Continue doing this, with sizes 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16. 16 is fairly
big, and you likely will have to move your camera up and down the individual
character, so as to read the whole character. But the benefit of this
print-out, is that you will get a good feeling of the differences between
the individual sizes. Furthermore, you will have a printed tool, for your
training on all the adjustment on the Optacon.
If you now want, you might print one page with Arial, another with Courier,
a third with Utah font. Once the basics has been set up, it is a fairly easy
go, to change font for each print-out - in your word processor (like
MSWord).
The increased benefit of having several pages with different font styles and
sizes, is that you get your hands on a printed material, of which you don't
really need to pay much attention to the contents - rather, it gives you
good chances of concentrating on learning the different adjustments of your
equipment. And, believe me, it is a bit of fun, to see the differences
between the alternative fonts on your printer.
Likely, you will find some fonts to be more readable than others. Some will
be straight forward characters, with only the necessary lines, and properly
thickened. Others, you will find, will be full of doodles, and extra
features. For instance, the letter B, might have small "over-hanging
points", going out on the left side of the vertical line forming the left
side of the character. You might also find that certain fonts, will be
rather thick on parts of the character, whilst they are pretty thin lined on
the other parts. For an example, the character 0, could have thick lines on
the side, whilst the top and bottom of the character will be rather thin.
These fonts, are the more hard ones to read, as you will have to find a
balanced setting of your Optacon. But all of this, will be a matter of
training. And with your new print-out, you have a good training tool,
exactly taylored for this purpose.
When you are done with your playing, and you want to really explore the
printed world, let me add on one more feature to this project.
Bring up a blank document in your word processor. Make a paragraph something
like the below example, only changing the name of the actual font. Repeat
this paragraph, with different fonts and sizes.
---Sample paragraph---
Font courier, size 8:
Italics
Bold
Underlined
White on black.
---End of sample---
Be sure to change the style, for each line in this paragraph. So, the line
reading "italics", should be made in italics. The line reading "bold",
should be made bold. You now will be able to do some training on the fonts,
that you already have been made familiar with, in the first step of this
project. Only, now you will learn to read the different styles, for each
font. And, this could be quite challenging.
the printed world, let me add on one more feature to this project. Many are
the times, when I have seen nice, easy-to-read fonts turning rather hard to
deal with, soon as they go into italics or the like. Besides, reading
underlined text, is sometimes a nightmare. Smile.
HTH,
----- Original Message -----
From: "Natalie" <nataliej@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 9:44 PM
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Needing the Basics
> One quick suggestion. When you're printing out things for practice if you
> make the letters too large you will probably have more problems reading
> the
> letters. Keep them normal sized so the entire letter will fit under your
> finger.
>
> Natalie
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Eileen Misrahi" <eileenmis@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 3:04 PM
> Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Needing the Basics
>
>
>> Hi Cindy,
>>
>> Thanks for your offer. I may need to take you up on it. Let me try to see
>> if
>> I can get the hang of it. I am going to print out a sheet of letters of
>> 12
>> point font all in caps. This way I can get the cursor position from JAWS,
>> so
>> that I have a general idea of where to look on the page for the letters.
>> I
>> will keep you posted and may need to give you a call.
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Eileen
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> [mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
>> On Behalf Of Cindy Handel
>> Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 8:44 AM
>> To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Needing the Basics
>>
>> Hi Eileen,
>>
>> First, I believe the switch is in the proper position. If you're looking
>> at
>> dark print on a white page, this is the position it should be. If you
>> look
>> at light print on a dark background, then you'd move the switch to the
>> right.
>>
>> Setting the threshold really depends on the type of printing you're
>> looking
>> at. If it's bold print, you probably want to turn the threshold down so
>> the
>> shape of the letter is easier to determine. I don't think there's an
>> easy
>> way to determine where it should be positioned. Try working with the
>> pointer on the knob being positioned anywhere between the 7 and 9
>> position.
>>
>> The camera should be held so it's vertical on the page; so the cable is
>> at
>> the bottom of the camera.
>>
>> If you need more assistance and would like, I could call you and help
>> over
>> the phone.
>>
>> Cindy
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Eileen Misrahi
>> Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 11:15 AM
>> To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Subject: [optacon-l] Needing the Basics
>>
>> Hello List,
>>
>> I want to thank all that have responded and made the suggestions for
>> finding
>> a signature line. When I attempted to put all the suggestions to
>> practice,
>> I
>> realized that I am a rank beginner. It's been so long ago when I received
>> instructions and I couldn't find them because that computer has been laid
>> to
>> rest. I need basic setup directions on how to set the threshold, how much
>> of
>> the array pins I should be feeling under my finger, and which way the
>> switch
>> in the back of the machine should be placed. Right now, the back switch
>> is
>> slid to the left position, but I am not sure what this really represents
>> (regular or reverse). When placing the camera on the page, is the camera
>> held vertical or horizontal? I know this is an immense amount of
>> questions,
>> but I am willing to invest the time now to learn this wonderful device
>> that
>> no assistive technology will provide the information that will make it
>> necessary to be independent in signing work related documents. I
>> appreciate
>> all of the suggestions and help from those who can guide me through the
>> learning process. I remembered that someone on this list had the training
>> manual. If it is still in that individual's possession, I would
>> appreciate
>> a
>> copy to be sent off line to: eileenmis@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>
>> Thanks again for everyone's assistance in learning to use the Optacon.
>>
>> Best,
>> Eileen
>>
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>>
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