Re: New Optacon User
- From: "Don Bishop" <w6smb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 25 Feb 2006 21:09:39 -0800
Hi Karen,
Mary gave you some good suggestions.
Sounds like you're still trying to remember just which control does what.
You know about the slide button on top of the camera for changing the size of
the image on the array.
The two knobs on the front are the intensity and threshhold. The top one is
the intensity and you might want to start with it turned fully clockwise to get
the
most intensity from the array.
The one below that is the threshhold control and you need to adjust that so the
letter appears on the array but you don't want to advance that in the
clockwise direction or the letters become blurred.
On the other hand, if you don't have the threshhold control high enough, the
letters can appear broken and incomplete. Just where you set it depends on
the clarity of the print, but I've found that if you turn it down and advance
it slowly that the best position is just a verry little bit after the letter
can be clearly
felt.
Also, the condition of your array and the light in the camera lens will effect
what is a good setting for the threshhold.
If your battery will hold a charge as long as the adapter is plugged in, but
looses it quickly after you unplug you're in good shape, but you will reach a
point
where the optacon won't respond very well if at all even if the AC adapter is
plugged in. I think someone mentioned that and I've had it happen here. When
you reach that point, your only recourse is to have it repaired.
Also, if you scan letters and then move to a blank spot on the page, does the
array stop vibrating completely? Sometimes elements on the array will fire all
the time which can really confuse reading. Again, if this happens it's time
for the repair person to do their thing.
I've been using an Optacon since 1972 and still use it every day even though I
have good scanning software and an HP scanner. There are just some
things only the Optacon will do.
I was fortunate enough to have two weeks of training at TSI back in 1972 and it
was one of the hardest, most frustrating, most exciting and wonderful times
in my life.
It still amazes me that I can read printed books, especially older ones which
were around and even out of print long before the Optacon was ever
developed. It's an experience I wouldn't trade for anything.
Don
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