Hi Fran and All, I found Nick's posts most interesting and informative. I would certainly be interested in trying this device should the opportunity become available in the UK. Norman. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Fran" <fran.italy@xxxxxxxxx> To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2012 8:59 PM Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Nick's device. Thanks Nick for sharing this. You've expressed it beautifully and you sure make many of us want to try it out! Fran ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nick Dotson" <nickdotson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2012 4:16 AM Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Nick's device. > Fran: > > When I started using the Optacon, I thought allot about the fact that this > device was vibrating the shapes of letters it was seeing onto my finger > from a smooth undotted print page, and what did that mean regarding the > nature of perceived versus actual reality. Eventually I gave up on > struggling with the conundrum and said, "It is what it is. I can > understand how it works on an intellectual level, but I don't have to > bridge the gap f the seemingly unknowable. Similarly, I had light > perception until I was about 19, but couldn't see shadows. Now, with this > device, I don't get light perception, but I have seen the shadow of my > Mobility instructor on the floor of the Hilton where I work. I saw the > shadow move as she moved, saw changes of the shadow as I tried to touch > its shape on the floor, or moved into the light producing it. These and > the other things I've experienced, are, according to my sighted friends > not exactly what they see because there are only 400 pixels in t > he image, and, they are gray-scale rather than color. But I've been able > to repeatedly identify colors on that scale, have seen things I could > never touch or imagine, so it is close enough to sight it will have to do > for now, until the device evolves, or other devices--someday perhaps > directly stimulating the visual cortex with a much denser matrix come > along and I can experience them... > > Nick > > -----Original Message----- > From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > [mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Fran > Sent: Monday, November 05, 2012 11:36 AM > To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Nick's device. > > Nick, thank you so much for taking the time to share so many details on > your experience! > I was a bit put down at first when I read that the sensations are felt on > the tongue - my dream is to be able to have some visual input through the > eyes (I only have light perception). But if you kind of forget where the > images come from, and they serve the purpose, that sounds terrific! > Let's hope it passes FDA approval so it will be accessible to everyone > eligible. > > Thanks again > > Fran > > to view the list archives, go to: > > www.freelists.org/archives/optacon-l > > To unsubscribe at any time, just send a message to: > > optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" (without the > quotes) in the message subject. > > Tell your friends about the list. They can subscribe by sending a message > to: > > optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "subscribe" (without the > quotes) in the message subject. > > > __________ Informazioni da ESET NOD32 Antivirus, versione del database > delle firme digitali 7666 (20121106) __________ > > Il messaggio stato controllato da ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > > www.nod32.it > > > to view the list archives, go to: www.freelists.org/archives/optacon-l To unsubscribe at any time, just send a message to: optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" (without the quotes) in the message subject. Tell your friends about the list. They can subscribe by sending a message to: optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "subscribe" (without the quotes) in the message subject. to view the list archives, go to: www.freelists.org/archives/optacon-l To unsubscribe at any time, just send a message to: optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" (without the quotes) in the message subject. Tell your friends about the list. They can subscribe by sending a message to: optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "subscribe" (without the quotes) in the message subject.