Hello Nick, could you describe this device, its use and its cost? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nick Dotson" <nickdotson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Sunday, November 04, 2012 11:04 PM Subject: [optacon-l] Optacon Alternatives using current technologies and funding methodologies > I'm congenitally blind, and saw clouds and the moon, and have learned to > identify the colors "blue", "Brown", "Silver", and "White",, have read > print on a computer sign, identified the shapes of signage, and identify > some objects all of which I encounter in my working life, and at home, > especially when outside with both hands full and I can't use a cane at the > same time... I'm using the Brain Port, currently an Investigational > Device produced by WICAB. > > Like the Optacon, it requires practice, and a high level of motivation to > negotiate the learning curve, as home and external environments are much > more complicated environments than those represented by printed text, or > the kinds of image-related data we are used to interpolating with an > Optacon. Even Sawyer's wonderful SF books don't represent the > difficulties of "learning to see" for those of us who are congenitally > blind. But I'd never have imagined I could see the shapes of trees, > branches moving in the breeze, and the moon and clouds, or how to locate > the knob or push plate on a door and move my hand to it to open it in > motion, or reach out and grasp a specific object without having to do > search patterns on a surface so as not to knock over items I didn't know > were there... > > Like the Optacon, I'm using the device for functions outside the > expectations of the designers, like trying to learn to make simple welding > joints with a blow torch. (smile) > > Nick > > -----Original Message----- > From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > [mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Fran > Sent: Sunday, November 04, 2012 3:20 PM > To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [optacon-l] Re: To All Subscribers Of This List > > Well, no matter what anyone says, artificial vision is already a reality > for many. Unfortunately not for those blind from birth, for now at least, > but nobody can tell what will happen 10 years from now. BTW I also have > much hope in gene therapy and stem cell research! > But while we get there...and we will...thank God we have this great > technology to support us, and in my opinion the optacon is still the best, > in spite of computers, audiobooks and everything else. I use it much less > than before, but just knowing it is there makes a huge difference to me, > also psychologically. > > Fran > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Jyrki Voutilainen" <jykke.voutilainen@xxxxxxxxx> > To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Sent: Sunday, November 04, 2012 9:52 PM > Subject: [optacon-l] Re: To All Subscribers Of This List > > >> On Sun, 4 Nov 2012, Fran wrote: >> >>> I share both dreams!! Beautifully said, guys. >> >> Oh, many thanks, because my dream of the artificial vision has been â how >> should I say it â rejected by some of those whom I'd expected something >> else from. And I remember me saying that before that we need an updated >> Optacon! >> >> -- >> Jyrki Voutilainen >> mailto:jykke.voutilainen@xxxxxxxxx >> Kotisivu/Homepage: http://www.jyrkivoutilainen.com/ >> Blogi/Blog: http://blogi.jyrkivoutilainen.com/ >> 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 7657 (20121104) __________ >> >> 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. > 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.