[optacon-l] Re: Optacon Alternatives using current technologies and funding methodologies
- From: "Eileen Misrahi" <eileenmis@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 5 Nov 2012 14:05:14 -0800
Hi Fran,
You sound like me. I keep holding on to good functional optic nerves, which are
necessary for gene therapy or stem cell treatment. I have been waiting for over
41 years for some treatment that could restore some sight, but now I am trying
to be more realistic, thinking that it may never occur. That's why I am open to
all other types of alternative devices that could give me some type of feedback
of my environment. Most of the research and clinical studies have been involved
with Macular Degeneration, but I have RP, so it's not quite applicable to my
situation. I keep on trucking and that is what we all need to do with what we
have. We really need to pat ourselves on the back that we can use all kinds of
assistive technology and compete on equal footing with our sighted peers , as
well as accessing written materials. I look forward to learning the Optacon. I
just wanted to reply before starting a session with it. I have printed out two
different font sheets, with different font sizes. This will be interesting, but
rewarding all the same when I get the hang of it.
Thanks for your candid response.
Best,
Eileen
-----Original Message-----
From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Fran
Sent: Monday, November 05, 2012 1:25 PM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Optacon Alternatives using current technologies and
funding methodologies
Hi Carolyn,
as I understand it, the optic nerve is bypassed by this kind of device! So why
not try when it becomes available?
I still hope to have sight restored through gene therapy, as my retinas are
supposed to be still healthy but the photoreceptors don't work properly.
Anyway, if this device can give me some additional freedom, it is more than
welcome!!
----- Original Message -----
From: "H & C Arnold" <4carolyna@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, November 05, 2012 10:09 PM
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Optacon Alternatives using current technologies and
funding methodologies
> Nick, I am utterly astounded by your story and devastated that you
> can't continue with the device. After last night's back and forth, I
> realized that with undeveloped optic nerve, I probably could not
> qualify, but I was so hopeful for you and had no idea you'd have to
> give it up. I'm afraid I'd be giving them a bad time about that one,
> if I had the opportunity for a device that gave me any vision at all.
> I did have partial vision as a child, and anything is better than
> nothing, I can say from experience.
>
> DOG - Depend on God,
>
> Carolyn
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Nick Dotson" <nickdotson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Sunday, November 04, 2012 10:58 PM
> Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Optacon Alternatives using current
> technologies and funding methodologies
>
>
> We guinea pigs get to use it for a year. Mine ends in March.
>
> I also realize what I understand as color is actually gray-scale data,
> but it is the closest I've experienced to the visual textural
> differences I can rerecognize as particular colors as my sighted
> cohorts see/experience them.
> And, there is much I'd like to be able to see that I just can't yet or
> possibly ever interpolate rapidly enough to make it useful in a
> particular context.
>
> For instance, I'd like to be able to get useful data from pictures on
> the internet to see various buildings, air and space craft, animals,
> people, Etc. but practically I'm not going to learn that in a year
> anymore than an infant can learn to use their visual sensorum in all
> of its facilities in their first year, nor do all sighted people use
> their sight with equal efficacy... However, I suppose for a
> congenitally blind child, energy levels and refractory time would be
> much improved... And, as I alluded to before, looking at an object
> and isolating it from its surroundings in varying lighting conditions isn't a
> particularly easy trick either.
> Whereas, with the Optacon, one has more control of and relatively
> fewer variables to contend with in the print environment and the
> essentially binary nature of the reading experience, that is, a reed
> is either vibrating to indicate a pixel in the matrix or it isn't.
> (smile)
>
> Nick
>
> D.O.S. Depend On Science
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> On Behalf Of H & C Arnold
> Sent: Sunday, November 04, 2012 8:27 PM
> To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Optacon Alternatives using current
> technologies and funding methodologies
>
> Nick, how long did it take you to adjust to the brain port? Did it
> take a few months or a couple of years? Although I was born with some
> partial sight, I realize that anyone without sight for a period of
> years would have to learn to see like a stroke patient has to learn to
> walk again.
>
> DOG - Depend on God,
>
> Carolyn
>
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