[optacon-l] Re: Optacon reading technique
- From: David <trailerdavid@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 13 Jul 2013 17:58:21 +0200
I wanted to add on one tiny extra suggestion here.
Many times, it might be beneficial, even to tilt your Optacon slightly
sideways as well. So, if you test it out, try raising the front a tiny bit,
and make sure that the right-hand, front-end corner is a bit higher than the
left-hand, front-end corner. This might take a bit of try-and-failing, but
the mainpoint of all of this, is to get the Optacon positioned in an angle,
that is as natural as possible, according to your body shape, and the
working position you are usually in.
Also, to prevent fattigue, it might be helpful to slide the Optacon unit,
further in on the desk. Try to rest your as much of your forearm as
possible, on the desk, or make sure, the arm will have any other support
that is needed. If you let your arm "hang" loose, when reading, often the
arm muscles will tire out pretty soon, and the weight of the whole arm will
be loading onto your fingers, causing them more straining and fatigue. The
more relaxed you can be, when reading with the optacon, the better things
will work out for you. And likely, you will find that your reading speed and
endurance increases.
When operating the Optacon on a desk, I like to have the Optacon itself that
far back on the desk, that the rear end of the display, aligns with the top
edge of the page I am reading on. This typically, would mean that I move my
optacon something like 10 or 12 inches in, from the front-edge of the desk.
That covers most of your forarm, and so you will easily get well relaxed. If
you need further support for your forearm, get hold of a tiny cushion, or
even use a book or the like, underneath your forearm. Simply put, make
yourself comfortable, when reading.
----- Original Message -----
From: "David" <trailerdavid@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, July 07, 2013 6:56 PM
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Optacon reading technique
> If your problem is, that your index finger for some reason cannot be laid
> flat on the array, long as the Optacon is possitioned on a flat surface -
> why don't you put a CD jewelcase or something, underneath the front-end of
> the unit. This way, the Optacon will slightly tilt backward, and you might
> get a better reading position for your finger. Sometimes I even find it
> helpful, simply because I don't strain my wrist that much, when the
> Optacon
> is slightly tilted. Angling it a bit to the left or the right - so the
> unit
> might not be positioned straight in line with the edge of the desk - might
> also help to position your finger more comfortably.
>
> As for the recognition of certain letters, this can often be a challenge.
> But usually, a G, will be rounded at the left edge, but quite straight at
> the right edge of the character. If that is of any help to you.
>
> Keeping concentrated in reading, sure it can be a challenge. Especially
> so,
> if you keep struggling with recognizing each character. There is a good
> reason for all the adjusting knobs on the Optacon. Learning to use both
> the
> thickness, intensity and magnification knobs, all will increase your
> chance
> of reading more effectively. Most users tend to turn the knobs too high,
> meaning they get big, thick characters, that almost hurt their fingertips.
> Reading a few lines, your finger is just about asleep, from the hard
> prickling of the needles, and so you discern it is time to turn on more
> thickness and intensity, so as to continue to read properly. Others tend
> to
> turn the knobs too low, meaning they will have to struggle in their
> recognition, often missing important parts of the characters. Exactly
> where
> the best setting is, will much depend on your sensitivity, the material
> you
> are reading, and how well your Optacon is functioning. A dirty array,
> might
> need higher turning of the knobs, yet still give bad reading quality.
>
> A good suggestion, also would be to try maintain as smooth and sensitive
> skin on your index finger, as possible. This can be challenging, as you
> often will be using that finger for far more than just read. But it is no
> bad idea, to use a bit of lotion on your hands, regularly. Just never use
> lotions, immediately prior to operating the Optacon, since this will
> transfer high amounts of fat to the array needles, and eventually could
> lead
> to malfunction.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Natalie" <nataliej@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Sunday, July 07, 2013 5:20 PM
> Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Optacon reading technique
>
>
>>I change the adjustment knobs all the time depending on the font,
>>thickness
>> of the lines, brightness of the print etc. When I went to Boston for my
>> training the instructor said that letters like G may not always be
>> recognizable except for their size so just infer that it's a G and keep
>> going. It doesn't always work but so it goes. I tend to have problems
>> with
>> large print and prefer to make the print small as the tip of the finger
>> is
>> more sensitive. Just my way of doing things. Keep your finger as
>> comfortably set as yu can.
>>
>> Natalie
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Robert Feinstein" <harlynn@xxxxxxxxx>
>> To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Sent: Sunday, July 07, 2013 11:10 AM
>> Subject: [optacon-l] Optacon reading technique
>>
>>
>>>I have been using my optacon a great deal and have a question. I keep my
>>> left index finger on the array, but my finger is a bit bent, not totally
>>> flat. I find that when I read, I sometimes miss the letters that hit
>>> your
>>> finger lower down, especially the g or the q. Do any of you have that
>>> problem? Also, I am not sure if it is better to make the letters
>>> smaller,
>>> so you read more with your finger tip, and less far down? I'd be very
>>> interested if people on the list could describe how they position their
>>> index finger, and what size they make the print.
>>>
>>> I ask because I can read pretty well, but always get stuck when the word
>>> begins with a g or a q: I'm just not feeling the bottom of those letters
>>> all of the time.
>>>
>>> Also, I only change the threshold setting and not the intensity. Do
>>> most
>>> of you do that, or do you change the intensity (the top knob) at times?
>>>
>>> I find that if I am reading a simple letter I'm fine, but anything a
>>> bit complicated, my comprehension isn't good, because I'm concentrating
>>> so
>>> hard on reading that the meaning gets a bit lost. Do any of you have
>>> this
>>> problem? Especially with very long sentences and more difficult words?
>>>
>>> An optacon instructor once told me to read the first letters of a word
>>> more slowly, and then speed up for the rest of the word, but I find this
>>> difficult to do. Sometimes I try to guess at a word, and find I've
>>> guessed wrong and have to back track.
>>>
>>> Any advice or experiences of others would be most welcome, and I thank
>>> all
>>> of you in advance for your help. I truly love the optacon and want to
>>> improve, and I feel I can learn a lot from all of you, as many of you
>>> read
>>> much better than I do.
>>>
>>> I like how my serviced optacon is working: I keep it plugged in all the
>>> time anyway, so this is perfect for me. I'm glad I had the battery
>>> removed.
>>>
>>> Kindest regards,
>>> Robert in Brooklyn, NY
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
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>
> to view the list archives, go to:
>
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>
> To unsubscribe at any time, just send a message to:
>
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> quotes) in the message subject.
>
> Tell your friends about the list. They can subscribe by sending a message
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>
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> quotes) in the message subject.
>
>
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