[optacon-l] Re: R1D vs Optacon 2
- From: "C. Pond" <cpond@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 10:04:45 -0400
I think what Maureen meant about the R1D being the best designed of that
series--and she can correct me--is that there were several iterations of the
optacon R1X series: the R1B, the R1B crossover to the R1C, the R1C, the R1C
and some slight crossover to the R1D, and a number of board revisions of the
R1D, none of which seemed to have made a difference. I can look at the
schematics with an optacon and still puzzle over some changes which I have
come across in various board revisions and modifications of the true R1D
optacons. Nevertheless, the R1Ds were the best of the R1X series. The
optacon 2 is a different baby.
Charles
From: Maureen Hogg
Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2014 9:11 AM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: R1D vs Optacon 2
HI List:
It's Maureen here in Colorado.
All Charles has related is true. I use both models of Optacon. The
great advantages of the Optacon 2 are its lilghtness, modularity and
three screen settings. I use it when traveling because it is so
portable. The three screen settings - normal, inverse video and
complete inverse - were especially helpful when I used early-day
Macintosh desktop computers with much black on gray or similar subtle
shadings. The CRT barrel lens is the greatest on computer screens,
although the normal Optacon lens can now work on screens such as iPad,
Nook or a Windows 7 Classic.
I like the modularity of the batteries to mix and match when a certain
pack goes bad. Thanks to Richard Oehm in San Jose, California, I've had
many fewer issues with that design. A good technician will tell you it
is much easier to repair. The modularity of the cable system is also a
plus.
The R1D was without question the best of that design series. It is very
sturdy and can work for hours, but is much heavier. The battery charger
is also cumbersome to carry around. The larger screen is more
comfortable to operate, but it needs to be specifically designed for
either the left hand or the right hand. The Optacon 2 does not.
I'm on screen readrs now to access my desktop, laptop and iPhone. But
the Optacon is a great backup when the screen reader stalls out, which
it will do from time to time. For ordinary print materials, theOptacon
in any design has never been bested.
Hope this helps!
Maureen
On 10/22/2014 11:11 PM, C. Pond wrote:
> Here is my 0.2 cents worth. I use both the optacon R1D (this is Not the
> optacon R1C; the two are different iterations, with the R1D being superior
> to the R1D) and the Optacon 2 for good reasons, as I think Maureen on the
> list uses both R1D and optacon 2.
>
> The optacon R1D has 144 pins in its tactile display, while the optacon 2
> has
> 100 pins, and both tactile displays cover the same area--that is they are
> the same size. This implies that for some applications the greater detail
> of the R1D's display seems better for somet applications, especially where
> picky details are apparent and for certainly unnecessarily fancy fonts
> with
> lines and twirls, certainly with very tiny letters and characters,
> evenwith
> the zoom of the lense set on smallest. Special magnification lenses are
> floating
> throughout the optacon subculture lens to greatly magnify crazily small
> characters.
> these magnification lenses are treated as any normal lens, being
> detachable
> from the retina.
>
> Readers also report that their fingers become less fatigued using the
> optacon 2 and its 100 pin display. The 144 pin display is about the only
> thing the invaluable R1D has over the optacon 2, and also one can use
> the
> R1D from its case, and this is not so for the otpacon 2, a minor yet over
> looked and annoying detail by the designers of the optacon 2.
>
> The optacon2 has a detachable cable for the damera so it can be replaced
> easily if one has an extra (and we know how our camera cables do to take a
> beating).
>
> In addition to inverse and normal reading, there is a third setting on the
> optacon 2 which makes it just great for reading any kind of computer
> screen
> or electronic display. IN addition to this setting, one can press the
> "battery test" button at the back of the optacon 2 however many times is
> necessary to smooth out the ripple often felt in computer and electronics
> displays. Works great! Computer screens with just about anything on them
> amidst their busy visual world feel smooth and nice, almost slinky to
> read.
> I have not been even remotely able to achieve such success and results in
> reading computer screens of any sort or electronic display with an optacon
> R1D and its
> specialized computer lens. The special lens for the optacon R1C and R1D
> isolate light from the screen and provide a glare shield, but I still
> achieve imcomparably better results with the optacon 2 and its admittedly
> inferior tactile display with is more coarse resolution. I have not
> needed
> any specialized lens for the optacon 2.
>
> Although the optacon 2's battery is an oddball cube, it is detachable
> andeasily replaceable with a charged one when the cube runs down. The
> optacon R1D's battery is soldered into the circuit, and a technician is
> needed to replace the optacon R1D's battery, and once in a while calibrate
> its power adapter/charger. TSI supplied batteries and power packs which
> did
> not deliver enough currrent for a good optacon 2 reading session. So, I
> had
> a chunky but same-size physically battery made here-done here which
> delivers
> more current, so it can actually power the optacon 2 adequately enough.
> Also, I use a(12-Volt) switch mode power supply with a very low ripple
> voltage (likely 5mV or below) which can source 1500Ma, which is more than
> enough to power the optacon 2 and give me a nice, crisp and fresh tactile
> image.
>
> The soldered-in battery is recharged by the optacon R1D's power supply.
> The
> optacon 2's battery requires a separate charger.
>
> The display of the optacon 2 is amost in the middle of its upper
> surface,which means that one can use either left or right hands in
> reading.
> The optacon R1D allows for only the left hand to read, and the right hand
> to
> manipulate the camera.
>
> Although the ergonomics of both optacon R1D and optacon 2 models are
> different from each other, overall I think the layout and design of the
> optacon R1D(the human form factor) is superior to that of the optacon 2,
> in
> spite of
> some advantages of the optacon 2. The way the battery is a clunky cube
> infront of the camera when in use (not overly a problem); the fact that
> the
> optacon 2 cannot be used in its case; charger and power adapter are
> separate.
>
> So, if you find the optacon useful and can climb the steep sensory or
> cognitive learning curve, grab one of each model: an R1D and an optacon 2.
> (A model R1D is different from the older optacon R1C by the way, and I
> think reading results are better with the R1D compared to the R1C). So
> have
> both R1D and optacon 2 at your ever probing hand ready for instant action.
>
> For reading round things like pill bottles and cans (and recently these
> supplements in their round bottles to try and kill this illness before it
> kills me, or at least buy some time before I take that spet into eternity
> which we all must take), I can use the optacon 2, and the image (feels
> more
> crisp and readily responds); however, the display of the optacon R1D gives
> more details and finer and really noticeable resolution when it comes to
> trying to interpret and to resolve very small characters on the labels
> without a magnifications lense written of above, especially when an
> non-sans
> serif font is used, which is 99.99% of the time. I place the bottle or
> jar
> betwen my knees or several fingers on a solid surface, and role the
> cylinder
> along as I read with which ever optacon. Remember the gigantic visual eye
> candy on these bottles, and that print might be embedded into these
> designs,
> so one must be skillful with the camera's movement and stead-handed.
> Using
> any optacon os like flying a helicopter with its focused multitasking all
> co-ordinated by the trained and experienced brain.
>
> Oh yes. The optacon 2 has a serial port, whereas the optacon R1X (C or D)
> does not. Software does esist to run the optacon on a DOS machine, but as
> far as I know, none has been written to run the optacon 2 on a Windows or
> Mac. I'm sur the proper USB-to-Serial converter cable with the right chip
> set can be found, and the interface manual for the optacon 2's serial port
> does exist. This might mean nothing for what you need it, but it's out
> there.
>
> Have I missed anything?
>
> Charles back from his church retreat with an overloaded to-do list.
>
>
> Strangely, I have the parts here to build at least 8 R1D optaccons, ut my
> health condition simply no longer allows me to do what I used to take for
> granted. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Praise the Name of
> the
> Lord, for he knows our weaknesses, and he cares of us. I know exactly
> what
> to do and how to run tests for boards, the standard TSI tests (they have
> test point built into the optacons), and individual component tests.
> Also,
> a built-up store of experience helps. However, I can no longer hold the
> soldering pencil still, the solder and the copper braid. I had offered my
> stash of parts to Dave Godfrey in merry old' England, but because if
> inport
> charges and such it would have been a costly venture. So, I might contac
> Richard Oehm and sent the old lot--two boxes--to him. In one case, for
> example, it looks like either a 47V or 48V zener diode is shot, or its
> current limiting resistor, and this is easy as doing up a botton to test
> and
> to replace. However, I can no longer solder and desolder, so I can do no
> nuts and bolts testing. The Power-Timing Board (if I am corrrect) blew
> all
> 24 chips embedded in the invaluable tactile displays. These dksplays can
> indeed be rebuilt with Much patience, and if the engineers charged cost
> per
> hour, or at a prescribed rate, it would be a costly repair job, and yet
> several more optacons would be in circulatio.
>
> I had people here who did soldering and esoldering for e, and I looked
> over
> their shoulder and did the bench testing, but I can no longer guarangee
> the
> slipping quality of their work, and therefore my results as well (No doubt
> they will squawk at reading this and dismiss as Chuckie being ultrafixated
> on details, but so be it. If they don't liek what they see in the
> proverbail mirror, no need to smahs the mirror; take an honset look at
> their
> work and simply consider it and if necessary brush on the bbasics again.
> These folks wer excellent in their tine, and they could be again.)
> Meanwhile, that leaves us with very few optacon maintainers through the
> entire earth.
>
> My vote is to try and get both and R1D moeel )not an R1C if you can have
> the
> choice), and an optacon 2. They both have their place. I believe
> Maureen,
> Hogg, a zealous supporter of optacon technolgies (and she also like the
> girl
> gi=uide Hawaian macaroons they sell) uses several pairs of both the R1D
> and
> the optacon 2; one at hoe an the other pair at work An excelltnt
> arrangment.
>
> Charles just back from his church trip and still recovering.
> -----
> Original Message-----
> From: Sarah Clark
> Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2014 11:35 AM
> To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [optacon-l] R1D vs Optacon 2
>
> Hello everyone,
> We have finally decided to purchase an optacon, and are trying to
> determine
> which model to get. My husband has used one in the past, but I never have,
> and he doesn't think he ever used one of the later models.
>
> We like the idea of the Optacon 2 because of the ability to use it on
> computer screens and other LCD displays. Is the R1D able to read any of
> these displays? (In addition to computers, I'm thinking of electronics,
> such
> as displays on microwaves, stereos, etc.
>
> Also, I have read that the R1D has more image arrays, 144 vs 100 I
> believe.
> But I am unsure as to what this actually means, and how it would impact
> the
> experience. For instance, does this mean larger images, more detailed,
> more
> of the image appearing at one time, etc? Is it easier to recognize letters
> with the r1D? Or if I have never had exposure to either, would I not
> really
> notice the difference?
>
> Also, what kinds of items can you read with the optacon? I realize it can
> be
> used to read printed documents, but what about things that are not flat,
> such as cans, pill bottles, remotes with buttons, etc.
>
> I would greatly appreciate any input anyone may have. And in case it is
> helpful, I lost my vision as a young adult, so I already know all the
> alphanumeric characters, so won't have that big learning curve to
> overcome.
>
> Thanks,
> Sarah
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