[optacon-l] Re: R1D vs Optacon 2
- From: David <trailerdavid@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 18:21:22 +0200
Not easy to obtain any Optacon models, these days. You might have luck
in checking places like Vendor or EBay. Every now and then, there might
be something popping up there. Yet be forewarned. I bought one Optacon
off from EBay last year, and it arrived here. Shocking experience, would
be the best description. It was so dirty, you would think it had been
picked up from the cloak. And it cost me several hundred dollars. At the
best, it might be useful for a few parts, if you clean it well enough. :)
Then again, other times you may get extremely well refurbished stuff off
these places. I picked up a Braille display from EBay, and it works
flawlessly, and was only like 300 dollars for an 80cell. What I am
saying, is to be quite cautious when doing your shopping.
Once in a while, you may see things listed for sale even here on the
list, so keep your fingers busy - smile. Contacting one of the repairers
(either in the States or UK), could of course be a chance as well. Yet
likely they may only point you back to this list.
Of course, now you have put out your wish for everyone, so maybe
something comes around. :) For the most part though, I have seen the
Optacon 1 series adverticed. Quite rarely the Optacon 2 is seen.
Personally, I have had the chance to test both versions up through my
nearly three decades of Optacon usage. Except from the physically
smaller, more portable size of the version 2, I do have little
beneficial to say about it. By far, the Optacon 1 series did outrange
the readability of its successor. Too often, I run into cases where the
resolution on the Optacon 2 is too bad. I also have seen the first
models of Optacon 2 struggling with too touchy potentiometers, for the
adjustment of thickness and intensity. This lead to the user having
quite a time in adjusting to a working level. Seems the later models got
a better component, but still I do hold the Optacon 1 had a far better
adjustment factor.
As for computer screen reading, and other electronic equipment, my
experience is rather mixed. I have seen cases where the Optacon 1 did
the better job, and a few cases where Optacon 2 was the best choice.
Further I have seen Optacon usage work perfectly well on one computer
screen, but being totally useless on the next - all depending on the
screen technology and actual software. Microwaves, Stereos, Clocks and
other electronics? Oh yes, I have been trying it all. In the old days,
10-15years ago, you might have a chance on quite a number of units.
Today? Sorry. Too often you will find the displays being positioned the
way they are not reachable with the lense. Often they are too close to
the edge, the buttons, sitting too deeply inside the unit, being too
flickery or whatever else. If you happen to find it works on your
equipment, fine. But if you expect that getting another Optacon will
solve your troubles, be prepared for a two-sided story.
Reading small print, like on pill bottles, or labels with bad contrast -
seems far better with the Optacon 1. But for what it is worth, the fact
that the Optacon 2 has a replaceable battery pack, is a clear pluss.
Optacon 2 is all in plastics, whilst the 1 series were in metal casing.
Hence the weight reduction of series 2 is quite noticeable. When comes
to the point about the charger of the Optacon 1 being heavy and clumsy,
I want to mention there is available on the market many AC/DC adaptors
that are both light-weighted and tiny-sized. It is important that you
get what is called a stabilized model, and it should be protected for
shutcuttings. Yet they exist, and even if they are a bit more expensive,
I picked up one for less than 40 dollars locally. For those living in
the UK or Scandinavia, you can check out with the mail order company
named Clas Ohlson, that is where I got it. For the rest of you, please
check with local stores, or look at netshops like Radioshack, Ebay,
Futureshop or similar places. Exact voltage and currency, plug type and
polarity, I am sorry but I don't remember all that right offhand, but
one of the techie guys may want to jump in here (or I may happen to have
a note hanging around here). Smile.
OK, I did not mean to advertise for any company at all, just wanted to
point out a couple of places where I found the needed solutions. Take it
as pure samplifications, and nothing else. If it offended anyone, please
have me excused.
Regards,
David
On 10/23/2014 5:46 PM, Tore Johnny Bråtveit wrote:
> Hello listers,
>
> This is definitely an interesting discussion. For me, the Optacon 2 is
> unknown so far, but I understand that it could be convenient for reading
> computer screens - and there are, as you know, situations when the
> various screen readers are of no use. I have already an Optacon R1D and
> am very pleased with it, but I see that my toolbox could benefit from
> containing an Optacon 2 in addition to the other one.
>
> So, could anybody please advise me where I might obtain an Optacon 2
> unit these days?
>
> Best regards
> Tore Johnny in Norway
>
>
> Maureen Hogg skrev:
>> 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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>> to view the list archives, go to:
>>
>> www.freelists.org/archives/optacon-l
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>>
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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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>> 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.
>
>
>
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