A contaminated display with dirt or acids from the skin of a user's hands may exhibit some of the behaviors described as the ports in the display grid may be clogged. Again, servicing and familiarization with the device's specifications is in order.] Nick ----- Original Message ----- From: <Gailselfridge@xxxxxxx> To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Sunday, November 29, 2009 10:24 PM Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Request for some advice >I agree with Mary. The optacon is a very delicate instrument and will not > hold up if you give it rough treatment. I would like to add that the pins > on > all the optacons I have used are uniform in how they feel from column to > column. > > Gail > > Richard, > I have never held my finger too firmly to interfere with the optacon's > vibration, and I would never advise anyone to do so. The optacon is an > extremely delicate piece of equipment, meant to assist blind people in > reading print; it is meant for gentle use, with a gentle touch on the > very > delicate array, which is the plate with the 144 vibrating reeds. Please > be > extremely careful when using this device; it isn't meant for the sort of > treatment you are giving it. If the array is abused as you have > indicated, > it will die, and it most likely cannot be replaced. > Mary > to view the list archives, go to: > _www.freelists.org/archives/optacon-l_ > (//www.freelists.org/archives/optacon-l) > To unsubscribe at any time, just send a message to: > _optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx (mailto: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@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx (mailto: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.