[optacon-l] Re: TSI and the Good Old days!
- From: "Nick Dotson" <nickdotson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 10:20:09 -0600
In 1970 at FSU I had an opportunity to Guinea Pig a Laser Cane, which the
College of Education Department of Visual Disabilities under which after
several changes of Major I would acquire my Bachelor's of Science, was
evaluating for the V.A. because there was a possible 83 blind student
population from which to find experimental volunteers... We had an area of
the campus blocked of for several blocks, and one day after testing, I was
allowed to remove the crook of the cane and it's laser and audio and tacter
assembly from the shaft. I had picture book technique at the time and ran
as fast as I could until I was tired of running on the very edge of being
out of control and going head over heals... Never before and never since
have I had that amazing since of almost flying, and I was able to detect and
dodge obstacles faster than my Object Perception could. Finally, I used the
6-meter horizontal beam to trace the branches of a tree. This and what I've
experienced of print, images, and other non tactile displays with the
Optacon give me my own personal conceptions of what it must be like to
see--experience beyond the range with Object Perception and not touch--and
know things exist. The Sonic guide with it's ability to allow me to
discriminate between the sounds of different adjacent surfaces to reach for
a door knob without any direct contact with the door or it's frame give me
my own internal sense of what the power of vision must be like. This
knowledge of the relation to form as beauty in addition to the access of the
functional contents of documents acquired through the use of the Optacon
have greatly enriched my perceptions of what the nature of the world might
be like for those not congenitally blind--not perhaps with full-fledged
accuracy from their perspective, but giving me grist for the mills of
amazement and occasional envy. (grin)
Nick
----- Original Message -----
From: <gerald.g.weichbrodt@xxxxxx>
To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 9:43 AM
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: TSI and the Good Old days!
> Gee, I can remember doing some mobility work with the Sonic Guide in the
> 1970's. I remember head angle being a touchy issue since you didn't want
> to miss stuff by elevating your head too much but you also didn't want to
> pick up topographical noise. I learned to navigate among poles set up on
> the ground and did some outdoor travel with the Sonic Guide as an
> augmentation to what my cane would pick up. I can't say that I ever
> became a power user of the Sonic Guide, however. I am glad I had the
> experience of working with it.
> Regards,
> Jerry
>
>
>
> "Pentronics" <service@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent by: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> 01/12/2009 10:48 PM
> Please respond to
> optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
>
> To
> <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> cc
>
> Subject
> [optacon-l] Re: TSI and the Good Old days!
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yes, the Kay torch was the precursor to the Sonic Guide and Mowat Sensor.
> I
> still have some parts for the Sonic Guide, (I used to build the units for
> Australia), but nothing left for the Mowat. Sadly the Sonic Guide is
> another
> device gone without a replacement. Those were the days when Wormald did
> mobility products, TSI did blindness products and Visualtek did low vision
> products. Ah, the world was a simpler place.
>
> Pentronics
> 33B Sheppard Road
> EMU PLAINS NSW 2750
> AUSTRALIA
> PO Box 965
> PENRITH NSW 2751
> Tel. +612 4735 7355
> e-mail service@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> web. www.pentronics.com.au
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> On Behalf Of Nick Dotson
> Sent: Tuesday, 13 January 2009 2:31 PM
> To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [optacon-l] Re: TSI and the Good Old days!
>
> Me too, if memory serves Wormald had the Kay Torch (spelling) and one of
> my
> favorite mobility aids the Sonic-Guide. Never got to do more than see the
>
> former, but had the later during my internship and it gave me back the
> lost
> capabilities dependence on the cane took from my previously depended upon
> Object Perception/Facial Vision--and then some. I know it was Nurion who
> did the Laser cane, but I loved that too. Wish that those types of
> devices
> were still available...
>
> Nick
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mary Emerson" <maryemerson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Monday, January 12, 2009 4:47 PM
> Subject: [optacon-l] Re: TSI and the Good Old days!
>
>
>> Oh my, I remember Wormald! I have a Mowat sensor that still works,
>> although
>> these days I use an external charger which charges nickel metal hydride
>> batteries, and a 9-volt NIMH battery works quite well. I think it's
> still
>> the best sensor of its kind, and it's essential for me since I have a
>> hearing loss. It's saved my life more times than I can tell you.
>>
>> Back to the optacon: I found the Main Menu segment of December 18, 2002
> in
>> which a brief description of the optacon was mentioned. Jonathan Mosen
>> gives
>> a nice summary of what it does, and I think I'll put it at the beginning
>
>> of
>> the broadcast. It sure is fun to dig this stuff out of the archives.
>>
>> Mary
>>
>> 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
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>> quotes) in the message subject.
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>> Tell your friends about the list. They can subscribe by sending a
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>> quotes) in the message subject.
>>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ----
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>
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> to view the list archives, go to:
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