[optacon-l] Re: creating a new optacon
- From: Jyrki Voutilainen <jykke.voutilainen@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 4 Nov 2012 10:11:50 +0200
Mary and list,
Perhaps you are right beeing such realistic, and perhaps we, who are still
hoping to see an updated Optacon, are â how should I say â idealists, or what
would be the correct expression to use (smile)?
But to repeat myself in other words using an old metaphore, the wheel has once
been invented, so there is only a need to update it, not to re-invent it!
Jyrki
On Sat, 3 Nov 2012, Mary Emerson wrote:
> Jyrki and list,
>
> Just a few thoughts to add to the discussion.
>
> I used the optacon in my work at IBM from 1977 till 1991 when I got my
> first braille display. I've mentioned all this before so won't go into
> it again. I still use it for mail, food packages, books, and other
> printed items, and also still read a computer screen when Windows dies
> or when I need to re-install Windows for whatever reason.
>
> These days with the economy the way it is, I suspect that funding for
> construction of a new optacon would be harder to obtain than in the
> past. Also, we need to consider that those who have the ability to
> repair our machines will retire, or for whatever reason become unable to
> help us; parts are probably next to impossible to find; and Dr. Bliss,
> who donated documentation and provided helpful comments to this list, is
> no longer with us. If we want new optacons, something will have to be
> done to revive interest and convince the blind community that there
> really is a need for this device; and to keep prices down and production
> easy, we'll have to use modern technology, including a new design for
> the array that may or may not be similar to what we've all gotten used to.
>
> We've been down this road before, and I recall some attempts through the
> years to try to design and market similar devices, but they've probably
> all fallen flat. For example, I've not heard anything about the VideoTim
> in years, so I suppose it's gone the way of similar devices although I
> hope I'm wrong.
>
> This has all been discussed previously; I'm just writing to agree with
> what you've said and toss out these thoughts for what they're worth.
>
> 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
> 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.
>
>
--
Jyrki Voutilainen
mailto:jykke.voutilainen@xxxxxxxxx
Kotisivu/Homepage: http://www.jyrkivoutilainen.com/
Blogi/Blog: http://blogi.jyrkivoutilainen.com/
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.
Other related posts:
