[optacon-l] Re: hello from former Optacon teacher Judy Adams
- From: "Linda Webb" <rtfan@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:01:15 -0600
Dear Judy:
Thanks for the note and to be honest, Jackie Wheeler is the only name that
still rings a bell. I could be wrong about my year attending but I know it
was in the very early stages of the Optacon because at the time, the State
of Minnesota was only purchasing three machines and selecting three people
to receive one. Fortunately I was one of the three and the only lady, the
other two were guys. It truly could have been more like 1973 or 1974; I
said '71.
I did quite well in the testing but for one reason, I knew all my print
letters already. When my younger brother was in third grade practicing his
writing skills, I wanted him to show me the letters and he would draw them
on my hand and I learned them that way. When I got to training, I really
only had to learn the various types of print, the numbers and increase my
speed.
I don't know if I had any bearing on the magnifying lens but I know at that
time I said how neat it would be if they could put one in the camera lens to
make the phone books and Bibles appear larger since the print was so small.
I was delighted when they came out with them and I forgot to mention I have
one of those also.
Now, speaking of the CRT lenses, mine is broken so am wondering if anyone
does repair those or have one for a reasonable price. Also, I have a flat
screen on the computer and heard they scratch easily so was always somewhat
hesitant to even think about using it on there even if it was working. Does
anyone have any input on that.
The lens was the smaller pin lens - I think they called it a 9-pin lens.
They mainly manufactured them for the Word Processing equipment as the 7-pin
lenses were being used more by the computer programmers on the computers. I
had purchased the 9-pin lens, as I mentioned, to work with the Office System
6 which had a very tiny screen. Judy, if you instructed, you may know to
what I am referring more than perhaps some.
Any info anyone could share is always appreciated.
BTW, rowdy? No not me (lol). I was only among the class that would go
swimming at the hotel at 11:00 at night and we all got called on being too
noisy at night by the other non-training tenants staying at the hotel. I
guess we all had our times (smile).
Always and Forever...A Randy Travis Fan
Linda and Guide, Greg
-----Original Message-----
From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of JBliss Judy
Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2009 11:37 AM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: hello from former Optacon teacher Judy Adams
Dear Linda,
Thanks for your response! You (and I) are to be forgiven for not
remembering teachers/students back in '71. We had several students at each
session and rotated teachers among them, so it's difficult to remember, but
at the time, the relationships were intense, since the training was so
concentrated over the week and a half. W
hen Telesensory sold its blindness products to Blazie we transferred the
technical records but held on to the training folders for each student for a
while, trying to decide what to do with them, since they could have provided
raw materials for research. But since there were confidentiality concerns
about the information, it was shredded. So if you were a rowdy student,your
secret is safe!
The teachers at that time included Joan Bliss (wife of Jim Bliss, the
co-inventor of the Optacon), Helen Golden, Martha McLaughlin, Betty Meltzer,
Linda Wagner, Winn Downing (our only totally blind teacher at that time),
Jackie Wheeler (who was is still associated with Kurzweil, after leaving
Telesensory, and myself, among others..
I loved that old Smith Corona attachment, and years ago I gave our training
dept. S-C typewriter to a local Optacon user, and he has kept it in good
working order. I remember being stopped in an airport when I was carrying
the IBM selectric typewriter attachment, because although the rod that held
the optics was not hollow, the security person thought I might have a rifle
with a sight!
The CRT lens for reading computer screens was also a great tool, and would
be invaluable now when speech fails on a computer, so that one could read
the screen!
Glad you're still using it. I just received Catherine Thomas's summary of
the group's activities since '06 and it's wonderful what has been
accomplished. I'm just sorry I didn't join (or re-join) the list until
recently.
Best regards,
Judy Adams
----- Original Message ---------------
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: hello from former Optacon teacher Judy Adams
From: "Linda Webb" <rtfan@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:36:41 -0600
To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Hello Judy:
>
>I apologize for not recognizing you specifically. I really don't even
>recall who did train me but I had my training at TSI in I believe 1971.
>What I am doing these days is just praying it continues working (lol).
>
>At the time I left TSI, I was working for the State of Minnesota but in
>hopes that my Optacon training would either enhance job opportunities for
me
>there or in another company or area. I ended up for several years working
>for IBM and used the typewriter attachment on the Smith Corona and the
>larger one for the IBM selectric. I also was one of the first blind
people,
>so I was told, to successfully use the CRS lens attachment for the Office
>System 6 word processor and even though that system had screen training,
one
>of our product people put the manual in print format for me so by using the
>Optacon to read the manual and then the CRS Lens to read the screen, I
>became our Word Processing System backup for that system.
>
>Until audio came along for most computers, I continued using the CRS lens
>attachment for Word Processing on IBM's 3730 8100, and 5520 systems.
>
>I am currently not working but still use it to browse through mail and the
>typewriter attachment to write out checks and complete other forms if I
>cannot do so online.
>I can't imagine being without it.
>
>Always and Forever...A Randy Travis Fan
>Linda and Guide, Greg
>
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