Hi all,
I really enjoy the discussion on this list even though I am not currently
using an optacon. I'm thinking that because we are all isolated due to the
pandemic now more than ever we need as many technologies as we can to be
independent. An additional justification for the optacon which has not been
discussed much is the fact we need access to information now more than ever
because not every blind person can get sighted assistance.
What is the blind person who does not have an optacon supposed to do if they
receive mail, try to scan it, and encounter handwriting or type styles the
scanning software can't identify. Unless we have a modern optacon, these
people will be left out. I'm already experiencing that dealing with my
state's unemployment website where I can't even get people to answer the
phone. Fortunately, I have sighted people to help with the website but not
everyone is so lucky. Using Aira or Bemyeys are options but then the person
can't access information privately and independently. We need more
government research money to develop new products including products which
interpret graphical information into something we can touch in addition to
interpret graphics using audio sonification which provides incomplete and
inaccurate information.
Dan
-----Original Message-----
From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On
Behalf Of David Plumlee (Redacted sender "knobman" for DMARC)
Sent: Saturday, July 4, 2020 12:55 PM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: optacon proves itself again
It is indeed sad that modern blind children will not get the benefits we
have received through the Optacon. If for nothing else, the skills related
to formatting of print documents will often be totally missed by scanning
equipment giving speech output.
I hope the scanning examination for your wife goes well and that any
follow-up treatment will serve to advance her well-being.
-----Original Message-----
From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On
Behalf Of peter wilkins
Sent: Saturday, July 4, 2020 11:59 AM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optacon-l] optacon proves itself again
This morning we received a letter from our doctor's surgery
regarding a medical appointment for my wife to have a scan.
Yesterday we were told that we would get a letter, and I asked if they could
give details of the patient ambulance telephone number as we would need them
to organise transport.
Once I had identified the letter with my Optacon, I decided to
use my talking scanner to read it. When it had finished, I
checked the phone numbers given in the letter with my Optacon, and then I
looked at the bottom of the second page and found some handwriting which the
scanner had ignored as it was not decipherable to it, and was in a much
fainter contrast.
Reading with my Optacon I was able to learn the information about the
ambulance service and also the questions which they will be
asking when we book the transport. This also included a
reference number for my wife's case, and also a password to use, none of
which would have been available if I just used the scanner.
Keep well.
Peter
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