[blindkid] My Technology Journey

David Hammel dhammelia at aol.com
Mon Sep 21 19:22:58 UTC 2015


You can still find working opticons on e-bay.  We bought one last year.

Sent from my iPhone

> On Sep 21, 2015, at 2:11 PM, Marianne Denning via blindkid <blindkid at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> I will really date myself.  I had an OPTACON (optical to print tactil
> converter) and wish there were still something like it out there.  It
> used a camera that I ran across a page of print and each letter was
> converted into a tactile image I could feel.  I love all of the
> technology and have a long list of items but there are times when
> nothing but the OPTACON will do what I need to do.
> 
>> On 9/14/15, Jamie Allison via blindkid <blindkid at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> This is going to date me. I started first grade in 1979. I used a mixture of
>> large and regular print, combined with a handful of dome magnifiers,
>> monoculars, and other low-vision devices through school and college. After
>> several years in a career with a taxing array of reading and writing tasks,
>> along with some further decrease in visual acuity that was not expected, I
>> realized that something was going to have to change. I had already learned
>> Braille as a part of a TVI certification, so I started actually using it,
>> along with JAWS for the computer. The first "real" piece of access
>> technology I had was a Braille N Speak, which was cutting edge in its day.
>> All of the students and staff that had one assigned to them thought they
>> were the bee's knees! Compared to what's available today, it now seems so
>> basic. I used a PAC mate with a 20 cell display through getting my masters
>> degree. I've also been an iPhone user for five years or so and have several
>> iOS devices that serve various purposes for me. I also have a bluetooth RBD
>> and a BrailleNote Apex, which is used daily. I also have a Windows PC and
>> the old display from the Pac Mate is now attached to it along with a home
>> user version of JAWS. I also have a second generation Victor Stream, but
>> used the NLS digital player before that. Today, there are many more choices
>> for technology devices than there were in years' past. I tend to choose
>> which one I use depending on what the task calls for.  Jamie Allison
>> National Federation of the Blind - Cherokee Chapter President
>> Lead Instructor, NFB BELL in SC
>> The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
>> characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
>> expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
>> between blind people and our dreams. You can have the life you want;
>> blindness is not what holds you back. To make a donation to the National
>> Federation of the Blind Imagination Fund campaign, please
>> visit www.nfb.org/ImaginingOurFuture.
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> 
> 
> -- 
> Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
> Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
> (513) 607-6053
> 
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