[Blindtlk] devices was RE: introduction

Tue Sep 4 02:15:58 UTC 2012

Hi, Chris,

Judy articulated what I was trying to say. OCR does have a place but, 
for the examples Judy cited in her message is sufficient in 
identifying the usefulness of a divice like an opticon, for those not 
positioned upon a precarious, point of the learning curve. :06 PM 
9/3/2012, Judy Jones wrote:
>Hi, Chris,
>
>I love all the technology, but there hasn't been anything to replace 
>what the optacon does.  My husband and I have two of them, one at 
>home, and I actually have one at work.  It's great for 
>spot-checking, and I use it to mark signature lines for placing the 
>signature stamp for auths and for paying bills.  A scanner would 
>slow me down, and can't pick up on the details of a page the way one 
>can with an optacon.  My HICF forms at work don't scan well, and 
>when the biller writes FINAL on the bill, I can find that very 
>easily with the optacon.
>
>At home, I use it to read round medicine bottles, and it's also 
>great for me to check a page format to make sure my page is how I 
>want it to look.
>
>I also use it to check my signature, and to make sure my pen is writing.
>
>On the job, if I didn't have it, I would need to use reader 
>services.  I can read hand printing and some cursive with it.
>
>The down-side of it is that it did take a learning curve and is 
>definitely slower.  Scanning software is wonderful for reading a 
>lengthy document or volume of printed material and documents, but 
>the optacon gives you a real-time look at what is on a page.
>
>Anyone who has used one more than likely would like to see them make 
>a comeback.
>
>Judy
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Chris Nusbaum" <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com>
>To: "'Blind Talk Mailing List'" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Monday, September 03, 2012 6:28 PM
>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] devices was RE: introduction
>
>
>>Hi Mike,
>>
>>I agree with you about the Stream. As far as Humanware's tech support, ugh;
>>don't remind me! Thank God I've got a local Humanware distributor in my area
>>that actually provides good tech support. Once I found out that I'm their
>>customer, not Humanware's, and they're the ones who are supposed to provide
>>me with technical support, I don't even bother calling Humanware when I have
>>a problem with either my BrailleNote or my Stream.
>>
>>As to the Optacon, you may be surprised to know that although I'm a
>>14-year-old freshman in high school, I do actually know what the Optacon is
>>and have seen one in action! The concept of it sort of reminds me of an
>>older KNFB Reader, although it conveys the information in a very different
>>way. I personally found it very difficult and tedious to read with, probably
>>because I'm a Braille guy and always have been. However, I'm sure that with
>>time and practice one can get relatively fast reading with the Optacon. I
>>can definitely see where it was a great piece of technology in the time when
>>it was new, but I think newer and better technology such as Braille
>>displays, scan-and-read software and screen readers has made the Optacon
>>obsolete.
>>
>>Chris
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>Behalf Of Mike Freeman
>>Sent: Monday, September 03, 2012 8:12 PM
>>To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
>>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] devices was RE: introduction
>>
>>Jasmine:
>>
>>I use a fancy windows 7 laptop with multiple sound cards and also an
>>external DECtalk USB synthesizer; the machine runs Windows 7 Home Premium.
>>Screen-readers are JAWS 13 and NVDA. I use a BraillesensePLUS B32 note-taker
>>from HIMS as well as a BookSense from HIMS. I use a Victor Reader Stream
>>which IMO overall is still the best portable DAISY player on the market even
>>though I'm not enamered of HumanWare's tech support other than for the
>>Stream at the moment. I use an iPhone 4. I also still have a working
>>Optacon. I suppose that about does it.
>>
>>Mike Freeman
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>Behalf Of Chris Nusbaum
>>Sent: Monday, September 03, 2012 4:21 PM
>>To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
>>Subject: [Blindtlk] devices was RE: introduction
>>
>>Hi Jasmine,
>>
>>For me it's a BrailleNote Apex, a laptop running Windows 7 and JAWS 12, a
>>Victor Reader Stream, and (my favorite) an iPod Touch!
>>
>>Chris
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>Behalf Of Jasmine Kotsay
>>Sent: Monday, September 03, 2012 4:38 PM
>>To: Blind Talk Mailing List
>>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] introduction
>>
>>Hi,
>>No, I didn't expect it, but I'm
>>glad that this is a place both to talk seriously and have fun.
>>:)
>>I was wondering what types of
>>devices some of you use, such as BrailleNotes, computers with JAWS, or any
>>others.  I've already asked a couple of you this question, and I know some
>>are on the BrailleNote list, but I'm curious.
>>
>>Sincerely,
>>Jasmine
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: Ray Foret Jr <rforetjr at att.net
>>To: Blind Talk Mailing List <blindtlk at nfbnet.org Date sent: Sun, 2 Sep 2012
>>19:18:46 -0500
>>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] introduction
>>
>>Wow.  I bet Jasmine didn't expect this when she joined us.
>>
>>Again, welcome.
>>
>>
>>Sincerely,
>>The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!
>>
>>Now a very proud and happy Mac user!!!
>>
>>Skype name:
>>barefootedray
>>
>>On Sep 2, 2012, at 7:14 PM, "Nikki" <daizies304 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>   Oh yeah! I'm really not afraid of anything.  Haha.  I'll even walk
>>outside in the snow barefooted, if I had to.  My dad is the same way.
>>
>>-----Original Message----- From: Ray Foret Jr
>>Sent: Sunday, September 02, 2012 6:53 PM
>>To: Blind Talk Mailing List
>>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] introduction
>>
>>wow, Nikki, that's very cool!!!  Do you go barefooted outside still?
>>
>>Way back when that person asked whether or not blind people should go
>>barefooted, I answered that it depended on many things, but, never ever ever
>>blindness.
>>
>>
>>Sincerely,
>>The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!
>>
>>Now a very proud and happy Mac user!!!
>>
>>Skype name:
>>barefootedray
>>
>>On Sep 2, 2012, at 6:40 PM, "Nikki" <daizies304 at gmail.com>
>>wrote:
>>
>>Hey Ray, I have been considered a barefoot kid all my life and now I'm in
>>my 30's loving it.  LOL!
>>
>>-----Original Message----- From: Ray Foret Jr
>>Sent: Sunday, September 02, 2012 1:51 PM
>>To: Blind Talk Mailing List
>>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] introduction
>>
>>Hey, another one.
>>
>>Well, whether or not, welcome anyhow.
>>
>>
>>Sincerely,
>>The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!
>>
>>Now a very proud and happy Mac user!!!
>>
>>Skype name:
>>barefootedray
>>
>>On Sep 2, 2012, at 10:20 AM, Jasmine Kotsay <jasmine.kotsay at gmail.com>
>>wrote:
>>
>>That sounds great! I look forward to seeing some of the conversations that
>>go on.
>>As to going barefooted, as long as it's not freezing cold, I'm always
>>barefooted in the house.  Outside, though...  Not so much.
>>LOL!!
>>
>>Sincerely,
>>Jasmine
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: Ray Foret Jr <rforetjr at att.net
>>To: Blind Talk Mailing List <blindtlk at nfbnet.org  Date sent: Sat, 1 Sep
>>2012 17:02:28 -0500
>>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] introduction
>>
>>Oh, let's see.
>>
>>One time, somebody asked the question as to whether a blind person should
>>go barefooted or not.  Guess by my signature what I said.
>>
>>Actually, I said that, whether or not a blind person does that may well
>>depend on many things; but, never should it depend on blindness.
>>
>>Well, that's the lighter side.  We do, however  and very very often,
>>discuss some very serious matters here.  Somebody wants help with something,
>>for example, we try to offer the best advice we can on the matter.
>>Important NFB news updates with respect to the NFB are posted here.  IF our
>>help is needed with respect to various legislative matters, such requests
>>can be found here.
>>HTH.
>>
>>
>>Sincerely,
>>The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!
>>
>>Now a very proud and happy Mac user!!!
>>
>>Skype name:
>>barefootedray
>>
>>On Sep 1, 2012, at 3:02 PM, Jasmine Kotsay <jasmine.kotsay at gmail.com>
>>wrote:
>>
>>Hi!
>>That's great! What kinds of topics do you discuss? I think they had some
>>examples on the website, but I'm curious as to what other things are talked
>>about.  :)
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: Ray Foret Jr <rforetjr at att.net
>>To: Blind Talk Mailing List <blindtlk at nfbnet.org  Date sent: Sat, 1 Sep
>>2012 14:29:00 -0500
>>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] introduction
>>
>>Well, Jasmine, welcome to the list.  My name is Raymond; but, please call
>>me Ray.  I insist.
>>
>>Anyhow, we tend to have some interesting times on this list; by which I
>>mean, we usually all get along quite well and have discussions the like of
>>which you will find quite stimulating.
>>
>>
>>Sincerely,
>>The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!
>>
>>Now a very proud and happy Mac user!!!
>>
>>Skype name:
>>barefootedray
>>
>>On Sep 1, 2012, at 2:18 PM, Jasmine Kotsay <jasmine.kotsay at gmail.com>
>>wrote:
>>
>>Hello,
>>I wanted to introduce myself to this list.  My name is Jasmine.
>>When I came upon the name of this list on the NFB website, I was immediately
>>interested.  I have no sight, and I'm always curious to find out new things
>>about blind people.
>>
>>Sincerely,
>>Jasmine
>>
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