[Blindtlk] devices RE: introduction

Thu Sep 6 02:19:33 UTC 2012

Jasmine:

The Optacon doesn't actually read anything: you use the Optacon to read
stuff using your own brain and fingers. Some people can read handwriting;
others cannot. I never mastered that skill. However, I could read line
drawings and some maps. Judy Jones has given you a decent description of the
Optacon.

Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Jasmine Kotsay
Sent: Wednesday, September 05, 2012 3:23 PM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] devices RE: introduction

Hi,
	Until now, I've never heard ofan
Opticon.  It actually reads handwriting? What actually is an Opticon?

 ----- Original Message -----
From: Carly Mihalakis <carlymih at comcast.net
To: Blind Talk Mailing List <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>,"'Blind Talk Mailing
List'" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org Date sent: Mon, 03 Sep 2012 18:56:46 -0700
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] devices was RE:  introduction

Hi, Chris,

I am 28 but  have many   a blind friend who love their opticons, 
for
those many, many applications such as reading handwriting and other things
that OCR, frankly  pukes on.

Name me a digital divice that reads handwriting.  so No, the opticon is not
obsolete and, so far as I'm concerned never  will be despite Telesensory's
haveing gone under.  At 06:45 PM 9/3/2012, Mike Freeman wrote:
Hi, chris.

The Optacon was the subject of a lot of hype.  In fact, the fastest Optacon
users never got much beyond 100 or 120 words per minute.  
However, the only
real limit to what an Optacon could read was the comprehension of the human
brain.  So I would argue that we didn't *have* many of the accessibility
concerns we do today because if the Optacon could display it and "it" --
whatever it was -- was relatively uniform (handwriting is not), one could
read it.  So I disagree that the Optacon is obsolete.

Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org 
[mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Chris Nusbaum
Sent: Monday, September 03, 2012 5:28 PM
To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
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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