[Blindtlk] devices RE: introduction
Jasmine Kotsay
jasmine.kotsay at gmail.com
Thu Sep 6 04:36:38 UTC 2012
That sounds awesome! I would love to see one of those! Do you have to read while you track with the camera, or could each page be saved?
Sent from my iPod Touch
On Sep 5, 2012, at 5:13 PM, "Judy Jones" <jtj1 at cableone.net> wrote:
> Hi, Jasmine.
>
> The optacon is about 3 inches thick and about 8 inches long. Attached at the front is a cord attached to a hand camera that is similar in shape to a small hand microphone one used to see with cassette recorders. In fact, the optacon is the size of an off-the-shelf cassette recorder, not the walkman, but smaller than the library cassette player.
>
> In the front is a concave display that contours to the index finger. The user learns to track a printed page with the camera in one hand, and read the display with the index finger of the other hand. The printed character comes up in raised fashion in the display. Fast vibrating rods in the display are what form the shape of the character.
>
> There is a learning curve to using one, and the vibrations of the display takes getting used to. Also, the user needs to know their print letters, numbers and symbols. In the training materials, you could get thermoformed sheets of these to learn. The same was true for the cursive characters.
>
> When tracking correctly, letters appear in the display moving from right to left so you are reading the first letter, the second, third and so on. Sighted friends have told me it's like the way in which news reels text would scroll across the movie screen.
>
> Telesensory also used to make an attachment to allow one to proof a page in a typewriter while typing, and also an accessory for reading computer screens, but I have never seen these. Depending on the shading, I can read computer screens, but not very well. It depends on the contrast.
>
> You could also set the optacon to read negative images i.e. light on dark.
>
> Judy
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jasmine Kotsay" <jasmine.kotsay at gmail.com>
> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, September 05, 2012 4:22 PM
> 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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