[Blindtlk] devices RE: introduction

[David Andrews]

Technically speaking, the optacon doesn't read the handwriting -- the 
person using it does.  There is a small camera, about the size of a 
pack of chewing gum that you run across the lines of print.  It is 
attached to a main unit into which you put your other hand.  There is 
a grid of pins that vibrate in the shapes of what is on the page, and 
you read them by putting your index finger on those pins.

It took a good deal of practice to become good, which I think is why 
it was not more successful.  There were some good users though, who 
swore by it, and are still using one.

Dave

At 05:22 PM 9/5/2012, you wrote:
>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  So I disagree that the Optacon is obsolete.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