[Blindtlk] devices RE: introduction
Ray Foret Jr
rforetjr at att.net
Mon Sep 10 12:20:40 UTC 2012
I suspect that your question really is this. How did the Opticon work if we've only had accessible technology recently? Simple. It's a camera. The camera picks up the lines on the printed page, and the opticon just makes them tacticle.
Sincerely,
The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!
Now a very proud and happy Mac user!!!
Skype name:
barefootedray
On Sep 10, 2012, at 12:41 AM, Carly Mihalakis <carlymih at comcast.net> wrote:
> Hi, Dave,
>
> I too am intrigued by this machine bbut am confused, I understood that information the opticon rendered, nonvisually,, accessable was only around long enough to be read and not like, saved, right? I understand the opticon predates the integrated circut, so therefore the PC, and the ability of saving? Smater of fact, we just lost john lindville, one of the opticon's creator/develoopers, at 97 or so.
> ?
> for today, CarDavid Andrews wrote:
>> 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
>>
>>
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>
>
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