[Blindtlk] Introduction and Devices

[Judy Jones]

That is fascinating; would like to try one for the fun of it.

Judy

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Randi Sanfilippo" <r.sanfilippo at comcast.net>
To: "Blind talk mailing list" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, September 10, 2012 3:20 AM
Subject: [Blindtlk] Introduction and Devices


> Randi Sanfilippo: I  am participating in the safety and research study of
> the Brainport project here in New York City. Although I  wasn't blind when
> the optican was new and popular some of my friends in the study still use
> them and it made it easier for them to grasp the idea of the Brainport 
> since
> it's getting the tactile feedback is from the feedback from what you feel
> and not from what you are trying to see if you were sighted in the past. 
> The
> pixels give you the shape and you feel the image and determine what the
> object is. It doesn't take long to get it but you first have to turn off 
> the
> idea of trying to see it. Right now for the U.S. FDA it has about 400 
> pixels
> that you feel to get the item you are seeing. After the second day of
> training about 3  hours I  could follow my researcher out of the building
> see the shapes of file cabinets, read letters on the wall, follow traffic
> patterns, find objects, and do this without the use of a  cane. While it
> isn't a  replacement for a cane because it depends on contrast and 
> lighting
> it was a  thrilling experience after not seeing for over 16 years. I  will
> have the device for 1  year total but it will be sold in Europe soon since
> they don't have so many restrictions. There are improvements already but
> they won't change them until FDA approves it as it is. The optican users 
> had
> an  easy transition as compared to the people who never saw in their life.
>
> _______________________________________________
> blindtlk mailing list
> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> blindtlk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/jtj1%40cableone.net
>