[Blindtlk] devices RE: introduction

Judy Jones jtj1 at cableone.net
Wed Sep 12 04:20:59 UTC 2012 

Would you believe, the first one Chris and I bought was in 1983 from a 
retired home instructor, complete with training kit, for $4000.00.  I can't 
remember the last time it needed repair, these things are true workhorses. 
In 2010, the Commission bought the one for my office for $1000.00.  I've 
spoken with the former TSI engineer who has turned optacon repair into a 
family business, and is training his grown children to take over.  They feel 
that as long as there are users and parts they will continue on, and I am so 
greatful.

Judy
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
To: "'Blind Talk Mailing List'" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, September 10, 2012 5:24 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] devices RE: introduction


> Hello, everyone.
>
> Although several people have explained how the Optacon worked/works, 
> perhaps
> a bit more explanation is in order.
>
> The Optacon did not have -- and was not meant to have -- the smarts to
> perform optical character recognition on what was under its camera. The
> whole point was to translate what the camera saw into a tactile image. So,
> for example, if one were reading and moved over a print letter I, one 
> would
> discern a vertical vibrating line going from right to left across one's
> index finger (assuming one were reading in the normal direction). 
> Moreover,
> since the camera was not a full-page device, it would have been
> singularlydifficult for the machine to really do good OCR on the text.
> TeleSensory Systems (the maker of the Optacon) tried to produce a device
> that would plug into the Optacon toreadaloud what was going under the 
> camera
> but was unsuccessful in part because the camera did not have (and was not
> meant to have) sufficient resolution to perform character recognition with
> any semblance of accuracy. Remember, the Optacon was developed several 
> years
> before the first Kurzweil Reading Machine which was the size of awashing
> machine.
>
> One depended upon one's brain tointerpret what oneobserved under one's
> finger. Many (including, presumably, jasmine and Chris) would consider 
> this
> a severe drawback in that one would have to learn several styles of print 
> as
> well as common page layouts.
>
> But this was also the device's greatest strength in that the human brain 
> is
> far better at interpretation thancomputers are even now. And one could
> peruse printed music, line drawings, block diagrams,flow charts -- you 
> name
> it. Most people didn't do well with handwriting but then OCR technology
> doesn't, either.
>
> Some blind folks found it impossible to learn to usethe Optacon but for
> those of us who did, it performed functions no other device could. I still
> have one ai bought refurbished for $300! You better believe I snapped it 
> up!
>
> Mike Freeman
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Jasmine Kotsay
> Sent: Monday, September 10, 2012 10:19 AM
> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
> Cc: Blind Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] devices RE: introduction
>
> Heck yeah! That would be AWESOME!! Lol!
>
> Sent from my iPod Touch
>
> On Sep 8, 2012, at 5:06 PM, "Chris Nusbaum" <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Hi Mike and everyone,
>>
>> Now, wouldn't it be great if the Optacon was remade with a Braille 
>> display
>> so you could read what the Optacon was scanning in Braille? This is 
>> purely
>> hypothetical; I don't even know if it would be possible to do this. But 
>> it
>> would be very cool if it is possible!
>>
>> Chris
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Mike Freeman
>> Sent: Wednesday, September 05, 2012 10:20 PM
>> To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] devices RE: introduction
>>
>> 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
>>
>>  _______________________________________________
>>  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/rforetjr%40
>>  att.net
>>
>>  _______________________________________________
>>  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/jasmine.kot
>>  say%40gmail.com
>>
>>  _______________________________________________
>>  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/rforetjr%40
>>  att.net
>>
>>  _______________________________________________
>>  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/jasmine.kot
>>  say%40gmail.com
>>
>>  _______________________________________________
>>  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/rforetjr%40
>> att.net
>>
>>  _______________________________________________
>>  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/daizies304%
>> 40gmail.com
>>
>>  _______________________________________________
>>  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/rforetjr%40
>> att.net
>>
>>  _______________________________________________
>>  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/daizies304%
>> 40gmail.com
>>
>>  _______________________________________________
>>  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/rforetjr%40
>> att.net
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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/jasmine.kot
>> say%40gmail.com
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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/dotkid.nusb
>> aum%40gmail
>> .com
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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/k7uij%40pan
>> ix.com
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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/dotkid.nusb
>> aum%40gmail
>> .com
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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/k7uij%40pan
>> ix.com
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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/carlymih%40
>> comcast.net
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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/jasmine.kot
>> say%40gmail.com
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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/k7uij%40panix.com
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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/dotkid.nusbaum%40gmail
>> .com
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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/jasmine.kotsay%40gmail
> .com
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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/k7uij%40panix.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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
>

More information about the BlindTlk mailing list