[BlindTlk] Optacon

[Hyde, David W. (ESC)]

I learned to use it in grad school, and used it when I worked in corrections at the end if the seventies. I think I got up to about forty words a minute. I still had it when I got my first computer, a TI994A, and read the book to learn Basic programming. It got a lot of use, and I wish the one I have now worked better.

-----Original Message-----
From: BlindTlk <blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Gary Wunder via BlindTlk
Sent: Friday, September 6, 2019 8:43 AM
To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List' <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Gary Wunder <gwunder at earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [BlindTlk] Braille books in old old

Thinking about the Optacon sure jogs some old memories. It was developed in a very optimistic time, and although I think it was somewhat oversold in terms of what it could do, it did open doors that weren't open before. Steve Jacobson's note provides a wonderful history. I used the unit to examine the screen of an oscilloscope. I also had the calculator lens, and I used a scientific calculator long before even the basic ones talk.

But the idea that I would ever read a book or a long memo just never happened. My left finger would itch profusely if I left it for long on the vibrating pins. My right arm got tired of holding the camera and trying to track. Many of us who loved to read and wanted to read print thought we were experiencing a dream come true, and I remember feeling as though I didn't really want to talk about my own lack of progress given the money that had gone into helping me get all of the equipment. What I soon found through the Braille Monitor was that I was not alone. In some cases the unit was magical; but it would not let me or anyone else do significant amounts of reading. 

I think it does serve an interesting need, but people who explore the business case probably believe that it will be far too small to service.




_______________________________________________
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/david.hyde%40wcbvi.k12.wi.us