[optacon-l] Re: Optacon Preservation Update
- From: Linda Gehres <ljgehres@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 00:48:54 -0700
Hi Katherine,
I have at least a partial answer to your last question. Even among blind
people who do have Optacons, I know several not on this list who would for
reasons unknown and unfathomable by me wish to defer to getting their mail and
some other things read by paying readers to go through their mail, make out
their checks, etc. They would be capable of doing it themselves but for some
reason feel they need help. I wonder if it isn't as much a need for
companionship they're trying to solve. Just my thoughts. Also, i do know
people who go through their own mail with scanners and do all right via that
method.
Linda G.
On Sat, 11 Apr 2009 23:47:39 -0400 (EDT), Catherine Thomas wrote:
>It is hard to believe that time goes by so quickly but it does. April of
>2009 marks the beginning of our fourth year of work to preserve the
>Optacon. During these three years we have accomplished many wonderful
>things especially considering two facts: first, we have spent no money.
>Second, the Optacon as a device has not been manufactured or distributed
>for at least 15 years. We have also learned a lot about the place of the
>Optacon in today's environment alongside dozens of other devices that
>didn't exist when the Optacon was first purchased by most of its current
>users. Most importantly we have countless examples of activities performed
>by the Optacon that could not be performed at all by other devices
>currently available. We have established that there is still a viable
>place for a device that can read print in real time without
>interpretation.
>
>As we progress through the next year I hope that we can continue to
>promote the value of the Optacon on two levels: first, we want to continue
>letting current and former Optacon users know that it is still possible to
>have Optacons repaired and that they can still be purchased. Our outreach
>has been good but not good enough. By now everyone should know that the
>Optacon lives. The second level that we want to continue to work on is the
>Optacon's future. In an ideal world it would be possible to create a
>modernized Optacon. We have the design talent thanks to our engineers and
>dedicated repairers but there are some real questions as to whether the
>expense to create a new device could ever be recouped by sales and whether
>such a device would be marketable.
>
>It is at this point that we encounter some circular situations. The
>technical problems, such as the tactile array design would have to be
>conquered before any device, even a prototype, could be created. However,
>if the device will never be created, there isn't much point in conquering
>the technical problems.
>
>Another circular problem is that we don't know how marketable an
>Optacon-like device would be. There is no way of finding that out unless
>we know what the device would be able to do--e.g. what additional types of
>displays it could read, whether there would be software for computer
>screens, etc.
>
>Even confronted by these major obstacles, all is not lost. Many of the
>parts of the Optacon have been refabricated thanks to the dedication and
>interest of our repairers. Although some material is missing, much of the
>documentation and design specifications used for the original Optacon are
>still available. If it ever comes to the point where we have to prove the
>value of an Optacon-like device, we have many many examples of its
>usefulness and descriptions of many situations in which other devices just
>did not do the job. We also have testimony proving that persons who were
>trained on the Optacon at any time, even if they never owned or purchased
>one, would still be able to use one by some committed practice with no
>need for retraining. We also have many examples where the Optacon has
>substituted for the ordinary way of performing a task and saved people a
>lot of problems.
>
>So where should we go from here? Surprise! I can't answer that.
>
>For now I hope that we can continue to reunite more users with Optacons
>and keep them working. I also hope that if some technical breaktroughs
>occur, that we can find the courage to keep the reading of print in real
>time and on all the serfaces where it appears as an option that those who
>want it can have.
>
>Lastly, ther is one area we have not delved into very much. We really need
>to find out more about the problems experienced by visually impaired
>non-Optacon users and give serious consideration to addressing how many of
>those the Optacon can solve. For instance, how many blind people have
>missed improtant appointments or torn up checks or other important
>documents becuse they could not identify for themselves what they were and
>had them misidentified by others? Someone just mentioned using a printer
>via "blind faith" and how often the results could be a disaster. What we
>need to find out is, how many times were the results a disaster and what
>embarrassing and humiliating things happened that could have been avoided
>if a person could read for themselves. Maybe they do, but I can't picture
>any blind person that I know taking the current stack of mail and running
>it through the scanner to find out what it is. How do people cope and are
>they coping to their own satisfaction or are they just making the best of
>it because they see no choice? Anyway, this is one area we need to explore
>in more depth. As others have pointed out, not having to read their own
>documents gives many blind people the perfect way to pass these
>responsibilities on to others. As I said, I don't know how we could obtain
>more information. I do find it hard to believe that those experiencing
>sight loss related to aging are so very willing to give up all of their
>independent functions and to turn their privacy over to others. Maybe this
>group has the most potential as a market for a new Optacon.
>
>All things considered, we are doing well and we will continue to remind
>the world that the Optacon lives and that it should live.
>
>Catherine
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>-Catherine Thomas
>braille@xxxxxxxxx /
>
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>to view the list archives, go to:
>
>www.freelists.org/archives/optacon-l
>
>To unsubscribe at any time, just send a message to:
>
>optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" (without the
>quotes) in the message subject.
>
>Tell your friends about the list. They can subscribe by sending a message to:
>
>optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "subscribe" (without the quotes)
>in the message subject.
to view the list archives, go to:
www.freelists.org/archives/optacon-l
To unsubscribe at any time, just send a message to:
optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" (without the
quotes) in the message subject.
Tell your friends about the list. They can subscribe by sending a message to:
optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "subscribe" (without the quotes)
in the message subject.
Other related posts:
