[optacon-l] Re: reading computer screens
- From: "Dan and Bonnie Tonge" <dandbtonge@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 8 Apr 2009 10:36:42 -0700
When I first started with the IRS in 1983, I said that I would have a hard time
reading pages and pages of material, but that I could read the "glossaries"
which was Wang's term for what was in WordPerfect macros. I could also check
when I thought I had made an error. At that time, I was pretty good at
realizing when my hands had done the wrong thing, but now I sure do rely on
Spellcheck. You are right--I could NEVER have done that job or gotten hired
without the Optacon. I used it constantly. On the Wang, you had to know which
document number it gave you for each document you did. When I asked about any
other thing such as speech access, I was told there wasn't any, and that Wang
was so big and we were such a small minority that they really didn't care if it
were accessible to us or not (frown). When many years later I worked at the
Lighthouse for the Blind in Seattle, my job was transcribing things onto tape
or Braille, sometimes from printed things from other departments and sometimes
from the e-documents of others. The Optacon was essential to me in catching
errors on phone lists from reception and figuring out how columns were really
supposed to look. When I started that job, I called ACB to find out if they
knew where I could get another Optacon so I could have one dedicated to work.
They said I just happened to call at the right time because they had a shipment
from New York school system I think it was. It was so wonderful. That was in
2000. At that time, my Optacon II still worked, but I got to leave it at home
where I also used it constantly. I had to use it to read the digital display
on my oven (one which I never would have bought for myself but which was
already in the condominium I had). I was also still in the heyday of
programming my VCR, but this time for catching radio programs, such as old
radio shows at night when I didn't want to stay up all night to listen. I said
in reference to calling ACB that I just happened to call at the right time. I
think this is one of those cases where the Lord guided my hand. I would have
been far less proficient at that job without the Optacon. What a marvelous
piece of equipment.
Dan
----- Original Message -----
From: <maryemerson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, April 08, 2009 6:35 AM
Subject: [optacon-l] reading computer screens
Dan,
You're right; it's hard to read a vertical screen. When I was in technical
writing class for a week, I had to do the same thing. Back in those days, we
were fortunate that we could use those displays. The optacons certainly
opened up a world of careers we never would have had otherwise. I used an
old IBM 3277 terminal for years, then a 3279, and then ended up with an old
monochrome display until Windows 2000 came out; then I inherited a large
CRT. Too bad there weren't any LCD displays at the time. They sure are nice,
and very light! The print on the ones I've used is about as clear as the
print in those optacon training manuals. The cursor blinks, but everything
else stays the same; no pulsing as the image refreshes itself.
Mary
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