Austin is a great place to live, and a lot of blind people there. I wonder if
there is anyone there, who could help you with your Optacon?
-----Original Message-----
From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On ;
Behalf Of Christina V.
Sent: Friday, January 29, 2021 1:41 AM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Help Needed
Cordelia, Catherine, and all,
Thank you for the detailed tips and explanation! I've printed some pages, and
will be getting started this morning!
I'm so glad this was specifically brought up, as to what kinds of things to
read/identify first, as well as the advice to begin slowly, and to just
practice in short sessions. I probably would have attempted to get right to a
familiar book, but I see that would not go well!
Oh, and I live in Texas, Austin, although I have family in Houston and San
Antonio, so could make a short visit, if anyone is in any of these places and
willing to meet, possibly.
Christina V.
On 1/27/21, Cordelia Scharpf <CScharpf@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Here are a couple if ideas of slowly but gradually increasing yourto view the list archives, go to:
ability to control your hand holding the camera and read with your index
finger.
Be
patient with yourself, and give yourself credit for every success that
you accomplish as you develop your skills. As many of us on this list
have gone through this, it took weeks and months of dedicated work. I
still love my Optacon and will use it for as long as I can or parts
are available to keep it running.
One of the first exercises I had was following horizontal lines I was
supposed to feel constantly on my index finger. They would help to
keep my right hand steady, moving from left to right. Print out a page
with horizontal lines spaced one or two lines apart. Else, there might
be such a page in the teacher's guide, if I remember correctly. Once
you know/feel that your hand is steady and you feel the line(s) on
your index finger, you might use equal signs (two horizontal lines close on
top of each other).
Next, you can add vertical lines crossing those single horizontal
lines at certain intervals. Some horizontal lines might have two,
others five, again others might have twenty, ... you get the idea. You
could count them and see if you "catch" them all.
Later on, you can add multiple groups of same capital letters, then
lower-case letters, then punctuation marks, digits, ... Next, you
start scrambling up letters, etc., forming simple words, sentences, or
a series of unrelated letters and numerals or symbols. Short texts or
messages would then be followed by longer texts, even novels or
textbooks. :-)
One of the first texts I remember reading from beginning to end was
"The Little Prince," which I loved and knew more or less by heart.
Someone gave me a text I did not know. It was thrilling for me to
successfully read aloud this text. I often grabbed books, pamphlets,
handwritten notes, etc., to test my ability. I was an ardent reader,
and I completed my training in three weeks. Then I was ready to keep
practicing on or by myself, daily spending more time with my Optacon
and increasing the speed at which I read.
Good luck and best wishes,
Cordelia
-----Original Message-----
From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Carolyn
Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2021 2:19 AM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Help Needed
Also, if you don't get the device Charles mentioned, it is a good idea
to place a book or something straight, reasonably heavy, against the
line where you are reading. You can use that to guide your camera,
because for many, people tend to sort of skew the hand moving the
camera, but it has to stay straight, straight on the line you are
reading.
Once you have gained a little bit of proficiency, novels are a fun way
to build speed.
-----Original Message-----
From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Marco Cervi
Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2021 6:41 PM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Help Needed
Totally agree with Charles.
In addition, just a little suggestion.
Maybe during your first readings, you will move your reading hand or
finger attempting to recognize better every single character.
This is not a good idea. Position your hand into the front space with
your index finger on the array, and keep both in position without
moving.
When you move the camera with the other hand, all characters and words
will roll under your finger and you will be totally ok.
Keep so calm during your first experiences and do not think you are
not able to read, this is not true.
Congratulation for your purchase.
Marco
Il giorno 28 gen 2021, alle ore 04:43, wpg67 (Redactedsender "wpg67" for DMARC) <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> ha
scritto:
adress I
Oui hello Christina. If you contact me off list with your
can send you a tracking guide if it might be of help inlearning how
to track. An essential skill is learning how to trackwith the camera
with one hand while reading the tactile input on thedisplay with the
other hand. For the most part, the tracking hand is using
kinaesthetics, and the reading hand is using touch. Onceyou get it,
it is second nature for good, save for a physical injury.Also,
properly aligning one's reading finger on the display is afirst set up skill.
ruler and a
You might be able to improvise a tracking guide with a
suitably designed cardboard template for to fit thecamera, but if not
let me know.Looks to be in
Charles
On 2021-01-27 10:27 a.m., Christina V. wrote:
It's here, it's here! My Optacon is here! It's an R1D.
with it. Nowvery good shape, but I haven't yet had a chance to work
four-year-oldsI just need some uninterrupted time, but of course two
*smile*have other ideas about how I should spend an afternoon.
questions with
Thank you to everyone who replied to my message and
expect thesuch helpful suggestions! I'm especially glad to know to
worry aboutbattery charger to get warm (and it did), because I'd
"unsubscribe" (without the quotes) in the message subject.that, otherwise!
Christina V.
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