Hi, The button on the top of the hand camera is what adjusts the size, like a zoom feature. The upper knob adjusts the intensity. My unit is starting to have problems in the switch, and sometimes the letters seem thicker than they normally would, so I also wonder if something in the camera could influence that as well. Judy -----Original Message----- From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Szostak, Christine Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 8:51 AM To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Hi, Optaconers HI All, This discussion has prompted a question for me. Robert mentioned that you can adjust the actual size of the print. I have found that I can adjust its thickness, but have no idea how to adjust the size. Can anyone tell me how to do so as I think I would be much better with a letter not taking up the the second knuckle of my index finger:). Have a fabulous rest of the day! Chris Dr. Christine M. Szostak Assistant Professor of Psychology Department of Social Sciences Shorter University Rome, Georgia szostak.1@xxxxxxx cszostak@xxxxxxxxxxx -----Original Message----- From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Linda Yacks Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 10:45 AM To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Hi, Optaconers Hi, I love my Optacon and I really missed it. Thanks to a member of this list, I now have a battery charger and it is working again. The first thing I did when it got fixed was to read recipes out of my Vitamix book. If I find something that isn't too long that I need to work with, I read it to a recording, then I can use the recording to accomplish my goal, or type it into my computer. I can now use my scanner to scan the recipes in the book because I was able to "look" at them to see how the page is laid out. I find that looking at the layout of a page is most helpful prior to scanning. I used the Optacon daily when I was working. One of the places I missed it was to print labels and to make sure they were aligned correctly. I also use it to ensure that an envelope printed correctly and to check if something is right side up. So, I think they should resurrect the Optacon. Oh yes, I knew my capital print letters and numbers before training, but had to learn lower-case letters. Ok, I'll go. Linda -----Original Message----- From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Robert Feinstein Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 1:54 AM To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [optacon-l] Hi, Optaconers Just wanted to make a few comments. this is Robert in Brooklyn. I had one of my optacons made to work only on electricity by Richard and it works beautifully. I have been using it quite a bit, and getting back to my former optacon using self. I am convinced that we who use the optacon are truly lucky because we have a really excellent idea not only of what print is like, but how things are arranged on a page, or how a check is laid out, etc. I find that when I get mail, I read at least half a page with the optacon, and then use my sara reading machine. That way, I keep in practice, and take advantage of both systems. I received a check today, and it said "only valid with two authorized signatures". I could read where it said "authorized signature" and it said it twice, and I could feel that the check had been signed two times. This really was incredible for me to be able to do. Is this piece of information important, probably not, but I truly got a kick out of knowing it. I think that if the optacon had been marketed by explaining what one could read, instead of concentrating on speed of reading, it might have done better. I had no idea of what print was like, but thanks to the optacon, I know my letters, numbers, and can read things that are underlined, and even a bit of italics, although that is very slow and difficult for me, and I don't usually spend the time to try to decipher it. But regular, clear print, I can say I am doing quite well. By the way, I tried to use other fingers besides my index, but can't make anything out. I also discovered that I was keeping my letters a bit too large, and making them smaller, so they take up less room on my finger, enables me to read better. Do many of you use your optacons on a daily basis? Do you think it would be harder to manage without an optacon? Are you glad you learned it? Do you use it in conjunction with a scanner or reading machine? Did you know print before getting your optacon, or did you have to learn the letters like I did? Warmest regards, Robert in Brooklyn PS: I remember one question from the optacon manual: What time is it when an elephant sits on an optacon? time to get a new optacon. When I was learning to use the optacon, that took me about 8 minutes to read. (sad smile) 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. 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.