[optacon-l] Re: Hi, Optaconers

  • From: Judy Jones <Judy.Jones@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: "optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2015 16:19:23 +0000

Oh yeah!  :)  I think the biggest downfall for the Optacon was the lack of 
marketing.  Too many sighted promoters who did not really understand what the 
Optacon can do.

When the scanners came along, I'm sure everytone thought this was the total 
answer for blind people, just as they did the Optacon.  They did not stop to 
think that any device is going to have its downside.  In the case of the 
Optacon, it was the slower reading time.  Too much ignorance and not enough 
research by marketers in to what the oOptacon can really do.

Judy


-----Original Message-----
From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On 
Behalf Of MikeD
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 8:59 AM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Hi, Optaconers

Possibly the Bill Gates Foundation

MikeD

On 2015-02-26 10:52 AM, Judy Jones wrote:
> Agree with everything you are saying.  Does anyone know of any entity with 
> the money and power to resurrect the optacon?
>
> I also have used mine to check a computer screen when for whatever reason the 
> system would not start up properly
>
> Judy
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] 
> On Behalf Of Linda Yacks
> Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 8:45 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:
>
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>
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>
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>
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>
> To unsubscribe at any time, just send a message to:
>
> optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" (without the 
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>
> Tell your friends about the list.  They can subscribe by sending a message to:
>
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>
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>
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>
> 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.
>
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>

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