[optacon-l] Re: Hi, Optaconers

  • From: "Carolyn Arnold" <4carolyna@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2015 13:02:56 -0500

True enough about Optacon diversity. In the 70's, I used it to separate 
black from white lingerie.

Smile, God loves you,

Carolyn
Sanford, NC
919-718-0700
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Judy Jones" <Judy.Jones@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 11:19 AM
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Hi, Optaconers


> 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:
>>
>> www.freelists.org/archives/optacon-l
>>
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>>
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>>
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>>
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>>
>> 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 
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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 
>> quotes) in the message subject.
>>
>> Tell your friends about the list.  They can subscribe by sending a 
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>>
>>
>
> 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.
> 

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