Oh yeah, (smiles), when we got married those years ago, we received those quilted place mats that were so popular then. One side had a seed pattern, the other a flower pattern, and I used the Optacon to distinguish the patterns. BTW, I have also used the Optacon back then to read instructions on putting together our first gas grill we ever had, instructions for changing chimes on a battery doorbell, assembling kids' equipment, assembling anything from furniture assembly instructions, cupboards, and swing sets. You gotta love the Optacon. Judy -----Original Message----- From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Carolyn Arnold Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 11:03 AM To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Hi, Optaconers 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 >> >> 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. > > 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.