[optacon-l] Re: Hi, Optaconers

  • From: "Edmonds, Lucy (LARA)" <edmondsl2@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: "optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2015 18:45:56 +0000

Hello. I love all of these posts, sharing the different ways the Optacon has 
been used! I started using it in 1981, and haven't been without one since that 
time! I have used it throughout my different phases of employment, and continue 
to do so. I used to read novels with it, but I'm lazy and use audio books now, 
but I still could read a book if I wanted to. I am so so sorry that they 
discontinued manufacturing the Optacon! If a child started out at a young age 
reading with it, imagine how good they could be! I could go on and on for 
pages! Scanning software certainly has its place in my life, and I use Kurzweil 
and KNFB reader also. However, if someone made me choose between scanning and 
the Optacon, the Optacon would win hands down!
Thanks for listening.
Lucy Edmonds

-----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)

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