[optacon-l] Re: Hi, Optaconers

  • From: Judy Jones <Judy.Jones@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: "optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2015 19:40:12 +0000

Yes, I started using one in 1980, and we actually bought our own in 1984 from a 
retired rehab teacher.  That thing is still kickin and tickin, and has needed 
very little maintenance.

I'm going to try to save these posts as documentation, in case we can ever have 
the oOptacon brought back.

By any chance, have you all checked out a similar device made in Europe called 
the VideoTim?  The  price tag today is comparable to what we had to pay for the 
oOptacon back in the day.

http://www.abtim.de/home__e_/the_videotim/the_videotim.html

Judy

-----Original Message-----
From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On 
Behalf Of Edmonds, Lucy (LARA)
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 11:46 AM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Hi, Optaconers

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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