[optacon-l] Re: Hi, Optaconers

  • From: "Carolyn Arnold" <4carolyna@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2015 15:49:46 -0500

I've brailled many a deck of cards and read apartment and condo floor plans.

Smile, God loves you,

Carolyn
Sanford, NC
919-718-0700
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Edmonds, Lucy (LARA)" <edmondsl2@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 1:55 PM
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Hi, Optaconers


>I used the Optacon once to put together a cross-country ski machine when 
>they were popular. I was so proud of myself when I did it with no sighted 
>assistance. I used to Braille decks of cards by reading with the Optacon 
>also. I have done so many cool things with it, I can't even remember them 
>all. One thing I could never do though is read paper money with it. I know 
>lots of folks can.
> Lucy Edmonds
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
> [mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Judy Jones
> Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 1:31 PM
> To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Hi, Optaconers
>
> 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)
>>>
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>>>
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>>
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>
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