[optacon-l] Re: Hi, Optaconers

  • From: "Linda Yacks" <lyacks@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2015 10:44:38 -0500

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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