[optacon-l] Re: Optacon Research
- From: "Dianne B. Phelps" <d.bphelps@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:39:25 -0800
Dear Dr. Bliss,
While it is a tragedy this endeavor could not move forward, I completely
understand your decision. As I say, I just found the concept really
interesting and had communicated with Dr. (For give me: I am not going to
spell this correctly) Tritchiakov a few times on the subject. I had not
heard the AFB's endeavor to make Kurzweil available in that way and have
purchased my own reading equipment and software over the years after the
first optacon because of what the optacon allowed me to do in my work,
giving me an income to manage carefully for my needs.
In any case, there is still nothing quite like the optacon in my book, and I
can certainly manage the use of two separate entities to do what I need.
I just can't thank you and all the others who worked on the development of
the optacon for what that device did for me. It, at the time, was right up
there along side the guide dog as far as wonders of the world are
concerned., and while there are other technologies which have helped me
greatly and are as important in maintaining my life, the optacon was the
best because it replaced my so treasured coke-bottle-bottomed reading
glasses. The difference with the optacon was that I could really see
punctuation for the first time.
Sending you happy smiles and appreciative hugs,
Dianne B. Phelps, Napa, California
-----Original Message-----
From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Jim Bliss
Sent: Friday, December 30, 2011 2:42 PM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Optacon Research
I cancelled the Talking Optacon project, which almost finished, because AFB
had received a large grant to make the Kurzweil Talking Reader available
free. I felt there was no way we could compete with that.
Jim Bliss
On Fri, Dec 30, 2011 at 11:50 AM, Dianne B. Phelps
<d.bphelps@xxxxxxxxxxx>wrote:
> I still use my slate and stylus as well and have found over the years that
> all of these tools work together to enable me. It shouldn't have to be one
> thing or the other. I was not aware that they ever finished that talking
> optacon. I was very interested in that researched, but stopped hearing
> about
> it after a time.
>
> Dianne
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:
> optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> On Behalf Of Nick Dotson
> Sent: Friday, December 30, 2011 2:15 AM
> To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Optacon Research
>
> It is an inaccurate observation that people don't use pens and pencils
> anymore. BTW, I still use slate and styli.
>
> Nick
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:
> optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> On Behalf Of Fran
> Sent: Friday, December 30, 2011 4:07 AM
> To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Optacon Research
>
> HI all,
> I admit that I've been using the optacon less and less with the advent of
> computers, but this is natural...people hardly use pens and pencils
> anymore!
>
> But even with PCs, OCR, talking phones, readily available audiobooks, and
> much more, the optacon cannot be replaced. There are certain tasks which
> only the optacon can perform, and the freedom and self-confidence it can
> give us has no match. So screen readers and the optacon should be viewed
as
> complementary technologies, rather than in competition. Will Freedom
> Scientific or other companies ever realize that and make a profit out of
> this?
>
> Happy new year to all!
>
> Fran
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Carrie Green" <midorikeri@xxxxxxxxx>
> To: "Optacon List" <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Friday, December 30, 2011 3:04 AM
> Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Optacon Research
>
>
> > Hello Everyone,
> > To add my two cents to the conversation, I'd hazard a guess that perhaps
> > Freedom Scientific doesn't want other alternatives besides what they are
> > currently producing. If we have a device that can give us the ability to
> > view graphics and text without having to purchase a screen reader or OCR
> > software/hardware or a braille display, that would limit their profit
> > margins. Of course, only certain people can use the optacon, as those
> that
>
> > lose their sight later in life may not even use braille, and may not
have
> > or be able to develop the tactile skills necessary to use an Optacon. I
> > know a number of blind individuals that just can't individuate the
> braille
>
> > dots, and surmise that the Optacon would be next to impossible for them
> to
>
> > use. I personally have challenges with my Optacon, as I had some very
> > basic training in primary school, but didn't purchase one until I was
> > about thirty years of age. My skills are not very good, but I still try
> to
>
> > use it as often as possible. They are amaz
> > ing tools for us, and I do hope that there is something comparable in
the
> > near future.
> >
> > Happy New Year.
> >
> > Carrie
> > to view the list archives, go to:
> >
> > www.freelists.org/archives/optacon-l
> >
> > To unsubscribe at any time, just send a message to:
> >
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> > quotes) in the message subject.
> >
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>
> > to:
> >
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> > quotes) in the message subject.
> >
> >
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> >
> >
> >
>
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>
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