What do you want for it? Marie ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lori" <Lori@xxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Friday, December 30, 2011 7:52 AM Subject: [optacon-l] Somewhat off topic. Original Blazie Diskdrive > Hi All, > > I recently came across one of the original Blazie diskdrives for floppy > discs. I'm not sure if I still have any cables, but the thing is still in > the box and I can check for cables. It says Blazie right on the hardcase. > If > anyone is interested in it, please let me know. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "cpond" <cpond@xxxxxxxxx> > To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2011 10:06 PM > Subject: [optacon-l] Re: optacon research > > > Most of the spare parts and newer materials were simply destroyed and > dumped. > > Charles > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Steve > Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2011 9:14 PM > To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [optacon-l] Re: optacon research > > They didn't acquire the other company for the Optacon. They acquired > Blazie > Engineering for the notetaker technology. Blazie had assumed what little > residual responsibility there was for the Optacon upon the bankruptcy and > liquidation of Telesensory Systems. Blazie was the repository for the > spare > parts. I believe Richard Oehm acquired those when FS acquired Blazie. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Marie Rudys" <mrudys@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2011 8:16 PM > Subject: [optacon-l] Re: optacon research > > >> Why did they even bother to acquire the product when FS has no intention >> to >> continue it? I just don't understand that at all. >> >> Marie >> >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "cpond" <cpond@xxxxxxxxx> >> To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >> Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2011 5:09 PM >> Subject: [optacon-l] Re: optacon research >> >> >>> Freedom Scientific destroyed their documentation, prototypes and spare >>> parts >>> for optacons which they had acquired from Blazie Engineering. Blazie >>> had >>> been working on an optacon device and had done some good work for sure >>> on >>> displays, software and the processor needed. Freedon Scientific had no >>> intention to finish up the project; so, they let the NSF grant expire >>> using >>> it up, and that was that. >>> >>> Charles >>> >>> >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: J. R. Westmoreland >>> Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2011 3:30 PM >>> To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>> Subject: [optacon-l] Re: optacon research >>> >>> Currently Freedom Scientific has acquired all Optacon information when >>> they >>> purchased Telesensory Systems. >>> I believe all patents have expired for the system. >>> Work is underway to obtain a copy of all the prints and information. >>> Some >>> documents have been located and preserved others we don't have. >>> There has been some initial discussion with FS but further information >>> and >>> discussions are not complete. >>> >>> Best, >>> J. R. >>> >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>> [mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] >>> On Behalf Of Rebecca Blaevoet >>> Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2011 9:21 AM >>> To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>> Subject: [optacon-l] optacon research >>> >>> Hello cAtherine, >>> Your comments about the optacon wizards brings up an interesting point. >>> Is >>> the technology still under patent somewhere or can schematics be got by >>> private individuals? I have noticed a reticence on the part of engineers >>> and >>> programmers to give specific information to those not in the inner >>> circle >>> as >>> it were and I'm wondering if it's concern that someone else, not related >>> to >>> the said wizards, would develop a modern version of the device sooner? >>> If >>> there is no exclusivity, can the relevant schematics/diagrams be made >>> available? If there is exclusivity, under whose name is it and was it >>> transferred from Telesensory Systems, even though that company saw no >>> reason >>> to continue manufacturing of the Optacon? >>> Perhaps others on this list know the answers to those questions. >>> I want to see a modern version of the optacon as soon as may be, no >>> matter >>> who invents it! >>> Rebecca >>> >>> On 2011-12-29, at 2:40 PM, Catherine Thomas wrote: >>> >>>> In approximately 2006 members of this list began an effort to preserve >>>> the Optacon. Many unuser and non-working Optacons were located and >>>> refurbished by our excellent Optacon repairers--Dave Godfrey in >>>> England, Nigel Herring in Australia and Richard Oehm in the U.S. Leo >>>> Drell of the U.S. also repairs Optacons. Richard Oehm has been selling >>>> refurbished Optacons at a reasonable price including a warranty. You >>>> can >>> contacct him at: >>>> oehmelec@xxxxxxx >>>> Phone: 408 971-6250 in the U.S. >>>> >>>> List mebers have done a lot of outreach to locate Optacon users. We >>>> created a survey to help us identify how the Optacon is used in these >>>> days of computers and scanners. Please email me if you have not yet >>>> filled out the survey and would like to. >>>> >>>> We have a group of engineers and software experts who call themselves >>>> the Optacon wizards. They have been at work on their own time at a >>>> possible re-development of the Optacon which would read some of the >>>> more modern displays and additional colors. >>>> >>>> The Optacon is still the only device that reads print in real time >>>> without re-interpreting it first. This feature is essential. >>>> >>>> The Optacon repairers have fabricated a couple of the essential parts >>>> to keep the current Optacons running such as a new version of the >>>> delicate retina cable. During 2011 progress has been made on figuring >>>> out technology for the more modern arrays. Hopefully, in 2012 we will >>>> come even closer to a new Optacon. In the meantime we are still >>>> looking for non-working or unused machines. If an Optacon can't be >>>> repaired it is used for parts. >>>> >>>> Happy New Year to all. >>>> Catherine >>>> >>>> >>>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>> -------- >>>> -Catherine Thomas >>>> braille@xxxxxxxxx / >>>> >>>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>> --------- >>>> to view the list archives, go to: >>>> >>>> www.freelists.org/archives/optacon-l >>>> >>>> To unsubscribe at any time, just send a message to: >>>> >>>> optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" (without >>>> the >>> quotes) in the message subject. >>>> >>>> Tell your friends about the list. They can subscribe by sending a >>>> message >>> to: >>>> >>>> optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "subscribe" (without the >>> quotes) in the message subject. >>>> >>> >>> to view the list archives, go to: >>> >>> www.freelists.org/archives/optacon-l >>> >>> To unsubscribe at any time, just send a message to: >>> >>> optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" (without the >>> quotes) in the message subject. >>> >>> Tell your friends about the list. They can subscribe by sending a >>> message >>> to: >>> >>> optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "subscribe" (without the >>> quotes) in the message subject. >>> >>> to view the list archives, go to: >>> >>> www.freelists.org/archives/optacon-l >>> >>> To unsubscribe at any time, just send a message to: >>> >>> optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" (without the >>> quotes) in the message subject. >>> >>> Tell your friends about the list. They can subscribe by sending a >>> message >>> to: >>> >>> optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "subscribe" (without the >>> quotes) in the message subject. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ----- >>> >>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com >>> Version: 10.0.1416 / Virus Database: 2109/4110 - Release Date: 12/29/11 >>> >>> >>> to view the list archives, go to: >>> >>> www.freelists.org/archives/optacon-l >>> >>> To unsubscribe at any time, just send a message to: >>> >>> optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" (without the >>> quotes) in the message subject. >>> >>> Tell your friends about the list. They can subscribe by sending a >>> message >>> to: >>> >>> optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "subscribe" (without the >>> quotes) in the message subject. >>> >> >> to view the list archives, go to: >> >> www.freelists.org/archives/optacon-l >> >> To unsubscribe at any time, just send a message to: >> >> optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" (without the >> quotes) in the message subject. >> >> Tell your friends about the list. They can subscribe by sending a >> message >> to: >> >> optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "subscribe" (without the >> quotes) in the message subject. >> > > to view the list archives, go to: > > www.freelists.org/archives/optacon-l > > To unsubscribe at any time, just send a message to: > > optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" (without the > quotes) in the message subject. > > Tell your friends about the list. They can subscribe by sending a message > to: > > optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "subscribe" (without the > quotes) in the message subject. > > > > > ----- > > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 10.0.1416 / Virus Database: 2109/4110 - Release Date: 12/29/11 > > > to view the list archives, go to: > > www.freelists.org/archives/optacon-l > > To unsubscribe at any time, just send a message to: > > optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" (without the > quotes) in the message subject. > > Tell your friends about the list. They can subscribe by sending a message > to: > > optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "subscribe" (without the > quotes) in the message subject. > > to view the list archives, go to: > > www.freelists.org/archives/optacon-l > > To unsubscribe at any time, just send a message to: > > optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" (without the > quotes) in the message subject. > > Tell your friends about the list. They can subscribe by sending a message > to: > > optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "subscribe" (without the > quotes) in the message subject. > to view the list archives, go to: www.freelists.org/archives/optacon-l To unsubscribe at any time, just send a message to: optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" (without the quotes) in the message subject. Tell your friends about the list. They can subscribe by sending a message to: optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "subscribe" (without the quotes) in the message subject.