Sharlene, I would think that most bills would be in such deplorable shape that it would make your task much more difficult. But what the heck--at least you have saved a couple of hundred bucks by not having to buy the money identifier. Michael Bowman-Jones ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sharlene Wills" <tenagra@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Monday, May 15, 2006 9:06 PM Subject: Re: Survey Update May 14 2006 > Actually, the amount does appear in one of the eight corners on every > denomination, as far as I know, at least for the $1, $5, $10 and $20. > Sometimes, the zero on the $10 and $20 is fat and sometimes more > elongated, > and sometimes, it is a little hard to read the 2, but, again, I have > successfully done so many, many times. True, it is faster to ask someone, > if you have the opportunity, but I say, again, it most certainly can be > done. One more thing: if it's a $1 bill, you will see something that > might > look like a 1 inside a sort of circle. That's not what you need. The > actual number will be very distinct and generally longer than the ovoid > that > is inside the bigger circle. I describe things, thus, because I really > don't know what all the pictures and symbols are, but I do know that you > can > distinguish them from the all-important digits. > Sharlene. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Harry Bassler" <HBassler@xxxxxxxxxxx> > To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Sent: Monday, May 15, 2006 6:22 PM > Subject: Re: Survey Update May 14 2006 > > >> Hi Michael & listers, >> Years ago I spent a great deal of time trying to read paper money, the >> denomination & was successful on the one dollar bill but not with any > other. >> I finally asked a sighted person about this & learned that the digit 1 >> appeared in only one corner of the $1 bill & differnt places on all other >> denominations. >> I gave up, deciding it required too much time & energy. >> Harry Bassler >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Michael Bowman-Jones" <mikebowmanjones@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >> To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >> Sent: Monday, May 15, 2006 8:54 PM >> Subject: Re: Survey Update May 14 2006 >> >> >> > Catherine, >> > It is interesting how many areas I forgot about. I was the best >> proofreader >> > in our office as I always caught typos using the Optacon. The only way > to >> > do the same now is to run a Braille copy of the print document. >> > >> > I also mentioned the advantage of spot reading once you are familiar > with >> a >> > form/page. >> > >> > I wasn't so fortunate on reading the top left of envelopes particularly >> for >> > company names as italicized was my weak area. I compensated by >> remembering >> > at least the city and street if not the entire address as often that >> portion >> > of the address was not italicized so I looked at that when I could not >> read >> > the top line. >> > >> > I tried using my Optacon on paper money but, unfortunately, I could > never >> > make it work. I wonder if anyone else worked it out. >> > >> > ----- Original Message ----- >> > From: "Catherine Thomas" <braille@xxxxxxxxx> >> > To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >> > Sent: Monday, May 15, 2006 5:40 PM >> > Subject: Survey Update May 14 2006 >> > >> > >> > > We have over 100 current Optacon User surveys now. Keep them coming. >> > > TWO INTERESTING OPTACON USES >> > > The surveys today pointed out two of the lesser-known but vital uses > of >> > > the Optacon. >> > > 1. We received a potential user survey today which included fatal >> > > spelling errors. The subject for examples included the words "survay >> > > ancers". There were a number of other spelling errors in common words >> such >> > > as eazey and Brail. I though at first it might be a joke but in the > end >> I >> > > don't think so. >> > > People who were educated using exclusively audio tend to be poor >> spellers. >> > > Those who use the Optacon at least tend to get the common words >> > > right. >> > > Although there are many sighted people who are poor spellers also, >> > > the >> > > mistakes tend to be in a different set of words. Without provoking a >> > > discussion on the merits of good spelling, suffice it to say that it >> could >> > > handicap a person applying for work or applying for higher education. > In >> a >> > > note the other day which I read somebody spelled awful "offle". I > don't >> > > think the person had a clue that the word might be spelled > incorrectly. >> > > 2. FINDING INFORMATION IN FIXED LOCATIONS >> > > This is one area where an Optacon beats a scanner by miles. In case > some >> > > users have not noticed this, I will explain. >> > > Take your simple piece of mail. You can take your Optacon and go >> > > right >> > > away to the return address, usually the top left-hand corner of an >> > > envelope. Seven times out of ten you will be able to read the address > or >> > > most of it. You will not have bothered to read the address on the > other >> > > half of the envelope or any other propaganda that the envelope > contains. >> > > Another perhaps better example: You get your bank statement >> > > monthly. After two or three months, you know exactly where on the >> > > page >> to >> > > look for your current balance without scanning the whole thing. You > can >> > > locate a check number without reading all that is on a check. If you >> often >> > > receive forms which are similar, e.g. from insurance companies in >> response >> > > to claims, you can learn where to look to determine if the claim was >> > > accepted without reading every word on the form. >> > > If you need to work with membership cards or something similar, >> > > you can actually flip through a pile, stopping at a particular point > on >> > > each one to pick up the information you need. >> > > I have always considered the ability to read only what you need to >> > > read, one of the primary advantages of the Optacon but it is hard to >> > > describe. >> > > KEEP POSTING. KEEP SEARCHING. KEEP REACHING OUT. >> > > Catherine >> > > >> > > >> > >> >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> ---- >> > > -Catherine Thomas >> > > braille@xxxxxxxxx / >> > > >> > >> >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> ----- >> > > >> > > 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. 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They can subscribe by sending a >> message > to: >> >> optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "subscribe" (without the > quotes) in the message subject. >> > > > 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. > > > __________ NOD32 1.1539 (20060515) Information __________ > > This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. > http://www.eset.com > > 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.