Three Weeks In Review
- From: Catherine Thomas <braille@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 7 May 2006 18:15:55 -0400 (EDT)
Hi, Listers,
Here is a brief review of our accomplishments made over the past three
weeks.
1. To avoid any possible confusion, no decision has been made as
to what design a re-developed Optacon will have or how much it will cost.
2. Currently, from the eighty-one Current User surveys, we have
enogh data to support investment of funds in the following three areas:
a. production of a number of brand new retina cables to share
among all Optacon repairers;
b. production of a small number of tactile arrays to keep some
Optacons functional;
c. a scholarship fund to help defray the shipping costs for some
users who have to send their Optacons half way across the world to get
them repaired.
OPTACON REPAIRS
This project will change the lives of some former Optacon users
who did not ralize their Optacons could be repaired. Perhaps the repairers
can keep us posted on this aspect of things.
OPTACON USES AND OPTACON WISHES
In spite of its given limitations, the imaginative uses made of
the Optacon continue to turn up. As to wishes, the overwhelming majority
of users prefer the following:
1. a tactile array closer to that of the r1d than the Optacon II;
2. a replaceable battery;
3. a modular camera;
4. a screen-reading interface that would work with Windows screens
and the newer types of flat-screen monitors;
5. a camera that would fit into tiny spaces;
6. a camera that could read print in more colors;
7. an interface that would let a person read and track
automatically;
8. an Optacon with less buzz;
9. a smaller and lighter Optacon;
10. accessories that could read menu-driven displays such as cell
phones;
10. accessories that could read backlit displays and LCD displays
that cannot be read currently.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ABOVE WISHES ARE NOT IN ANY SPECIAL ORDER AND THAT
THEY ARE NOT THE ONLY WISHES THAT HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED.
OTHER POSITIVE OUTCOMES
At least a dozen people have joined the Optacon list. Some of
these are very excited as they read about uses of the Optacon they had
never thought of.
The documentation for all Optacon models and the CRT lens is now
available in electronic format.
The donated Optacons already received will allow some repairs to
be made in a far less costly manner.
Our Optacon repairers plan on working together to share parts and
units so that all Optacons can be repaired.
POTENTIAL USER RESPONSE
Although the response to our second survey is still only a small
number, the information from these surveys is invaluable. They will show
us which tasks are being done effectively by alternative devices and which
tasks still require an Optacon to achieve a desired level of independence,
privacy, and quality of life.
PLEASE ASSURE ANYONE WHO WISHES TO FILL OUT A SURVEY THAT THEIR NAMES AND
EMAILS WILL NOT BE SHARED WITH ANYONE. tHIS INCLUDES LIST MEMBERS.
Thank you for taking the time to read Three Weeks in Review.
Catherine
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-Catherine Thomas
braille@xxxxxxxxx /
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