Thanks, Judy. Interesting.
-----Original Message-----
From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Judy
Jones
Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2019 9:18 PM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Where did all the Optacons go ??
Oh so sorry, I will paste it in below.
USES OF THE OPTACON
The contributors to this list are from persons who have
used, or are currently using the Optacon in daily life, and
are regular contributors to the Optacon mailing list.
Developers on this list envision a next generation device,
that will, along with current OCR technology, further
enhance the quality of life for blind persons, enabling the
blind to live the life they want with greater independence.
The new tactile device may be smaller, less expensive, could
possibly have the ability to store data downloaded from the
computer, and also allow the user to read the actual
computer screen, as a sighted person would. Approximately
three times the amount of tactuators may fit into the
display, allowing the user to view a sharper, crisper raised
image of what the camera is scanning. For more information,
go to
//www.freelists.org/archive/optacon-l/ ;
For now, below is a list of some of the most common tasks
performed by the user of an Optacon, and are tasks that
current OCR technology has difficulty in performing.
1. Ability to read printed material with less than sharp
contrasts or intricate color schemes and shading difficult
for current apps and cameras to decipher. This could
include hollow letters.
2. Ability to read print in non-standard layout, such as
in a curved line of a post-office date stamp or on a CD or
DVD.
3. Ability to read cursive.
4. Ability to read round items such as bottles and cans.
5. Accurate reading of graphs, charts, tables, data sheets
with coordinates, flow charts, and schematics.
6. Ability to read embedded text among images, or
graphical print..
7. Ability to view font styles for the purpose of creating
attractive layouts that can also be checked for proofing.
8. Ability to read label and tags with print too small for
an app and camera, or otherwise positioned in spots where a
camera cannot reach, such as labels on power supplies and
price tags, or other stickers.
9. As with braille, the ability to skim a print book for
the proper page number, skim down a printed page to find the
right paragraph, or down a column of items to find the
desired item.
10. Ability to view document arrangement and placement on a
page.
11. Ability to quickly make sure ink and toner cartridges
have not run out, by making sure documents are printing.
12. Ability to Read text on colored paper, in shaded boxes,
and on red HICF forms that current scanning software cannot
handle.
13. Ability to read computer screens when screen reader has
gone silent, or is not available.
14. Ability to read many appliance displays, and text on a
tv screen, and for the fun of it, detect movement on the
screen.
15. An accessory can allow the blind person to use the
computer mouse.
16. An accessory is also available for those who still use
a typewriter, in order to fill out printed hard-copy forms.
17. Ability to read dials and gauges.
18. Faster than a camera for spot reading, such as checking
mail, sorting brochures, page numbers, etc.
19. Ability to locate signature or date line so it can be
marked and filled out without sighted assistance.
20. Checking ink date stamps that an app and camera cannot
handle.
21. Ability to read buttons and dials on a newly-acquired
device, enabling the blind person to familiarize themselves
to that device without sighted assistance.
22. Ability to read controls on home appliances for marking
without sighted assistance.
23. Ability to read musical scores and create and read
chord charts for proofing, and the accompanying words,
without use of specialized software or sighted assistance.
24. Ability to read guitar tablature.
25. Ability to Read mathematical drawings and symbols,
where the layout has a particular meaning, such as in
multi-line expressions.
26. Ability to recognize logos and icons.
27. Ability to read some engraved text on textiles, such as
plastics and metals.
28. Ability to read a cell phone screen, should speech go
silent.
29. The ability to recognize and distinguish features in a
picture.
30. Ability to read foreign language characters, such as
Japanese, Chinese, or Cyrillic characters.
31. Ability to identify paper currency.
Judy
Embrace each day with His mercies and blessings.
-----Original Message-----
From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Carolyn
Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2019 5:24 PM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Where did all the Optacons go ??
I found no attachment. Most list will not allow them.
Happy New Year, everybody!
-----Original Message-----
From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Judy
Jones
Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2019 7:01 PM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Where did all the Optacons go ??
Hi, Dan and All,
Attached is the Optacon Task List we all created back in
2016, in hopes that people had the wherewithall to move a
new optacon project forward, along with optacon awareness.
What's needed is to connect people with the expertise to
people with funding connections, with interest being a
commonality.
Judy
Embrace each day with His mercies and blessings.
-----Original Message-----
From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of dan.tevelde@xxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2019 2:44 PM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Where did all the Optacons go ??
I think at one time there was a survey from this list where
people could document how they use the optacon and what
features they would like to see in a new device. Would it
be a good idea to send out this survey again to gather more
data? It's unfortunate that both national organizations for
the blind here in the U.S. don't seem at all interested in
the optacon. I guess all we can do is try.
Dan
Dan
-----Original Message-----
From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carolyn
Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2019 4:39 PM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Where did all the Optacons go ??
I check any check I write plus the pen I sign with before I
start my signature and then check my signature - couldn't do
it any other way than with the Optacon.
-----Original Message-----
From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of David
Pluml (Redacted sender "knobman" for DMARC)
Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2019 2:24 PM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Where did all the Optacons go ??
Hello, Optacon users,
I'll start the answers on this one by a reason I heard from
a friend I knew years ago. He said that he received an
Optacon from a local agency, and he used it for awhile; then
he put it on a shelf in his closet and left it to collect
dust. Friends, I suspect that the previous sentence could
be repeated many times by different folk, and I wouldn't
hazard a guess on how many times it would echo if folk are
honest. Your mention of 1998 triggers an important thought
in my mind: At that time, I think many blind and
visually-impaired folk were enamoured with the thought/hope
that synthetic speech would solve most, if not all, of our
need for reading print.
Accordingly, some folk, including some agencies, probably
thought that the Optacon is not needed nor important as a
gateway to printed material for us.
The proliferation of reading and recording services and the
books and material they made available for the blind
contributed to that idea. We all know that the Optacon has
a rather steep learning curve; when I received my Optacon
from a local foundation, I was required to attend FIFTY
HOURS of private instruction - yes, I said FIFTY HOURS! The
agency would not have given me a machine unless I
successfully completed the course with a reading speed of at
least 19 words per minute, and I was actually tested on that
point by reading something to the instructor and/or
answering a few questions about the material I read. He
also watched on a display during the test.
Another important requirement of this foundation was that
each Optacon they gave had to go to a verified optacon user,
NOT TO AN AGENCY! This requirement was extremely wise and
important because the director of that foundation knew that
an employer or government agency owning the Optacon could
keep it if the user left that job, or if the agency wanted
to assign it to a different user for any reason regardless
of that new user's training or ability to use it. Also, if
the Optacon is presented to the user by the foundation, the
user could use it at work or at home for both personal and
job-related usage. If the Optacon belonged to the employer,
the employer could - and often did - require that it be used
only at the job site and only for job-related purposes. I
am sure, however, that a goodly number of Optacons were
bought by employers or other agencies and "locked down"
(figuratively) to the job. When the blind user left that
job, then that Optacon likely went into a supply room
somewhere to collect dust and quite likely even be lost from
the inventory after a few years.
I think that our list members could account for a goodly
number of Optacons we own. I have four of them - two
converted to AC/only operation to serve in fixed locations
at our home and the other two used here and there around our
house where a portable machine is needed. I alternate those
two machines so that each one gets quite a bit of use when
it is in active service, thus keeping the bateries in good
condition.
Pardon me if I ramble a bit in my thoughts, but I want to do
my best to give a good foundation for discussion by other
members on our list.
Moving on to other ways to read information: Debbie and I
recently bought an ID Mate barcode reader which we
frequently use to identify products in our home. Granted, I
could have gotten much of a product's information through
the Optacon, but the barcode reader often gets information
quicker and in more detail than I could easily get by
reading with the Optacon. A problem with peanut butter comes
to my mind; we noticed that a jar of peanut butter we opened
tasted different from the ones to which we are accustomed.
Using the ID Mate, I quickly found that our friend had
inadvertently gotten a different brand while I was shopping
for groceries with him. Further reading revealed to me that
I had a low-salt crunchy type rather than the standard-salt
creamy type which we liked. Having two or three jars in
question, the ID Mate was very handy for me.
The smart phones of Apple and Android "flavors" have also
fulfilled many of the reading needs of blind and
visually-impaired persons, thus giving them less need for an
Optacon.
Finally, I hate to say this, but many of our young folk have
become a bit lazy when confronted with something with a high
learning curve. Many of todays young people have totally
bought in to the idea of instant gratification and immediate
success. In my opinion, we in America anyway are more and
more being "dummed down" in many aspects of life. Examine
many of the commercials you hear on radio and TV. You'll
find a crop of nonsequiturs and statements that do not
relate well to the product being advertised but serve only
at the emotional level to move you to buy that particular
product. Where is the reading level of many kids in school
these days? One school district's test scores as a whole
fall short of state accreditation. In that environment, you
won't likely find a heavy emphasis on detailed instruction
of a unique skill with a steep learning curve even if an
Optacon were available.
For my part, I consider my Optacon as one very important
tool in my figurative toolbox for gathering information and
other tasks where interaction with printed material is
needed. I favor the idea of teaching students - whether
children or adult - the pros and cons of several reading
tools - smart phones, barcode readers, computers - and wow
do I wish - the Optacon. At the end of the day, there are
many tasks which cannot be handled by any reading device
other than the Optacon when a blind user needs to perform
that task. Two tasks which I only mention here are the
reading of electronic schematics and the calibration of
placement of fields on my Money Talks software without
sighted assistance. Completion of that task allowed me to
fill out checks accurately.
I hope that the above ramblings will stimulate more
discussion on this topic, since the use and continuing
existence of an Optacon-type device is a passion of mine.
By the way, I wish all of you a happy and blest new year;
perhaps you might even find a knob or two to turn on a new
piece of equipment during the coming year (this is a
tongue-in-cheek wish from the "ole knobman").
-----Original Message-----
From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Keith Shaw
(Redacted sender "scitech200" for DMARC)
Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2019 11:47 AM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optacon-l] Where did all the Optacons go ??
The recent posts related to replacing Optacon batteries
brought up the issue of AT equipment being returned to an
agency, or other distributor, and then quite possibly being
disbanded.I remember an extensive survey undertaken at
Blazie Engineering, around 1998, as part of an NSF grant to
evaluate designs for a lower cost "new Optacon". Of the
reported 10,000 Optacons shipped by TSI, as best I recall,
we could not locate - worldwide - more than about 200 units!
Needless to say this startling data did not bode well for
soliciting additional funding, estimated to be at least two
million dollars, to actually get a proposed new Optacon into
production. As a discussion for a replacement array of
tactile pin actuators, the critical component for any new
Optacon, comes up from time to time with qualified
engineers, I wonder if the avid Optacon users on this list
can come up with reasons for this situation?
Thanks, Keith
PS. Although at least two actuator designs looked to be very
promising, neither was acceptable in terms of long term
reliability and/or acceptable estimated manufacturing cost.Â
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