Taken care of,
The stand-alone table-top (actually desk top) machine has several USB ports
built into the board, and an inactivated Bluetooth built-in as well. The
optacon basic software (which fulfills our traditional needs with no bells
and whistles) is so straightforward that one might use an SD card for
updating, or depending on miniaturization of an autonymous display/camera
assembly a micro-SD card, just to iron out bugs which would be done since
they are finite in number, and perhaps to maintain compatibility with an
host device which is based on a changing and updated operating system.
The main technical challenge is the power consumption, albeit if it were not
solved, it would not at all doom the technology to a mere flux. My BC640
Alva braille display has a battery in it which looks exactly like the
battery for the Cannon PowerShot camera. The present optacon III power cell
is much larger than that small battery.
Chuck
-----Original Message-----
From: dan.tevelde@xxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2016 2:11 PM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Windows keystrokes on a perkins keyboard
I agree that the optacon might not need a keyboard, but it would need knobs
and switches like the previous one. One thing to think about is how to
update the firmware when software has changed. It might be possible to have
an sd card slot and then the user would download the software to a computer,
and copy to the sd card. Then there would need to be some simple command to
turn on the optacon to update the firmware. There might be a need for a
simple navigation key like the ones on cell phones and tablets. The user
would cycle through menu items to configure the optacon, and then press
enter on the desired settings. This might require having speech
capabilities, or having the menu information displayed on the tactile array
for those who don't want speech. If users absolutely insisted on additional
functions, than apps could be written for various mobile devices, and the
optacon would connect to such devise through a BlueTooth connection. I
don't know what implications there would be to communicate with a notetaker,
but all of those features could be developed later, once a stand-alone
optacon was available and functioned as expected. I personally don't see
the need to use the optacon to type text, but there needs to be a mechanism
to update the software, so this would require some kind of connectivity. I
wouldn't need to save text as images. If I wanted to do that, then I would
use OCr on a phone or computer.
The most important thing is to get a working stand-alone optacon, and worry
about other features later once users have had a chance to work with it, and
see how they like it. The only differences between a new ooptacon and the
previous one would be the tactile array, and the use of a micro processor to
do the leg work.
Dan
-----Original Message-----
From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Carolyn Arnold
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2016 10:01 AM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Windows keystrokes on a perkins keyboard
I agree with Catherine.
Bye for now,
Carolyn
-----Original Message-----
From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of C. Pond
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2016 3:28 AM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Windows keystrokes on a perkins keyboard
Yes, understood, Catherine, and a good point. Contrary to my personal
grain, if the optacon III becomes a module which is integrated into other
devices as Noel Runyan suggests, a keyboard and keystrokes will be needed on
the host device.
If it operates as a stand-alone module, such keystrokes and a keyboard will
not be necessary. Personally, I would be quite happy with what was
developed here: an inproved and nicely souped up optacon II-like device with
tightened up parameters and some nifty features which in no way affected nor
hindered the optacon from being exactly what is is: a simple but modernized
optacon. However, reality dictates otherwise it seems against my grain and
preference; keep it simple, right? Between you and me, I got the feeling
that Noel was rightly observing and advising, but I read btween the lines
that his group--the CBI--really does not want for another notetaker with
superior braille module superceding their work, and indeed they might have
something revolutionary in the works, and so his message was a gentle but
subtle way of warning me off, but of course with professionalism and
friendliness and good points which I have come to expect from them.
These technologies seem to have an inertia of their own, and what we simple
optaconers want might be but a part of something more expansive, yet without
obscuring the optacon module itself. As I say, I prefer my main design of a
nicely souped up optacon II-look alike with better parameters and useful
features. metal box and all, portable and all.
Thanks for the reply, Catherine.
Chuck
-----Original Message-----
From: Catherine Thomas
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2016 2:38 AM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Windows keystrokes on a perkins keyboard
Why would an Optacon need any sort of keyboard in the first place? what you
are talking about is a device that does everything but what the Optacon
does.
Catherine
------------------------------------------------------
-Catherine Thomas
braille@xxxxxxxxx /
------------------------------------------------------------
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