Paul,
Long story short, the Optacon as we know it isn't
reproducible. Forty year old electronics just aren't
available. There are ongoing efforts to produce an up-to-date
version of the Optacon. Others on the list are closer to that
development effort than I am.
i've been an user for over forty years and, like you used the Optacon
to read punched cards and computer output before Braille and
speech. Made it possible for me to be employed in the programming
firle for many years.
If children aren't being taught Braille, I doubt that anyone will
expend the effort to teach the Optacon. Too bad. A young person
could pick it up faster than someone older. I was in my mid thirties
when I learned the device and there was quite a learning curve. But
I'm so glad that I had the opportunity. And with dedicated people
like Richard Oehm, the Optacon lives!!
I'm sure others will add to these thoughts.
Pat ByrneAt 08:32 AM 2/15/2016, you wrote:
Hello everyone. I've been reading the posts on this list forabout a month now and have some thoughts about why the Optacon was
discontinued.
Let's look at the issue from Telesensory Systems Inc. (TSI)'s
perspective. TSI was in the business to make a profit. Companies
discontinue products that they can't sell. If we look at their
decision to discontinue the Optacon from their point of view, we can
understand why they made it.
The reason that the Optacon didn't sell was the blindness population
and the agencies that support them didn't buy it.
They didn't buy it because of their lack of vision. They didn't buy
it because learning to use an Optacon is hard work and you wouldn't
read War and Peace with it. Those of us who use Optacons have real
vision and have used our Optacons in many ways for many jobs. I once
took a Cobol course and had to read listings and punch cards. I
couldn't have done it without the Optacon.
I'm curious. How many members do we have on this list? Could we
petition ACB and NFB to approach the Assistive Technology companies
to bring it back? Really, the work has already been done. The
Optacon doesn't need upgrades, it's fine the way it is. What are
your thoughts? to view the list archives, go to:
www.freelists.org/archives/optacon-l
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