Hello All,
I have stated my case before but my ideas have been criticized and shot down.
However, I am going to take a chance on stating my case again.
First of all, the present optacon is not fine the way it is and wouldn't atract
new users. The current device has one advantage and only one. It does one
task and does it well. The problem is I don't see how it could easily be
updated without sending a device to someone to make repairs or update any
hardware and software.
I used an optacon in high school but felt no incentive to keep up my skills as
the optacon was on loan from the department of education and I didn't have any
resources to buy one so I could make a long-term investment on the use of the
device. I didn't think about the practicality of a new optacon until I got my
current job as a computer programmer and had access to Braille displays. My
employer bought me my first disppay. Later, I was able to afford my own
displays and notetakers. I currently use my Braille Sense as a notetaker and a
Braille display with my iPhone. I''m lucky to have the best of both worlds. I
can use the convenient options of a notetaker and still take advantages of the
increasing opportunities and tasks I can do with a phone. Any new type of
optacon will need to offer the capabilities of the current optacon while still
taking advantage of the opportunities offered by mainstream technologies.
Providing some of the capabilities of mainstream technology would make the
optamon more attractive to potential users and easier to maintain and update.
Their are several promising technologies which could be combined to make a new
optacon which would be attractive to new users, easy to learn, and easy to
update.
A new optacon could be developed using a mobile tablet. These devices are
already available and are becoming cheaper to sell. We already have ocr which
runts on these devices and it could be harnessed for a new optacon. The KNFB
Reader as a starting point. Say what you will about the NFB but they succeeded
at developing an attractive app which can be used on devices which fit in your
pocket. What would be needed is the capability of taking advantage of the
haptic feedback which is already on phones. The latest addition to this
sooftware is Apple's force touch technology. There are also individuals who
are working on technology which would replace piezo-electric Braille cells with
new proprietary technology which would be cheaper to make and also add the
ability of displaying graphical information. I could forsee the development of
a tactile array which could communicate with a mobile device using BlueTooth
technology. The tactile array could sit next to the phone or both the phone
and the tactile array could sit side by side in a case. A smaller tactile
array could be housed in a small camera which would look like the current
camera for the traditional optacon it could also communicate by BlueTooth
technology so the camera could be placed on any object at any angle.
A mobile tablet could also add many capabilities which the current optacon
doesn't have like sythetic speech, Braille, and Internet and file-sharing
capabilities. This would allow the development of many types of training
materials and apps would be specifically developed for the blind.
Let's face it, sooner or later everyone will need to have some computer skills
and the use of assistive technology. I have known people who were put off
about learning to use a computer and a screenreader but were able to learn to
use an iPhone in a relatively short time because the iPhone has an intuitive
interface. I keep finding more and more uses for my iPhone while the need to
use the traditional screenreader has decreased.
I'm convinced that the approach I am stating is the only practical one where we
could make a case to the computer industry and assistive technology companies.
I have just scratched the surface as I can think of many more applications for
the type of device I am proposing. I'm old enough to remember the advantages
and disadvantages of the current optacon but young enough to have learned how
to use an iPhone. The iPhone has its limitations but it has improved my
quality of life. Sometimes the only way to make progress with any technology
is to have a paradigm shift. There's no reason that a blind person should be
exempted from this process. We can keep past technologies which have worked
and be willing to think about assistive technologies in new ways. I would be
happy to correspond with anyone on this list. All I ask is that people have an
open mind.
Thanks,
Dan
Sent from my iPhone
On Feb 15, 2016, at 10:17 AM, JOHN HUFFMAN <J73.HUFFMAN@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:to view the list archives, go to:
Paul,
Folks more learned than I will have to respond to hour specific questions.
Chers!
John, who is not a techie
-----Original Message-----
From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Paul Hunt
Sent: Monday, February 15, 2016 10:55 AM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Wy did the Optacon Die
Hello John. If the bimorph was once made, it can be made again. If we can
create the demand for the Optacon, and a company is willing to take it on,
it can be done.
What is the bimorph and what applications did it have?
Paul
-----Original Message-----
From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of JOHN HUFFMAN
Sent: Monday, February 15, 2016 8:51 AM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: 'Paul & Sheryl Hunt' <slhunt2@xxxxxxx>
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Wy did the Optacon Die
Paul et al,
I was told 15 or more years ago that there came a time when the Optacon
could no longer be manufactured because a key component, called a bimorph,
ceased to be available, and no replacement could be found. I didn't ask for
more nitty-gritty details because I'm not a techie and figured they'd be
over my head in any case. This by no means takes away from Paul's points
set out below.
Regards. JH
-----Original Message-----
From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Paul Hunt
Sent: Monday, February 15, 2016 9:32 AM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: Paul & Sheryl Hunt
Subject: [optacon-l] Wy did the Optacon Die
Hello everyone. I've been reading the posts on this list for about anow and have some thoughts about why the Optacon was discontinued.
month
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:
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To unsubscribe at any time, just send a message to:
optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" (without the
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