Listers,
I just wanted to let you know, I received a message from the developer
regarding the ABTIM device. It is actually called VideoTim.
Apparently they have released a new version, a bit more than a year ago
- version 4. Some good news to share:
According to the info I received, the unit is quite small, with a tiny
enough camera. It supposedly should be able to read modern displays, and
they tell it to even work on smartphones. The camera cable has a USB
connector, and they say both the power-supply and battery should be
mainstream, and easy to replace.
One thing I did feel was a bit sad, was that it weighs approx 1 kilo, or
some 2 pounds. In the old days, compared to the Perkins Brailer that we
carried from one classroom to the other, this seems pretty
light-weighted. But in the modern world with cellphones and tablets
weighing only a fraction, i wonder what makes it such heavy. Unless it
would be the display itself. They tell it to be Piezo-driven. Someone on
the list, a while back, claime that the Piezo would not keep up with the
necessary speed of vibration, to make a good reading experience. Well,
the VideoTim seemingly does work without the vibrating pins we are used to.
Here are the dimentions that I was given:
Main unit: 65 mm (2.6 Inch) high, and has a size of 133 mm (5.32 inch)
width, x 225 mm (9 inch) length.
Camera: 45 mm (1.8 inch) high, x 26 mm (1.05 inch) width, x 80 mm (3.2
inch) Length.
Apparently the newest model should offer the user even better
adjustments for crisp reading. And so far, it sounds pretty promising.
Now some challenges.
No dealers outside Germany, so if you want the unit, you will have to
face the challenge of shipping and importing the unit. That might be an
obstacle to many. And if you now are ready for the real shock, here it
is. Price is some 11 thousand Euros, or what seems to equal to just
about 13500 American dollars. Who has a savings account they want to
share? Smiles. Imagine the price, once you have shipped the unit, and
paid whatever taxes will be needed to get it into your country.
Unfortunately, this lines up with most assistive technology - on the
"too expensive" shelf.
Remember, we have discussed the possibility of having some organization
join the costs in developing a new Optacon? Well, with such a pricing of
the end-product, I do see why noone wants to get their feet wet. If each
product manufactured will cost that much, what would be the development
cost of the project as a total? And why would anyone develop what
seemingly already does exist? Quite disappointing, but not unexpected.
At least, now we know a bit more about the unit. Still, it was
interesting to look into the stuff.
Of course, I have not had my hands on the unit, so won't be able to tell
anything as to its functionality in real life. But I am afraid most of
us will have a hard time in convincing any new user, that this price is
what they need - so as to perform some simple reading around the house,
in their daily living.
David
On 1/14/2021 12:44 PM, Alain Bardet wrote:
Hi thank you very much for your replies regarding the abtim.to view the list archives, go to:
Well let us see the further development. The price is prohibitive
especially when we think of what is available now.
All the best
Alain
Le 12/01/2021 à 20:09, Steve (Redacted sender k8sp for DMARC) a écrit :
It appears from their website that the device is available for sale into view the list archives, go to:
Europe.
VideoTIM3
READING DEVICE for the BLIND
Applications of VideoTIM
Picture: Tactile display TIM shows the character A
Picture: VideoTIM1 with hand-held video camera on a book page
VideoTIM devices are in use for over ten years in different jobs and in the
private sector.The most common forms of use include the reading of printed
documents and reading books.
Many VideoTIM users were previously OPTACON users. The OPTACON is an older,
no longer produced device with the same scope. The main differences should
be mentioned here: The VideoTIM device generates, in contrast to OPTACON,
neither interfering noise or vibration. The image on the TIM display is much
clearer. VideoTIM shows much more pixel. As an OPTACON user the
familiarization period is between four hours and two days.
Picture: VideoTIM1 with hand-held video camera on a newspaper
Picture: VideoTIM1 with hand-held video camera on a newspaper
Picture: VideoTIM1 with hand-held video camera on a medicine package
Picture: VideoTIM1 with hand-held video camera on a medicine package
Picture: Hand written number 7 on the TIM display
Picture: Hand written number 7 on the TIM display
Picture: Hand-held video camera of VideoTIM looks onto notes
Picture: Hand-held video camera of VideoTIM looks onto notes
Some people use the VideoTIM devices but also for other applications,eg for
newspaper reading, the reading of medicine packages, hand written notes and
foreign letters.
Picture: Business grafic on the TIM display
Picture: Letters A, B and C on the TIM display
Picture: Business grafic on the TIM display
Picture: Letters A, B and C on the TIM display
Picture: Scissors symbol on the TIM display
Picture: Windows symbol for minimize on the TIM display
Picture: Scissors symbol on the TIM display
Picture: Windows symbol for minimize on the TIM display
The Video TIM device can represent more than just writing and numerals. Some
people use the pen-shaped camera to work on flat screen displays (PC
monitors
or smartphone displays). This way some software programs can be used.
The VideoTIM can also present graphics. For example it can show simple
business charts, curves, icons and page layouts.
Picture: TIM display shows a moving hand
Picture: Hand movements in front of a video camera
The pictures above show an example of how a video camera captures the
movement of a hand against a white background. The hand movements are shown
live
on the TIM display.
table with 18 columns and 25 rows
table with 6 columns and 1 rows nesting level 1
home
home (e)
the videotim
techn. data
usage
contact
table end nesting level 1
VideoTIM3
READING DEVICE for the BLIND
Technical Data
Picture: VideoTIM3 with mini hand-held video camera on a text document
Version: VideoTIM3
list of 18 items
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Plumlee (Redacted sender "knobman" for DMARC)"
<dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2021 1:06 PM
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: abtim reading device
I had not heard of the abtim reading device until you mentioned it; thatto view the list archives, go to:
device might be interesting and worthy of further exploration because it
appears to be able to put a blind person back in contact with the actual
printed page. As much as I hate to see the Optacon "move off-stage," it is
happening - slowed only by those of us who are confirmed Optacon users who
still use this device. I would like to see the abtim reading device
explored in greater detail especially for the sake of young blind persons
in grade school and high school who do not have direct contact with the
printed page these days.
I would like to see more information on it - its technical specifications,
price, and the like. As I see it, one "weakness" of the standard Optacon
which would make it a "hard sell" for use in schools these days is the
fragile cable between the retina and the box. We who are experienced
Optacon users get along pretty well with the unit because we have been
taught now to take good care of that cable; but knowing what I hear about
kids these days - the way they have to rush around and carry a lot of
stuff with them - putting a standard Optacon in their hands would be
trouble waiting to happen.
Nowadays, with multiplex technology very well developed, it might be
possible to have wireless digital communication between the camera and the
box. I understand that modern pipe-organ makers use data multiplexing to
connect the organ console to the pipe room so that they can now have a
cable with far fewer wires than the cables of old which could sometimes be
the diameter of a fire hose with maybe a few hundred wires in it. Today's
multiplexing works fast enough that you wouldn't detect any delay in the
response of the organ compared to what it would be if you had hard-wire
connections for everything in the instrument. A similar system might be
possible to "cut the cord" between the camera and the "box."
The bottom line in my opinion is that my hat is off to anyone who can
develop a sustainable reading system that would put students and adults in
intimate contact with the actual printed page. Such intimate contact
would be great for showing relationships that sighted people see on a page
and take for granted. I can envision how complex equations might become
more intelligible if they could be examined on a page the way they are
laid out on that page. And we won't even talk about electronic schematics
and similar types of diagrams. Any reading device which would work as
well or better than a standard Optacon would probably have merit in
reading that type of material. The key is that the human mind needs to be
the "motor controller" and "image decoder" to gain greatest benefit.
-----Original Message-----
From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On
Behalf Of Alain Bardet
Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2021 11:32 AM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optacon-l] abtim reading device
Hi all,
I am a French optacon user and I still enjoy the device!
Have some of you heard about the abtim reading device? What do you think
of it?
Cheers stay well and happy new year!
Alain from Paris
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