Yes, I sent in info, I believe back in 2016 when it was the VideoTim.
Unless a way for financing is found, this device will ever stay on the shelf,
no matter how good it is.
Judy
-----Original Message-----
From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf
Of David
Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2021 9:03 AM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; Alain Bardet <alain.bardet3@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: abtim reading device
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 saleto view the list archives, go to:
in 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;to view the list archives, go to:
that 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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