I still use my Optacon to check my window envelopes. The scanner can do it, but like many of you, I find that the Optacon is much faster, for this task. Enjoying the lively conversation today! Blessings, Laurel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Linda Gehres" <ljgehres@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2010 12:35 PM Subject: [optacon-l] Re: another quirky thing to do with the optacon > When I was first using an Optacon in the 70's to read my bills, it took > some time and study for me > to determine exactly where to find "amount due" on each type of bill. They > do vary. Sure, it's > possible with a scanner to read the bills, and I'm sure many people do > just that. But, for a good many years, the > scanning technology wasn't such that you could look at the window of the > return envelope to determine > whether you'd put the detachable portion of the bill into it the right way > so that the address would show through the window > properly. Nowadays, scanners have improved to the point where this can be > done, to my delight. But, it > wasn't so several Curzweil versions ago. > Linda G. > > On Wed, 12 May 2010 09:55:41 -0400, Natalie wrote: > > >>If you look at the return envelope first you know whether it is junk or >>someone you want to pay. Electric or phone bills are always the same, >>format-wise. You don't have to read the whole thing unless you have a >>grievance about it. >> >>Natalie >>----- Original Message ----- >>From: "Nick Dotson" <nickdotson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >>To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >>Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2010 9:55 PM >>Subject: [optacon-l] Re: another quirky thing to do with the optacon >> >> >>>I disagree. There are so many eye-candish things on bills and and in >>>junk >>>mail it can be really frustrating. Many educators have found the best >>>way >>>to gain speed in any reading methodology is to have the reader start by >>>reading somewhat familiar text, or at least in a genre they are >>>interested >>>in. That way the layout is consistent, and the user can work on >>>syntactic >>>clues in the first 2 or 3 letters of the word, thus working on tracking >>>and >>>gaining hand speed as well as trust in one's perceptions. The most >>>important thing if you don't have a trainer is to discipline yourself not >>>to scrub or hover over something. Unless you keep the camera moving >>>you'll >>>never gain speed, and play with intensity to keep your reading finger >>>from >>>tiring out. >>> >>>Nick >>> >>> >>>----- Original Message ----- >>>From: "Korene Kegg" <kkegg57@xxxxxxxxxxx> >>>To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >>>Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2010 7:52 PM >>>Subject: [optacon-l] Re: another quirky thing to do with the optacon >>> >>> >>>>Eileen >>>> >>>>I'd start with reading mail. It's so much quicker thatn scanning. >>>> >>>>Korene >>>> >>>> >>>>----- Original Message ----- >>>>From: "Eileen Misrahi" <eileenmis@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >>>>To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >>>>Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2010 6:58 PM >>>>Subject: [optacon-l] Re: another quirky thing to do with the optacon >>>> >>>> >>>>>I am so jealous of all of you because I did not learn the Opticon in >>>>>the >>>>>hay >>>>>days of its existence. I purchased my Opticon about 3 1/2 years ago,and >>>>>I >>>>>never seem to have the time to dedicate to it to become proficient. May >>>>>be >>>>>some of you seasoned users can give me some tips on how to start and >>>>>motivate me to learn this very valuable piece of equipment. I really do >>>>>believe that it has a place among all of the fancy gizmos that I have >>>>>in >>>>>my >>>>>collections. I look forward to any suggestions on how I can get >>>>>started. >>>>> >>>>>Thanks in advance. >>>>> >>>>>Eileen Misrahi >>>>> >>>>>-----Original Message----- >>>>>From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>>>[mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] >>>>>On Behalf Of Lori Castner >>>>>Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2010 3:36 PM >>>>>To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>>>Subject: [optacon-l] Re: another quirky thing to do with the optacon >>>>> >>>>>I have been able to read the print on some teashirts, some I have not. >>>>> >>>>>Lori C. >>>>> >>>>>----- Original Message ----- >>>>>From: <maryemerson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >>>>>To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >>>>>Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2010 3:30 PM >>>>>Subject: [optacon-l] another quirky thing to do with the optacon >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>>Hi folks, >>>>>> >>>>>>I'm getting quite a collection of T-shirts and wonder if any of you >>>>>>can >>>>>>read >>>>>>the sayings on them with the optacon. Sometimes you can feel the >>>>>>print, >>>>>>but >>>>>>often you can't. I like to try it sometimes; readibility depends on >>>>>>the >>>>>>color of the shirt and the amount of contrast between the shirt and >>>>>>the >>>>>>printing, and the type of font. If I can't read it, I can at least >>>>>>tell >>>>>>if >>>>>>the shirt is a light or dark color. >>>>>> >>>>>>Mary >>>>>> >>>>>>Mary >>>>>> >>>>>>to view the list archives, go to: >>>>>> >>>>>>www.freelists.org/archives/optacon-l >>>>>> >>>>>>To unsubscribe at any time, just send a message to: >>>>>> >>>>>>optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" (without >>>>>>the >>>>>>quotes) in the message subject. >>>>>> >>>>>>Tell your friends about the list. They can subscribe by sending a >>>>>>message >>>>> >>>>>>to: >>>>>> >>>>>>optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "subscribe" (without the >>>>>>quotes) in the message subject. >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>>to view the list archives, go to: >>>>> >>>>>www.freelists.org/archives/optacon-l >>>>> >>>>>To unsubscribe at any time, just send a message to: >>>>> >>>>>optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" (without >>>>>the >>>>>quotes) in the message subject. >>>>> >>>>>Tell your friends about the list. They can subscribe by sending a >>>>>message >>>>>to: >>>>> >>>>>optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "subscribe" (without the >>>>>quotes) in the message subject. >>>>> >>>>>to view the list archives, go to: >>>>> >>>>>www.freelists.org/archives/optacon-l >>>>> >>>>>To unsubscribe at any time, just send a message to: >>>>> >>>>>optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" (without >>>>>the >>>>>quotes) in the message subject. >>>>> >>>>>Tell your friends about the list. They can subscribe by sending a >>>>>message >>>>>to: >>>>> >>>>>optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "subscribe" (without the >>>>>quotes) in the message subject. >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>to view the list archives, go to: >>>> >>>>www.freelists.org/archives/optacon-l >>>> >>>>To unsubscribe at any time, just send a message to: >>>> >>>>optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" (without the >>>>quotes) in the message subject. >>>> >>>>Tell your friends about the list. They can subscribe by sending a >>>>message to: >>>> >>>>optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "subscribe" (without the >>>>quotes) in the message subject. >>>> >>>to view the list archives, go to: >>> >>>www.freelists.org/archives/optacon-l >>> >>>To unsubscribe at any time, just send a message to: >>> >>>optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" (without the >>>quotes) in the message subject. >>> >>>Tell your friends about the list. They can subscribe by sending a >>>message >>>to: >>> >>>optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "subscribe" (without the >>>quotes) in the message subject. >>> >>> >>>__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus >>>signature database 5108 (20100512) __________ >>> >>>The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. >>> >>>http://www.eset.com >>> >>> >>> >> >> >>__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus >>signature >>database 5108 (20100512) __________ >> >>The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. >> >>http://www.eset.com >> >> >> >>to view the list archives, go to: >> >>www.freelists.org/archives/optacon-l >> >>To unsubscribe at any time, just send a message to: >> >>optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" (without the >>quotes) in the message subject. >> >>Tell your friends about the list. They can subscribe by sending a message >>to: >> >>optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "subscribe" (without the >>quotes) >>in the message subject. > > to view the list archives, go to: > > www.freelists.org/archives/optacon-l > > To unsubscribe at any time, just send a message to: > > optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" (without the > quotes) in the message subject. > > Tell your friends about the list. They can subscribe by sending a message > to: > > optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "subscribe" (without the > quotes) in the message subject. > > > to view the list archives, go to: www.freelists.org/archives/optacon-l To unsubscribe at any time, just send a message to: optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" (without the quotes) in the message subject. Tell your friends about the list. They can subscribe by sending a message to: optacon-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "subscribe" (without the quotes) in the message subject.