[optacon-l] Re: optacon research
- From: "Nick Dotson" <nickdotson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:33:42 -0600
First of all, many of the original parts aren't being manufactured, so the
original design will be supplanted by more miniaturized parts, a different
tactile display technology, form-factor and set of functional specs for
whatever device--if any--ever supplants it. Next, design, cost to put into
manufacture, and distribution of a new device--likely desired by a small
demographic, will be difficult. Most sighted educators and rehabilitators,
as well of many non-braille using blind people--can't get their heads and
hearts around a tactile output device dependent upon the mind and hand of
the trained user. They see the road as the instant gratification of
OCR-based devices completely missing the point of something that lets a
person investigate not only printed materials, but graphical data.
Nick
-----Original Message-----
From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Rebecca Blaevoet
Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2011 10:21 AM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optacon-l] optacon research
Hello cAtherine,
Your comments about the optacon wizards brings up an interesting point. Is
the technology still under patent somewhere or can schematics be got by
private individuals? I have noticed a reticence on the part of engineers and
programmers to give specific information to those not in the inner circle as
it were and I'm wondering if it's concern that someone else, not related to
the said wizards, would develop a modern version of the device sooner? If
there is no exclusivity, can the relevant schematics/diagrams be made
available? If there is exclusivity, under whose name is it and was it
transferred from Telesensory Systems, even though that company saw no reason
to continue manufacturing of the Optacon?
Perhaps others on this list know the answers to those questions.
I want to see a modern version of the optacon as soon as may be, no matter
who invents it!
Rebecca
On 2011-12-29, at 2:40 PM, Catherine Thomas wrote:
> In approximately 2006 members of this list began an effort to preserve
> the Optacon. Many unuser and non-working Optacons were located and
> refurbished by our excellent Optacon repairers--Dave Godfrey in
> England, Nigel Herring in Australia and Richard Oehm in the U.S. Leo
> Drell of the U.S. also repairs Optacons. Richard Oehm has been selling
> refurbished Optacons at a reasonable price including a warranty. You can
contacct him at:
> oehmelec@xxxxxxx
> Phone: 408 971-6250 in the U.S.
>
> List mebers have done a lot of outreach to locate Optacon users. We
> created a survey to help us identify how the Optacon is used in these
> days of computers and scanners. Please email me if you have not yet
> filled out the survey and would like to.
>
> We have a group of engineers and software experts who call themselves
> the Optacon wizards. They have been at work on their own time at a
> possible re-development of the Optacon which would read some of the
> more modern displays and additional colors.
>
> The Optacon is still the only device that reads print in real time
> without re-interpreting it first. This feature is essential.
>
> The Optacon repairers have fabricated a couple of the essential parts
> to keep the current Optacons running such as a new version of the
> delicate retina cable. During 2011 progress has been made on figuring
> out technology for the more modern arrays. Hopefully, in 2012 we will
> come even closer to a new Optacon. In the meantime we are still
> looking for non-working or unused machines. If an Optacon can't be
> repaired it is used for parts.
>
> Happy New Year to all.
> Catherine
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> --------
> -Catherine Thomas
> braille@xxxxxxxxx /
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> ---------
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