For a time, F.S. repaired Optacons. Otherwise, I don't know why they made that purchase from T.S.I. In God We Trust, Carolyn ----- Original Message ----- From: "Marie Rudys" <mrudys@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2011 8:16 PM Subject: [optacon-l] Re: optacon research Why did they even bother to acquire the product when FS has no intention to continue it? I just don't understand that at all. Marie ----- Original Message ----- From: "cpond" <cpond@xxxxxxxxx> To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2011 5:09 PM Subject: [optacon-l] Re: optacon research > Freedom Scientific destroyed their documentation, prototypes and spare > parts > for optacons which they had acquired from Blazie Engineering. Blazie had > been working on an optacon device and had done some good work for sure on > displays, software and the processor needed. Freedon Scientific had no > intention to finish up the project; so, they let the NSF grant expire > using > it up, and that was that. > > Charles > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: J. R. Westmoreland > Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2011 3:30 PM > To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [optacon-l] Re: optacon research > > Currently Freedom Scientific has acquired all Optacon information when > they > purchased Telesensory Systems. > I believe all patents have expired for the system. > Work is underway to obtain a copy of all the prints and information. Some > documents have been located and preserved others we don't have. > There has been some initial discussion with FS but further information and > discussions are not complete. > > Best, > J. R. > > > -----Original Message----- > From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > [mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] > On Behalf Of Rebecca Blaevoet > Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2011 9:21 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 / >> >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >> --------- >> 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. > > > > > ----- > > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 10.0.1416 / Virus Database: 2109/4110 - Release Date: 12/29/11 > > > 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.