Hi, all, Thought I might as well put in my totally-and-congenitally-blind two cents on this subject. It does seem to me that a raised-line alphabet on paper or some other suitable material is going to feel more like what the optacon will give you than wooden or plastic letters will. I learned print letters from a raised-line alphabet--in the lesson book, I think--so perhaps I'm just prejudiced. It is true that I had some of the capital letters in wood when I was about three years old, and their images will never fade from my mind, or so it seems to me 70 years later <smile>!when I took up the optacon 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.