I've been using Optacons since approx 1982 where my school had one available.
I read language reference and utility manuals at work. I even tackled Knuth
vol 1 using an Optacon. I was even able to use it to read food packaging
of different shapes and sizes (something which wasn't possible with OCR).
I could even use the Optacon to read some diagrams.
I was able to use them until about 2010 when my last one died. I would snap up
Optacons from my cohorts as they abandoned them in favour of OCR solutions
or phone apps.
Optacon
31–36 of 36 posts
Re: Optacon
#32I've been using Optacons since approx 1982 where my school had one available. I read language reference and utility manuals at work. I even tackled Knuth vol 1 using an Optacon. I was even able to use it to read food packaging of different shapes and sizes (something which wasn't possible with OCR). I could even use the Optacon to read some diagrams. I was able to use them until about 2010 when my last one died. I wo…
What advantages does the optacon have over OCR solutions or phone apps? Why did your cohorts abandon them?
Re: Optacon
#33I've been using Optacons since approx 1982 where my school had one available. I read language reference and utility manuals at work. I even tackled Knuth vol 1 using an Optacon. I was even able to use it to read food packaging of different shapes and sizes (something which wasn't possible with OCR). I could even use the Optacon to read some diagrams. I was able to use them until about 2010 when my last one died. I wo…
What advantages does the optacon have over OCR solutions or phone apps? Why did your cohorts abandon them?
Did you read what he wrote?
Re: Optacon
#34If I understood this correctly, a pixel that is "on" in the tactile array is not just raised up above the "off" level, it is actually vibrating up and down at somewhere between 250 and 300 Hz. That certainly makes the mechanics complicated, an array of such pins is not exactly off the shelf today either, I think? It feels like the rest of the system, including of course the optical part which was a major achievement…
> That certainly makes the mechanics complicated, an array of such pins is not exactly off the shelf today either, I think? A solenoid is just a pin with an electro magnet wire wrapped around, put a spring on the pin to pull it back into the electro magnet and when you turn the magnet on it should vibrate. A 100x100 grid of solenoids should cost under $100 they are fairly cheap, you might even be able to use a grid o…
Where can you buy suitable solenoids?
Re: Optacon
#35Kind of sad. It would be much easier and cheaper to build this with today’s equipment and computing power.
I am not sure if that is really true. It might be cheaper to build, but it will probably not last as long as the 1980-product. We see this in refreshable braille displays too. The newish models tend to have about half the lifetime compared to pre-2000 models. Making things smaller and cheaper doesnt help if you are dealing with a shitload of moving parts. It is really sad to watch. While technology has clearly improv…
Could you share info about some of the models you used so far ?
As someone who lives with a blind person, I can see how quality of product is important for life quality. Equipment always seems expensive at first, but then you realize that piece of tech is used almost 24h a day and gives so much back...
Re: Optacon
#36Earlier quoted context omitted.
I am not sure if that is really true. It might be cheaper to build, but it will probably not last as long as the 1980-product. We see this in refreshable braille displays too. The newish models tend to have about half the lifetime compared to pre-2000 models. Making things smaller and cheaper doesnt help if you are dealing with a shitload of moving parts. It is really sad to watch. While technology has clearly improv…
Could you share info about some of the models you used so far ? As someone who lives with a blind person, I can see how quality of product is important for life quality. Equipment always seems expensive at first, but then you realize that piece of tech is used almost 24h a day and gives so much back...
I refuse to talk to non-blind people about blind people. That is such a patronizing move.
They can write me an email if they are interested to talk about different products. mlang@blind.guru