----- Original Message -----
From: "Isaac Obie" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2002 11:33 AM
Subject: Fw: optacon (fwd)


> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Tue, 8 Jan 2002 07:19:18 -0800
> From: Doug Rose <[log in to unmask]>
> Reply-To: List blindad/Advertisements for blindness-related products
and
>               services <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Fw: optacon
>
> I know the following will be of interest to any former Optacon users
plus it
> sounds like new users wil benefit where it says "To make the New
Machine
> accessible to the large number of blind users who cannot read by
touch,
> Optical Character Recognition and synthetic speech output will be an
> integral part of the New Machine, beside tactile output."
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <[log in to unmask]>
> Tuesday, January 08, 2002 6:53 AM
> Subject: optacon
>
>
> > Dear Optacon User,
> >
> > Some of you have asked if I was the same "Tretiakoff" who had
developed
> the first piezo-electric Braille Display back in the seventies:  Yes,
I am
> the same person.
> > For those who may remember, it was called the "Digicassette" and was
> released in 1975.
> >
> > I am now working, with the support of a Grant from the National
Science
> Foundation awarded to C.A.Technology,Inc. the small business I own in
> Florida since 1990, on a Project entitled "New and Improved Print
Reading
> Machine for the Blind".
> >
> > When the original Optacon was invented by John Linvill in the early
> seventies, it became the first ever aid for the Blind to provide an
> electrically driven tactile array and to use the best electronic
circuits
> technology available at that time.
> >
> > During the last 30 years, we have witnessed changes in electronic
circuits
> technology and consequently computer hardware and software which have
> rendered the technology used in the original Optacon all but obsolete,
while
> the functions it provided remained as necessary and important as 30
years
> ago.
> >
> > Our goal is to develop the New Print Reading Machine around the best
> available electronic circuits technology and software available today.
> >
> > To keep the New Machine manufacturing cost low and protect the New
Machine
> from rapid obsolescence, we will use in its design, whenever possible,
"off
> the shelf" hardware and software which will allow the New Machine to
benefit
> almost instantly from their future improvements.
> >
> > To make the New Machine accessible to the large number of blind
users who
> cannot read by touch, Optical Character Recognition and synthetic
speech
> output will be an integral part of the New Machine, beside tactile
output.
> >
> > To free the users from the hassle of setting up a scanner and from
the
> inherent slowness of scanner data acquisition, the New Machine will
use a
> megapixel digital color camera to acquire in a single shot an image of
any
> document, book page or printed object.
> >
> > Our newly developed and portable book-reading optical interface will
allow
> rapid reading of books without fear of damaging them, as they are when
> placed repeatedly in a conventional flat bed scanner.
> >
> > All Optacon users have emphasized the decline of the Optacon
usability
> when the number of pins in its tactile array was reduced from 144 to
100,
> supposedly to lower its manufacturing cost.
> >
> >
> > Therefore, we are actively working to increase as soon as possible
the
> number of dots for a Reading Machine tactile array while lowering its
> manufacturing cost and its bulk through the use of new tactile
actuators
> technologies.
> >
> > I thank you for the interest you have demonstrated in this project.
> >
> > Your comments and suggestions have been very useful and  I look
forward to
> a constructive continuation of this dialog between users and
developer.
> >
> > I wish you a very happy New Year,
> >
> > Oleg Tretiakoff
> >
> >
> >
>


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