From: JBliss@aol.com
Message-ID: <960210100022_218738932@emout06.mail.aol.com>
To: nfb-rd@lothlorien.nfbcal.org
Subject: Re: FORWARDED MAIL FROM DR. NEMETH
Dear Bill,
You are correct about the threshold adjust problem with the Optacon II. As
you know, the Optacon threshold adjustment is very critical and small changes
allow maximum information to be teased out of the image. In the RID and
earlier models of the Optacon, the threshold adjust was analog. In the first
models of Optacon II shipped too few bits were used in the threshold adjust
A/D converter When I first became aware of this I insisted that Canon
increase the number of bits, which they did. However, it is still not as
good as the analog version.
With respect to the number of pixels in the tactile image, I think the 144
(24 by 6) pixels in the R1D and earlier Optacons is superior to the 100 (20
by 5) in the Optacon IIs. I suspect the extra 4 rows help catch decenders
(which don't occur in Japanese) and tests I conducted indicate that the extra
column can increase reading rate as much as 20%.
I think there is a chance something can be done about the demise of the
Optacon. From a business standpoint, it doesn't make sense for anyone to
continue the manufacture if the expense of transitioning the manufacture from
TSC and upgrading the design to correct these problems has to be paid for out
of sales revenues. However, if funds were available from government or
private sources (domestic and international) then I believe the project could
be done. A first step in making this happen would be to develop some
evidence of the need and demand.
I would be willing to see that any letters from blind people urging Optacon
redesign and continued manufacture get to possible funding sources.
Jim Bliss
jbliss@aol.com
---------------------
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Date: Sat, 10 Feb 1996 10:00:22 -0500
From: JBliss@aol.com
Message-ID: <960210100022_218738932@emout06.mail.aol.com>
To: nfb-rd@lothlorien.nfbcal.org
Subject: Re: FORWARDED MAIL FROM DR. NEMETH
Dear Bill,
You are correct about the threshold adjust problem with the Optacon II. As
you know, the Optacon threshold adjustment is very critical and small changes
allow maximum information to be teased out of the image. In the RID and
earlier models of the Optacon, the threshold adjust was analog. In the first
models of Optacon II shipped too few bits were used in the threshold adjust
A/D converter When I first became aware of this I insisted that Canon
increase the number of bits, which they did. However, it is still not as
good as the analog version.
With respect to the number of pixels in the tactile image, I think the 144
(24 by 6) pixels in the R1D and earlier Optacons is superior to the 100 (20
by 5) in the Optacon IIs. I suspect the extra 4 rows help catch decenders
(which don't occur in Japanese) and tests I conducted indicate that the extra
column can increase reading rate as much as 20%.
I think there is a chance something can be done about the demise of the
Optacon. From a business standpoint, it doesn't make sense for anyone to
continue the manufacture if the expense of transitioning the manufacture from
TSC and upgrading the design to correct these problems has to be paid for out
of sales revenues. However, if funds were available from government or
private sources (domestic and international) then I believe the project could
be done. A first step in making this happen would be to develop some
evidence of the need and demand.
I would be willing to see that any letters from blind people urging Optacon
redesign and continued manufacture get to possible funding sources.
Jim Bliss
jbliss@aol.com
--KAD08819.824228506/emout06.mail.aol.com--
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