| Credit line |
Gift of Jim Bliss, 2005.48 |
| Date |
ca.1969 |
| Description |
(a) Wooden case, dark orange finish; box jointed with brass-reinforced corners; piano hinged lid; two nickel plated brass latches on front with locks; flat black rubber handle with nickel plated hardware; three internal compartments; copper label slot on lid; two adhesive mailing labels; evidence of original black foam padding glued inside case(b) brown leather satchel for opticon, pentangular; two flaps with brass snaps; leather loops and male snaps on sides for strap; (c) leather shoulder strap, padded in middle, two brass snaps on each end; (d) optacon unit: black aluminum chassis, pentangular shape; plexiglass shelf on front features shallow groove with six rows of pins; two gray knobs labeled "OFF STIM" and "ATC"; brass snaps on sides of shelf area; rear has power cord socket, green i/o jack, red battery check button, and lens module stored in slot with wire wrapped on two gold spools; (e) black three-prong power cord; (f) green tinplate box of 3AG fuses (Littelfuse); (g) key to case latches. |
| Dimensions |
H-5 W-18 D-17 inches |
| Dimension notes |
Listed dimensions are overall. Leather satchel: 15"H x 9W x 3D |
| Inscription text |
GOVT PROPERTY STANFORD UNIV
C-12, 177 |
| Made |
Stanford and SRI Laboratories |
| Material |
Wood, brass, copper, nickel, aluminum, plexiglass, plastic, tinplate |
| Makers mark |
"OPTICON S-9" |
| Object ID |
2005.48 |
| Object Name |
Converter |
| People |
Linvill, John G. |
| Provenance/History |
Inspired by his blind daughter, Dr. John Linvill at Stanford University led the development of the reading aid for the blind known as the Optacon, or Optical-to-Tactile Converter, an instrument that allowed vision-impaired persons to read ordinary printed material. He also participated in the founding of Telesensory Systems, Inc., the eventual commercial manufacturer. This is the ninth of 15 prototypes built at Stanford and SRI laboratories before Telesensory was founded. Used by blind students at Stanford and in demonstrations. The Optacon converted printed images to tactile images. The user held the lens module in one hand and moved it over reading material, placing the index finger of the other hand on the finger plate. The print images were converted to vibrating metal rods, the tips of which protruded through the finger plate, making a pattern of the tactile image. Each image was felt sequentially, right to left, as the rods vibrated. |
| Subjects |
Prototypes.
Aids for the blind and visually handicapped.
Electronic aids. (use for electronic aids for the
handicapped)
Reading devices for the disabled.
Instructional aids, tools, and supplies. |
| Title |
Optacon prototype |
|
