The Optacon (Optical Tactile Converter) is a reading device for the blind. It was first manufactured in 1970 but not longer in production. It is still in use by some users today. Telesensory, Inc., the inventor of the Optacon, is out of business.

The Optacon is an electro-mechanical device that enables a visually impaired person to read printed material by feeling a tactile version of the visual image. The image is presented to the Optacon user on an array of vibrating metal rods placed under the user's finger tip.

There is an active user group for the Optacon
at http://www.freelists.org/list/optacon-l

Training and User manuals are available from Freedom Scientific
at http://www.freedomscientific.com/fs_downloads/optacon.asp