Guide to the Telesensory Systems, Inc. Optacon records SC1627

University Archives staff

Department of Special Collections and University Archives

April 2023; last updated May 2025

Green Library

557 Escondido Mall

Stanford 94305-6064

Fax Number: (650) 723-8690

specialcollections@stanford.edu

Contributing Institution: Department of Special Collections and University Archives

Title: Telesensory Systems, Inc. Optacon records

source: Adams, Judith.

source: Fischbach, Becky

Creator: Bliss, James

Identifier/Call Number: SC1627

Physical Description: 5.75 Linear Feet 3 cartons, 2 manuscript boxes, and 1 half box.

Date (inclusive): 1957-2022

Physical Location: Special Collections and University Archives materials are stored offsite and must be paged 48 hours in advance. For more information on paging collections, see the department's website: http://library.stanford.edu/spc.

Language of Material: English .

Conditions Governing Access

Materials are open for research use. Audio-visual materials are not available in original format, and must be reformatted to a digital use copy.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Judy Adams, 2023.

Biographical / Historical

James C. Bliss received his M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University in 1958 and his PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1961. Bliss was formerly the head of the Bio-Information Systems Group at the Stanford Research Institute. Bliss later founded Telesensory Systems, Inc. (also known as TSI and TeleSensory Corporation), an American corporation that invented, designed, manufactured, and distributed technological aids for blind and low vision persons. Bliss's research and TSI's products helped visually impaired people work independently[1] with computers and with ordinary printed materials.

Preferred Citation

[identification of item] Telesensory Systems, Inc. Optacon records (SC1627). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Scope and Contents

This collection contains Bliss's dissertation, his related work and publications with the Stanford Research Institute, documents pertaining to the founding of Telesensory Systems, Inc., project files, reports, interviews, audiovisual materials, awards, and photographs.

Conditions Governing Use

While University Archives is the owner of the physical and/or digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Electrical engineering

Assistive Technology

Adams, Judith.

Fischbach, Becky

Records ARCH-2023-074

Box 1, Folder 1

Dissertation 1960

Box 1, Folder 2

Papers/reports 1966

Box 1, Folder 3

Journal articles/reprints 1962-1966

Box 1, Folder 4

Stanford Engineering News; Solid State Electronics Laboratory 1966-1971

Box 1, Folder 5

Stanford Research Institute 1964

Box 1, Folder 6

Additional journal articles 1960-1963

Box 1, Folder 7

SRI Bioengineering Research 1970-1982

Box 1, Folder 8

Final Report Covering the Period 15 September 1963 to 15 January 1965 1963-1965

Box 1, Folder 9

Finral Report Covering the Period 25 April 1965 to 25 April 1966 1965-1966

Box 1, Folder 10

Technical Report AFAL-TR-66-242, July 1966 1966

Box 1, Folder 11

Quarterly Report 3, Covering the Period 24 November 1966 to 24 February 1967 1966-1967

Box 1, Folder 12

Tactile Perception Studies Related to Teleoperator Systems 1971

Box 1, Folder 13

Characteristics of the Tactile Information Channel 1967-1968

Box 1, Folder 14

Automatic Alphanumeral Reading 1957

Box 1, Folder 15

A Frequency Digitizer 1958

Box 1, Folder 16

Scanning Techniques for Magnetic Character Recognition 1962

Box 1, Folder 17

Systems Study of an Interactive Computer-Aided, Text Reading Service for the Blind Available Through Any Telephone 1970

Box 1, Folder 18

A Mobility Aid for the Blind to Supplement the Cane 1996

Box 1, Folder 19

Early History of the Optacon (Optical-to-Tactile-Converter) and Telesensory 1964

Box 1, Folder 20

Optacon and Speech Technology for the Blind 1974 February

Box 1, Folder 21

Miscellaneous documents n.d.

Box 1, Folder 22

Papers delivered to hearings and conferences 1977

Box 1, Folder 23

Student research papers, theses, requests for interviews 1966

Box 1, Folder 24

Optacon use in Private Piano Lessons for the Blind 1989

Box 1, Folder 25

Interview proposal 1993 October 8

Box 1, Folder 26

Availability, features and user's manuals n.d.

Box 1, Folder 27

Optacon dissemination project and TSI newsletters 1967-1983

Box 1, Folder 28

3-F-M Reader Block Diagram n.d.

Box 2, Folder 1

Optacon training: teaching guidelines 1973

Box 2, Folder 2

Optacon training: grapheme recognition n.d.

Box 2, Folder 3

Janet and Mark post 1966

Box 2, Folder 4

San Diego Optacon Training Project 1971-1972

Box 2, Folder 5

Instructional materials not prepared by Telesensory (Moore) 1975

Box 2, Folder 6

Optacon Repeater Cable Newsletter/Training Dept 1976-1983

Box 2, Folder 7

TSI product brochures (not Optacon) 1975-1984

Box 2, Folder 8

Miscellaneous TSI product manuals: 1) APS 1974

Box 2, Folder 9

Miscellaneous TSI product manuals: 2) BrailleMate 1991

Box 2, Folder 10

Miscellaneous TSI product manuals: 3) PowerReader Assistant 1997

Box 2, Folder 11

Telesensory news clippings 1962

Box 2, Folder 12

Photos of Jim and Joan Bliss and miscellaneous staff/sales representatives n.d.

Box 2, Folder 13

Photos of Canon representatives - Optacon II n.d.

Box 2, Folder 14

Candella oral history interview with James Bliss 2002

Box 2, Folder 15

Jim Bliss's departure from Telesensory 1991

Box 2, Folder 16

JBliss Imaging Systems founding and products 1991

Box 2, Folder 17

Appendices - Optacon training guidelines n.d.

Box 2, Folder 18

JBliss Imaging: articles of corporation, technology license agreement, dissolution 2005-2015

Box 2, Folder 19

Telesensory ceases operation 2005 March 14

Box 2, Folder 20

Collection inventory by Judy Adams 2022 December

Box 2, Folder 21

TeleSensory BrailleMate2 n.d.

Addenda, 2023-084 ARCH-2023-084

Box 3, Folder 1

Jim Bliss to John Linvill: Optacon prototype in a year 1968 August 06

Box 3, Folder 2

Resource allocation in "Blindness System" 1969

Box 3, Folder 3

Preliminary specifications for next reading aid generation 1969 - 1970

Box 3, Folder 4

Hardware design of next Optacon 1969 December 1

Box 3, Folder 5

Integrated electronics for a reading aid for the blind 1969 December

Box 3, Folder 6

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers - IEEE International Solid State Circuits Conference Outstanding Paper Award 1969

Box 3, Folder 7

Determination of optimum spacing of photo cells 1970 January 40

Box 3, Folder 8

"Product Announcement Tactile Stimulator Array" 1970 March

Box 3, Folder 9

Telesensory drafts of form letter on Optacon 1970 April 15

Box 3, Folder 10

Report on Optacon interest of Los Angeles School district 1970

Box 3, Folder 11

"Proposal for Manufacture of Optacon for a Field Trial at Elementary and Secondary School 1970

Box 3, Folder 12

Optacon specification sheet 1970 May 04

Box 3, Folder 13

Contact report 1970 May

Box 3, Folder 14

Bliss invitation to speak at the Department of Education 1970 April 27

Box 3, Folder 15

Jim Bliss follow-up on a Johnson and Johnson capital investment 1970 May 18

Box 3, Folder 16

Question and answer addendum to the TSI business plan 1970 May

Box 3, Folder 17

Memo regarding the S-13, S-14, and S-15 Optacons 1970 June 29

Box 3, Folder 18

Planning for Telesensory 1970 - 1971

Box 3, Folder 19

Telesensory Systems Inc. business plan 1970 August 21

Box 3, Folder 20

Bimorph driver 1970

Box 3, Folder 21

Optacon final report 1973 March

Box 3, Folder 22

Basic theory and calculations for the Optacon zoom lens system 1973 September 18

Box 3, Folder 23

Preliminary operating instructions for CRT lens model 1973 December

Box 3, Folder 24

Results of CRT field examinations 1974 January 17

Box 3, Folder 25

Optical calculations for Optacon attachments 1974 May 21

Box 3, Folder 26

Optical spec. for Canon 1974 July 31

Box 3, Folder 27

Speech calculator 1976 - 1979

Box 3, Folder 28

Optacon dissemination project 1976 - 1977

Box 3, Folder 29

A reading system for the blind 1976 - 1977

Box 3, Folder 30

The Optacon: a useful reading aid for the blind 1977

Box 3, Folder 31

EE 205 seminar invitation and notes 1981 January 14

Box 3, Folder 32

NSF final project grant report 1984

Box 3, Folder 33

Letter from Canon to Telesensory 1989

Box 3, Folder 34

Telesensory meeting with creditors / Chapter 7 bankruptcy filed 2005

Box 3, Folder 35

Sensory Access Foundation on-site quarterly newsletter: "The Optacon: The Reading Machine That Started It All." 2007 May

Box 3, Folder 36

Telesensory newsletter 1984

Box 3, Folder 37

"New Zealand Ultrasonic Binaural Sensor for the Blind" 1969

Box 3, Folder 38

Print plate for brochure of original Optacon 1970s

Box 3, Folder 39

Plaque for Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers - IEEE International Solid State Circuits Conference Outstanding Paper Award 1969

Box 3, Folder 40

"CRC" Chip for talking calculator speech synthesis TSI speech n.d.

Box 3, Folder 41

Optacon Bipolar Phototransistor Silica Retina n.d.

Box 3, Folder 42

Driver Chip for Optacon Bimorphs n.d.

Box 3, Folder 43

Judy Adams inventory of John Stephen Brugler papers for Telesensory collection 2023

Box 4, Folder 1

Reference addendum Longstreet 1971 April 5

Box 4, Folder 2

Introduction — Bliss, https:/wikipedia.org.wiki/optacon (11 pages) 2005

Box 4, Folder 3

Bliss, Appendix D. The Relationship of Stanford University Telesensory Systems 1960's

Box 4, Folder 4

Bliss, video demonstration — early research leading to the Optacon 1964-1965

Box 4, Folder 5

Bliss, Proceedings of the IEEE, A Direct Translation Reading Aid for the Blind - Linvill, Bliss 1966 January

Box 4, Folder 6

"Information Available in Brief Tactical Presentations" in Perceptions and Psychophysics Vol. 1 1966

Box 4, Folder 7

Bliss, "Medical Engineering; Replacing Braille?" Time 1969 September 19

Box 4, Folder 8

Bliss, "Development Progress on a Microelectronic Tactical Facsimile Reading Aid for the Blind" 1969 December

Box 4, Folder 9

"Reading Aids for the Blind: A Special Case of Machine-to-Man Communication" 1969 December

Box 4, Folder 10

Bliss - Projections for Telesensory Steve Brugler 1970 - 1974

Box 4, Folder 11

"Sensory Aids for the Blind: A Challenging Problem with Lessons for the Future" Patrick Nye, James Bliss, IEEE 1970

Box 4, Folder 12

Bliss, video — "The Optacon Story" 1972

Box 4, Folder 13

Bliss — "Marjorie Linville and the Sensory Access Foundation" 1973

Box 4, Folder 14

"Optacon Final Report" John Linvill, Complete 1973 March

Box 4, Folder 15

Bliss "The Optacon: A Valuable Device for Blind Persons" 1974

Box 4, Folder 16

Bliss "An Analysis of Optacon Usage" Loren Shoof 1975

Box 4, Folder 17

Bliss "Vintage Calculators Telesensory's Speech Plus 1970s 2000

Box 4, Folder 18

Bliss "A Time-sharing Terminal Adapted for Use by Blind Computer Users" K. Fielsted 1878 September 1

Box 4, Folder 19

Bliss — World Optacon Conference — Shipboard Venue 1980 September 28 - October 2

Box 4, Folder 20

Bliss — Speech Plus Inc. Smithsonian Speech Synthesis History Project Guide 1976 - 1980

Box 4, Folder 21

Bliss "Real-Time Text to Speech Research" Espinoff to Speech Plus Inc. Not Kept by TSI Project Note: Intended for Talking Optacon 1976 - 1982

Box 4, Folder 22

Bliss "Invitation to Testify at Hearing 1982 August 20

Box 4, Folder 23

"The Economics of Placing the Disabled in the Labor Market" Marjorie Linvill 1982 December

Box 4, Folder 24

Bliss — data copy prospectus 1983 August 4

Box 4, Folder 25

Bliss — VersaBraille users and editors of Versa News, Howard and David Goldstein 1983

Box 4, Folder 26

"A Time-division multiplex tactile Vision Substitution System" Kurt Kazzmarek 1984

Box 4, Folder 27

TSI newsletter #28 1984 June

Box 4, Folder 28

"Changing Programs on Your VersaBraille Unit" 1984 August 1

Box 4, Folder 29

Video, "What is On Optacon" APH Museum 1985

Box 4, Folder 30

CTG Interview - Bliss - A Commitment to the Development of Technology for Blind and Visually Impaired Closing the Gap 1985 October and November

Box 4, Folder 31

"TSI's Jim Bliss on Computers and Disabled Workers" Personnel Administrator 1986 August

Box 4, Folder 32

"Telesensory Systems, Inc. 1986 Annual Report" 1987 May

Box 4, Folder 33

"Focus on the Blind" Palo Alto Times Tribune -- Bliss 1987 November 6

Box 4, Folder 34

"Giving the Blind A High-Tech Edge" Venture 1988 January

Box 4, Folder 35

TSI/VTEK merger 1988 December 20

Box 4, Folder 36

TSI/VTEK strategic plan for 1990-1994 1989 October

Box 4, Folder 37

President and board representative authority policy 1990 April 4

Box 4, Folder 38

"Canon Research Center America, Inc." Grand Opening 1991 June 4

Box 4, Folder 39

Biographical sketch - Jim Bliss 1991 July

Box 4, Folder 40

Profile of John Linvill in celebrating 100 years: research and scholarship at Stanford 1991 September

Box 4, Folder 41

"Technology Producers Present Their Views: The First Panel" NFB Braille Monitor 1992 January

Box 4, Folder 42

"Concerning Integrity, Monopoly, and Telesensory Vol. 35, Braille Monitor 1992 March

Box 4, Folder 43

Interest In Acquiring Telesensory, David Dupont, C. Niven Jones 1992 May 12

Box 4, Folder 44

The Pot Boils and Telesensory Stews, Braille Monitor Vol. 35 1992 July

Box 4, Folder 45

Focus on Technology 1992 Fall

Box 4A, Folder 46

Letter from widow of Hajime Mitarai - Canon Japan Chair 1995 September 18

Box 4A, Folder 47

The Moose: Haptics research in music and acoustics O'Modhriam and Gillespie 1995

Box 4A, Folder 48

RLE Currents Vol. 8 Spring, "John Linvill, Chair of Board, Telesensory Corp." 1996 Spring

Box 4A, Folder 49

Providing parts to service Optacons after TSI stopped production 1996 - 1997

Box 4A, Folder 50

"Individual differences in the Vibrotactile Perception of a Simple Pattern Set" Perception and Psychophysics 1997

Box 4A, Folder 51

"An Interview with James C. Bliss" By Paul J. Lewis 1997 Summer

Box 4A, Folder 52

"The Optacon: Past, Present, and Future" Deborah Kent, Stein, Braille Monitor 1988 May

Box 4A, Folder 53

"The Optacon II Serial Interface Programming Specs" Rob Savoi 1988 October 27

Box 4A, Folder 54

"Technical Tips for Versapoint Embosser" 1998

Box 4A, Folder 55

"Meaning of Freedom and the Merger of Freedom, Scientific" 2001

Box 4A, Folder 56

Marjorie Linvill Sensory Access Foundation in Jim Bliss 4 part interview, Technology Pioneers 2002

Box 4A, Folder 57

Speech License Internet Speech, J. Bliss Imaging Systems 2002 September 26

Box 5, Folder 1

"From Optacon Oblivion: The Telesensory Story" 2005 July

Box 5, Folder 2

Minnesota sales tax liability 2006 January 23

Box 5, Folder 3

"Information Age Braille Technology Timeline" NFB by Van Gerven and Taylor 2006

Box 5, Folder 4

"New Optacon Contemplations" 2009 January 27

Box 5, Folder 5

"The Information Age Braille Technology Timeline" (Versa Braille) 2009

Box 5, Folder 6

"Controlling an R1 Optacon with a Windows Computer" Edward Crawford 2009 December 6

Box 5, Folder 7

Biography at his death - John Linvill death 2001 February 19

Box 5, Folder 8

San Francisco Chronicle obituary for John Linvill by David Perlman March 12 2011

Box 5, Folder 9

Stanford Report obituary - John Linvill, 2011 February 9 2011 March 20

Box 5, Folder 10

Memorial comments on John Linvill's passing, Stanford System X 2011 April 16

Box 5, Folder 11

Bliss Californian obituary for John Linvill (edited with permission of Myer's Stanford Report obituary) 2011 Summer

Box 5, Folder 12

"Deep Gratitude for Dying Developer of Machine that Aids for the Blind" James Bliss 2011 October 7

Box 5, Folder 13

J. Bliss obituary 2012 February 2

Box 5, Folder 14

J. Bliss imaging customer email with product line, business card 2014 March 12

Box 5, Folder 15

Candace Linvill-Berg obituary 2018 July 30

Box 5, Folder 16

Changing Lives by Funding Technology, Wells Fargo 2018 December 5

Box 5, Folder 17

AFB Site Deborah Kendrick "Tech Talk Access World" 2021 August 17

Box 5, Folder 18

Gleen Gordon interviews Richard Oehm on his repair work on Telesensory products 2022 June 6

Box 5, Folder 19

Bliss appoints Morrell vice chair of the board 1992 September 9

Box 5, Folder 20

Chain of command while Jim is in Europe 1992 September 17

Box 5, Folder 21

Statement of Intent - Employment Separation Agreement and Release 1992 December 15

Box 5, Folder 22

Telesensory CEO change from Bliss to Morrell at company meeting 1992 December 14

Box 5, Folder 23

Linvill Memo to colleagues at Telesensory - comments on the all-company meeting 1992 December 16

Box 5, Folder 24

Copy of separation, sent by lawyer 1992 December 24

Box 5, Folder 25

End of transition vacate office memo from Morrell to Bliss 1992 July 13

Box 5, Folder 26

Bliss sells Telesensory stock - fax and mail 1995 March 24

Box 5, Folder 27

Sensory Technologies Inc, James Bliss, Tom Cornsweet software license issue involving STI and J. Bliss Imaging 1994 May 20

Box 5, Folder 28

"Xerox, Telesensory, and J Bliss Imaging systems" 1998 January 6

Box 5, Folder 29

Letter to S.F. FTC Commission as a complaint 1998 January 15

Box 5, Folder 30

Letter terminating sensory technology license in 90 Days 1997 December 15

Box 5, Folder 31

Telesensory acquires Xerox Adaptive Products 1997 December 3

Box 5, Folder 32

Appendix 1 product photos n.d.

Box 5, Folder 33

Linvill: Technology At Our Fingertips 1962

Box 5, Folder 34

Judy Adams interview with Linvill, Stanford oral history 1987 May 5

Box 5, Folder 35

Stanford oral history, James Bliss interview 1 1987 June 24

Box 5, Folder 36

Judy Adams interview J. Bliss 1987 August 4

Box 5, Folder 37

AFB Technology Pioneers interviews Jim Bliss with Tony Candel 9 2002 May 1

Box 5, Folder 38

John Linvill awards 1976, 1979, 1980, 1983

Box 5, Folder 39

Jim Bliss - Migel Award 2007 March 4

Box 5, Folder 40

Appendix 4 - staff photos n.d.

Box 5, Folder 41

Stevie Wonder showing his Versabraille to Michael Jackson and Ray Charles from an unidentified French magazine n.d.

Box 5, Folder 42

TeleBraille III n.d.

Box 5, Folder 43

Beyond TSI's TeleBraille 2006

Box 5, Folder 44

Resources n.d.