Comment from Pearl Edwards

Excellent

Is there really such an invention as these glasses you've described, they certainly sound like a great idea. Alan is really getting headlong into life now that the truth has replaced the dark cloud that hung over him. Another good chapter, Jim.
Cheers
Valda

 Comment Written 29-Mar-2024

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reply by the author on 30-Mar-2024

Although I didn't know it at the time I conceived of this story, this invention was actually invented in 2010. Alan beat it by about 25 years, though. That "dark cloud" from Part 1 may end up being a blessing in disguise, as it definitely changed the course of his life.

Comment from lancellot

Excellent

Well written and edited. This is fiction, but set in 85, I don't think the glasses Alan is thinking about would be a possibility in the slightest. Even his teaching basic programming (something he hasn't done so far) is a little farfetched too. Alan wasn't that type of teacher, and given how fast programming progresses, even if he touched on it in college, that would have been...79 or so? Is this a major part of your second half plot? Do you have a plot? Yes, dyslexia, but would that carry a book, especially outside the nice seniors on FS?

 Comment Written 28-Mar-2024

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reply by the author on 29-Mar-2024

I did quite a bit of research about the technology available at the time, and a lot of it was being developed right about at this time. We will soon encounter an old friend who will help him with this (did you catch the clues in chapter 26), but he will solve the miniaturization of the speaker himself as he will point out shortly. Turns out he is quite a brilliant guy.

The wireless aspect he will conceive of, but won't be a part of his first prototype. OCR (optical character recognition) existed at this time, as did speech synthesizers, so the components are largely there or at least in their infancy.

As far as teaching BASIC, he probably taught it to himself as I did in 1977 using a book. By 1978 and '79, I was writing software in BASIC at Michigan State university for the Crop and Soil Science Dept. for both the turfgrass science professor for his field plot research, and the accounting office for their general ledger. I never took a course in BASIC.

Dyslexia, by itself, isn't the whole plot of Part 2, but more in bringing this invention to fruition, which will end up being very problematic.

Comment from LJbutterfly

Excellent

Wow! This novel is off and running in all sorts of positive directions compared to the way Part one began. Alan has developed into a completely different character who is optimistic, confident, can take charge, and demonstrates extensive creativity in many areas, including his repair business, computer class, and ideas for an invention to assist dyslexic individuals. This story is compelling.

 Comment Written 26-Mar-2024

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reply by the author on 27-Mar-2024

What a wonderful review, Lorraine. Thank you very much. I hope to have Alan really flourish during Part 2, although he will face some challenges as well. We'll see if what he learned from his earlier troubles will set him in good stead for these.

Comment from T B Botts

Excellent

Hello Jim,
Alan sounds pretty ambitious. With all that he's got going on now, and what he has planned, I hope he can keep up with it all. I really like the dialogue. I feel like I'm witnessing the whole conversation. Well done.
Blessings,
Tom

 Comment Written 26-Mar-2024

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reply by the author on 27-Mar-2024

Absolutely right, Tom. He's starting to be spread kind of thin, and he will soon realize this and take some action. But that will lead to the challenges he will face in Part 2.

Comment from Carol Hillebrenner

Excellent

Alan is just full of good ideas. The programing class for the kids was really important in the 80's. The glasses that can read to a person with dyslexia also sound like an idea, as Ginnie says, worth a fortune. I remember you said they are already an invention, but I can't say I've ever heard of them. With the microcircuits of today they would be quite easy to create if you know what you are doing. Alan's problem is there were no microcircuits in the 80's, were there?

 Comment Written 25-Mar-2024

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reply by the author on 26-Mar-2024

I mainly used the idea of the computer classes to reinforce Alan's love for teaching, as ultimately, he may go back to it. I wish I'd had something like that at an early age. It might have gotten me on the right track for my eventual career a lot sooner.

Comment from Debbie D'Arcy

Excellent

This is great! Everything is taking shape and I have huge confidence (of course) that Alan will come out of this smelling of roses! He's very methodical and determined in everything he does. Well done, Jim! Another good chapter propelling this invention idea forward. Debbie

 Comment Written 25-Mar-2024

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reply by the author on 26-Mar-2024

Thanks, Debbie. As always, though, there may be a few twists and turns before everything ends up rosy.

Comment from Ulla

Excellent

You're really developing this story into something else. It's a great concept and the technology is out there today. Now first the classes and then the invention. I can't wait to read more. Ulla;)))

 Comment Written 25-Mar-2024

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reply by the author on 26-Mar-2024

I'm so glad you find this interesting, Ulla. Although it seems very promising now, this may end up being a difficult road for Alan.

Comment from BethShelby

Excellent

Alan seem very ambitios with starting a programing class and doing a prototype for glasses that allow the work to spoken so you will understanfd it quicker. It seems everything is developing well.

 Comment Written 25-Mar-2024

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reply by the author on 26-Mar-2024

Thanks, Beth. This is a guy who realized that one setback in his life doesn't have to rule the rest of his life. Let's see if he has the fortitude to be a success in these endeavors.

Comment from Lea Tonin1

Exceptional

That's pretty cool trying to assist with dyslexia. That's a great idea for your story! And how unique to suggest glasses to correct that issue you must be an inventor at heart. Really interesting great concept and as always believable characters with believable dialogue. I much enjoyed reading this and I look forward to more as well as what you sent me I hope that you have an amazing day it's great reading your work again!

 Comment Written 25-Mar-2024

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reply by the author on 26-Mar-2024

Thanks so much, Lea. The 6 stars are much appreciated. I'm not sure where the idea for this story came from. I just remember sitting in a restaurant at breakfast one morning and telling my wife about it with its two aspects: he is mistakenly accused of a crime he didn't commit because people see what they want to see and also he and his next door neighbor, who are both dyslexic, don't always see correctly what is on the written page.

Comment from Karen Cherry Threadgill

Excellent

Is there such a thing? We have systems that can read everything out loud to us on the computer. We can speak our words to be printed if we want; there are Ebooks. But I have never seen what you are talking about. Good work. Karen

 Comment Written 25-Mar-2024

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reply by the author on 26-Mar-2024

They actually do exist today, but were invented in 2010. These days there are both talk-to-text and text-to-talk. Almost anything seems possible.

reply by Karen Cherry Threadgill on 26-Mar-2024

Wow! Peoples brains are wonderous things.