Jackie, Paul, and everyone, it does seem very sad that this web box is
getting mixed up with vol sector politics and agendas.
It's not as though I cannot see the attraction of this device for RNIB
and TNAUK in terms of speeding up and cheapening distribution of
material and news making it available in a more immediate fashion.
At present though a considerable cost falls on the consumer and quite
probably a lot of hassle too regarding possible changed URLS and
sending the thing back for alterations to the menus to be made. To
have such a crippled unit so dependent on being tied to the mother
organisations apron strings seems perverse to me. Is it that a new
income stream (sic) is being sought as well as benefits to
distribution of audio news and information?
So many blind people could obviously update these units themselves
that this does seem to be a rather obvious ploy to stop us doing it
for ourselves, instead having to rely on a not always very competent
organisation to do it for us. Need I cite the example of the mess the
talking book library has got itself into over the last six months and
more? I believe TNAUK has its own problems too according to one user
of their services I know.
All of this said, I'm willing to listen to arguments supporting why
we're being lumbered, seemingly, with this way of doing things.
From Ray
I can be contacted off-list at:
mailto:ray-48@xxxxxxxx
-----Original Message-----
Paul Leake
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Orion Webbox review - clarification
my sense is that if this product is going to be a runner, users will
need to
be able to select internet sstations themselves. after all such
products
should be about promoting independence not dependency on what an
organisation thinks the blind might wish to use! It seems to me that
potoentially this product might superficially appeal to people who
feel
unable to cope with complex computer equipment but they should still
be
afforded the same opportunities as a fully sighted person buying an
internet
radio particularly given the price of this unit!
Cheers
Paul
paul.leake@xxxxxxxxxxxx
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jamie Cuthbertson" <jamie.cuthbertson@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, March 28, 2008 6:28 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Orion Webbox review - clarification
Jackie,
Many thanks for the update and I quite agree about the politics!!
(smile)
I just wanted everyone on the list to be clear about the current
line RNIB
is taking and for there to be no confusion or misunderstanding about
this.
Hopefully this has now been done.
I guess that you don't really want paid in peanuts anyway!!? (Smile)
All the best for now,
Jamie
-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf
Of
Jackie Cairns
Sent: 28 March 2008 17:49
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Orion Webbox review - clarification
Hi Jamie
Thanks for clarifying RNIB's position, both privately and on this
list.
I would add that when I asked SoundTalking if I could write a review
of
the
Orion Web Box, they agreed on the condition that I sought permission
from
Ted Davis before any such article could be published.
So, having written the review this week, I indeed sent it to Ted for
his
approval. He "specifically" asked me not to send it to RNIB for
publication
at this stage, which I haven't, and that I could distribute it among
Email
lists, which I have done.
So, as far as I personally am concerned, I tried out the Orion Web
Box to
solve my own curiosity to see if it was the path I wanted to take,
and to
write a fair and balanced review to let others know of its existence
and
features.
Ted gave me all the information regarding the participants involved,
so if
this is incorrect, then he must be responsible for that as he
sanctioned
the
review after it was written.
Personally, I think everyone wants their heads banging together over
this.
It's a bloody tool for the end user, and why politics have to come
into
play
I honestly don't know and don't care. I wouldn't buy it anyway, and
I
haven't been paid so much as a peanut for writing the review. I did
it
because I wanted to. (smiles.)
Thanks Jamie for clarifying. I have sent a good number of reviews
privately, so hope it has proved useful, which was always my
intention.
Jackie
Email: cairnsplace@xxxxxxx
Skype Name: Cairnsplace
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jamie Cuthbertson" <jamie.cuthbertson@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, March 28, 2008 5:20 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Orion Webbox review - clarification
Hi list,
I read Jackie's review of the Orion Webbox with interest and would
like
to
clarify a little of the detail. First a bit of background to
explain my
link with the Orion Webbox. I apologise in advance for the length
of
this
posting.
Last year I was asked to run a trial of the Orion Webbox on RNIB's
behalf
and this started around April/May. We trialled the unit with
around 90
participants, living mainly in the Glasgow and Gloucestershire
areas. A
thorough evaluation of the system was conducted in October. The
evaluation
report was finished earlier this year.
For the purposes of the trial, RNIB made available a selection of
internet
radio stations, talking books, magazines and newspapers and
podcasts, on
each of the playlists. This playlist is different from, though
similar
to,
that offered by Sound Talking.
Although the official trial period is over, some of our trialists
still
have
their webboxes and can access the playlist that was provided.
As yet, however, there has been no decision taken about how long
this
will
be the case.
For clarification, in Jackie's article, she says "In addition, both
RNIB
and
Calibre have included talking books which they say they will update
at
regular intervals."
I cannot comment on behalf of Calibre, however, I think it is only
fair
to
point out that the RNIB Talking Books that are currently available
on the
Sound Talking playlist are only sample titles that were made
available to
the Sound Talking trialists, who participated in a similar trial at
the
end
of 2007 and into early 2008. There is no plan at present to
change,
amend
or add to this list of books - they are only samples to show what
can be
done.
The general feedback from our trialists was that this kind of
technology
provides very exciting possibilities, but there is a great deal of
discussion still to be had around issues such as content, how
multiple
organisations can participate, standards, features, user control of
playlists and so on. In the next few weeks there are due to be
meetings
to
take forward this discussion and these will bring together many of
the
organisations which currently have a vested interested in the
subject.
Having completed the evaluation process reasonably recently, it is
entirely
right and proper that all organisations that wish to investigate a
future
service of this type, take an appropriate amount of time to
thoroughly
investigate all the issues in order to ensure that, if a service is
to be
established, that it meets all the needs of the end users. This is
the
approach that RNIB is currently taking and I'm sure that you will
agree
that
this is sensible.
I hope this clarifies the existing situation. If anyone wishes to
be
sent
a
copy of the RNIB trial evaluation of the Orion Webbox, please feel
free
to
contact me at my RNIB email address:
Jamie.cuthbertson@xxxxxxxxxxx
Regards,
Jamie
mentions that both RNIB and Calibre content is available and that
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------
----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf
Of
Jackie Cairns
Sent: 27 March 2008 17:33
To: Access UK Mailing List
Subject: [access-uk] Solutions In A Box? - Orion Web Box Internet
Radio
Review
Due to popular demand, I have been asked to post the below review
to the
list. Draw your own conclusions from its contents, and I'm happy
to
answer
any questions that I can.
Jackie
SOLUTIONS IN A BOX?
THE ORION WEB BOX INTERNET RADIO
JACKIE CAIRNS
There are now thousands of radio stations worldwide that one may
tune
into
over the Internet. And this way of accessing radio has become so
popular
that several manufacturers such as Intempo and Roberts have brought
out
stand-alone devices that allow you to listen to your favourite
programmes
without using a PC.
But while Internet radio, as it is known, is commercially available
and
affordable, it isn't accessible for those with little or no sight.
With
so
much material to choose from, operating an Internet radio if you
don't
have
enough vision to read the display is a daunting prospect. But
thanks to
the
collaboration of Dutch company Solutions Radio, and UK charity
SoundTalking
- which is the commercial outlet of the popular Talking Newspaper
Association of the United Kingdom (TNAUK) - an Internet radio with
speech
feedback is now available.
This piece reviews a trial Orion Web Box, supplied by SoundTalking,
and
outlines what users may expect from the service in the coming
months.
CONTROLS AND FEATURES
The Orion Web Box is a sturdy rectangular-shaped device in
contrasting
black
and grey colours. It is slightly sloped so that the back is higher
than
the
front, with a speaker, all its controls, and small display
positioned on
the
top.
When the Web Box is facing you, the speaker grill occupies the
portion
towards the back of the machine, with small display, five buttons
and
rotary
volume control/mute/pause/bookmark facility nearer to the front.
A
mains
outlet, RJ45 ethernet connection, two phono sockets and phone
connectors
are
at the rear of the unit.
The five round buttons are arranged in a sighted L-shape further to
the
front of the unit. The first one is up, below which is down, below
which
is
the OK or Accept button. To the right of the OK is Back, followed
by
On/Off. The rotary volume/mute/pause/bookmark control is in the
middle
of
the L-shape, and is very distinctive to feel and turn. To mute or
pause
what you are listening to, simply press down the rotary control,
and
press
again to continue. The control, when pressed down and held, also
acts as
a
bookmark facility.
The small display comprises black text on a yellow background. But
as a
totally blind person, I could not say how easy this would be to use
for
those with limited sight.
In the middle of the front edge of the Web Box is a small round
sensor
which
detects the accompanying remote control. This small hand-held
control
allows the same functionality as the Web Box itself.
Before turning on the Web Box, it needs to be mains powered and
connected
to
the accompanying ethernet cable to provide access to the Internet.
Once
this is done, press the bottom right button to switch on the
device. A
few
short beeps indicates that the Web Box has power, and is proceeded
by the
following: "Hello and welcome to SoundTalking Internet radio.
Press the
OK
button when you hear the subject of your choice. You can choose
from:
Announcements; Bookmark Facility; National Radio Stations; Local
Radio
Stations; Local Talking Newspapers; National Talking Newspapers and
Magazines; SoundTalking Publications; Soundings Magazine; Info
Sound;
Music
for Blind; Calibre Books; RNIB Talking Books; Podcasts; Useful
Information
on the Orion Web Box." You may intercept this list of choices at
any
point
by pressing the OK button to enter a sub-menu with further choices.
Alternatively, if you know the choices off by heart, you can
quickly go
up
and down to find the item you want more rapidly using the buttons
described
above. At the end of the list read out, the voice continues with:
"As
you
have made no choice, this menu will be repeated."
As you have now discovered, the Orion Web Box is more than just an
Internet
radio. It has been designed to accept the entire range of TNAUK
publications which is an annual subscription service. In addition,
both
RNIB and Calibre have included talking books which they say they
will
update
at regular intervals. These publications may be bookmarked, with a
current
limit of up to 10.
As an avid radio listener, and most anxious to access this aspect
of the
Orion Web Box, I discovered that the trial unit contains only 25
national
and 14 local stations which may be increased on request to
SoundTalking.
These stations are all easily accessed by choosing either the
national or
local radio stations list from the main menu, and then selecting
the
preferred station from the sub-menu. Again, the list will be
repeated if
you make no selection, and just pressing the OK button allows you
to make
your choice. A series of beeps ensues while you wait for your
selected
radio station to commence.
The speech menus are clear and straightforward to follow. No prior
computer
knowledge is required to operate the Web Box, apart from the fact
you
must
have an Internet connection so that the radio can find the
necessary
information.
For those who prefer to use Wi-Fi, or wireless connectivity, a
model of
the
Web Box supporting this capability is available for an extra
charge.
I was disappointed to discover that the Orion Web Box is only a
mono
radio,
both from its external speaker and through headphone listening. A
supplied
lead with two phono jacks at one end can be connected to the rear
of the
Web
Box, with a 3.5MM socket at the other that allows attachment to
your own
headphones. It looks like a stereo device because of its two phono
sockets,
but it is, in fact, mono.
The Orion Web Box is available in two flavours from SoundTalking.
The
standard ethernet version costs £279, and the wireless option £315.
This
is
in stark contrast to commercially available Internet radios which
cost
from
£99 to £200. The commercial alternatives also support
approximately
6,000
stations worldwide, and update automatically when new channels are
added.
You can choose from country or genre when browsing these radios,
and some
even offer the facility to allow you to listen to your own music
collections
from your PC.
But, as already stated, such an appetising prospect is impossible
without
sufficient sight. At present, therefore, we are faced with a
limited
option
in the form of the Orion Web Box. It is limited because all
stations
need
to be added by SoundTalking. All stations are also tagged, which
means
that
they have to be voice labelled so that the user may identify them.
When
a
station therefore goes out of date, or changes its name, the
original
speech
label, or tag, doesn't automatically update, and needs to be
altered
manually. This is costly for the suppliers to upkeep, and is
dependent
upon
regular maintenance.
Both partners in this project have assured me that anyone wishing
to have
a
radio station of their choice added to the Orion Web Box can do so
by
contacting SoundTalking. They also insist the unit will be updated
regularly with a variety of books and information from other
sources.
And
they have stated that they will support anyone who purchases an
Orion Web
Box regardless of whether or not they take out a Talking Newspapers
subscription.
CONCLUSIONS
This is a compact device with a lot of practicability for those who
are
not
particularly computer literate, yet want to listen to a variety of
radio
stations, or TNAUK/RNIB/Calibre publications in one solution. It
is easy
to
use, and contains a straightforward set of print and audio
instructions.
There is clearly enormous potential for the unit to be developed
further,
particularly the radio aspect.
I do have concerns, however, about long term support for the Web
Box.
While
trials and user feedback have been positive, I cannot help
wondering what
sort of shelf life such a device will have if it needs constant
speech
tagging and manual maintenance to ensure everything is kept
up-to-date.
For further information, contact SoundTalking on 01435 862737, send
an
Email
to info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, or visit
http://www.soundtalking.co.uk/internet-radio-service.html.
Glasgow - Proud Host City of the 2014 Commonwealth Games
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