But the social workers or rehab teachers who are assigned to them when they
become legally blind, should be helping them with issues like learning to
use the player. I know it isn't happening, but that is a shortcoming in the
system. I remember that when I was a social worker at I H B in 1962 and was
assigned an area in Brooklyn, my job was to contact all of the people newly
assigned to us by the Commission, and most of them were the elderly blind.
Back then, the big technical problem was that they didn't know how to change
the needles on their talking book machines, and one of my responsibilities,
when I visited them, was to teach them how. And back then, me, in my
twenties with good partial vision and no conception of what it meant to grow
old and lose eyesight, never bothered to do it. But at least I had a
supervisor who was telling me that it was my responsibility.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Frank Ventura
Sent: Friday, November 13, 2015 11:33 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: FW: After You DB82661
Carl, I have heard (from seniors) that they sent it back because it is too
complicated. Correct me if I am wrong but the TBL library only offers
support by phone, or is that not true?
Frank
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Friday, November 13, 2015 8:57 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: FW: After You DB82661
It's true that many older, newly blind people struggle with even the
simplest device. NLS took note of this and produces two digital players.
As a rehab teacher, I carry both with us as we visit folks.
If at all possible we connect them with the advanced unit because it has
some useful features that are not available with the more basic unit. We
spend the time it takes to teach the functions that are clearly defined on
the unit. Up and down raised arrows, up and down volume, tone, speed, the
on and off red button, the big green button for pause, and the all important
Snooze button for those of us who like to settle in with a good book, only
to awaken hours later, wondering where we are. One more control on the
advanced unit would not complicate it for those who are able to remember all
of the controls. But even with many who could master the advanced unit, not
enough training is provided. Some older folks need many, many repetitions
in order to feel comfortable using it. Too often the machine is
demonstrated, the user is encouraged to turn it on and off and slip a book
into the slot, and Presto Change o, they are, "trained". Many months later
we provide them services, and discover that they have had the TBBL Player
but never used it because it was, "Too complicated". After a couple of
visits, during which we have them go over the full range of their book
player, they are up and running.
Carl Jarvis
On 11/13/15, Frank Ventura <frank.ventura@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Miriam, I work with many elderly blind persons and I agree with Bob.than a story to be told.
Even the addition of one extra control can be a deal breaker.
Frank
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Miriam
Vieni
Sent: Friday, November 13, 2015 10:52 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: FW: After You DB82661
Bob,
First of all, most of the elderly would probably have difficulty with
the advanced player. That's the model that I have but it does have
many more controls. If they'd added the control to the standard
player, it would be just one more control on a very simple player. But
I suspect that perhaps they could do something when they're converting
the books to daisy format from the commercial production. And no, as
I've just explained to Penny, these changes of volume from loud to
soft which go on constantly, every time there's dialogue, make finding
an appropriate volvume level to set the machine at, very difficult.
The book that i contacted NLS about was a problem, because the
narrator treated reading the book as if it were a conversation, rather
solve the problem.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Bob Hachey
Sent: Friday, November 13, 2015 9:56 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: FW: After You DB82661
Hi Miriam,
No doubt that there is a real issue here for any NLS patrons who are
hard of hearing. No doubt that there is far less quality control with
the commercial audio books. I like the idea of an extra control on the
player, but, having worked with elders new to blindness I can see whuy
they might not want to add another control to the player.
If I had read this message 15 years ago I would have laughed at the
idea that one more control might make the player too complex for some,
but after working with the elderly, I do see their point.
Here's an idea that might work though it is too bad this wasn't
implemented when they began manufacturing the digital players. AS it
is now, there are two models of the player, the basic and the
advanced. The advanced has additional controls for changing from level
1 to level 2, 3 or 4 just like you see on the Stream. IT also has the
previous and next buttons and an information button. They could have
added the control you want to this player. That way, if a patron had
trouble hearing the books with the basic player, the advanced player could
AS it is now, the problem would have to be solved by means of an
exernal amplified speaker or headphones.
By the way, have you tried using a headset or earplubs, and did that
make the books easier to hear?
Bob Hachey
