[blind-democracy] Re: FW: After You DB82661

  • From: Frank Ventura <frank.ventura@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: "blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2015 22:35:36 +0000

Miriam, I work with many elderly blind persons and I agree with Bob. 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 than a
story to be told.

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 solve the problem.
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




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