Penny, as Miriam stated it is not an overall volume control that she is looking
for. It is a normalization control that she speaks of.
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Penny Reeder
Sent: Friday, November 13, 2015 10:55 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: FW: After You DB82661
Miriam, I know that they are considering design elements to include in the next
iteration of the Talking Book Player, and I will definitely advocate for an
increased volume capability, controllable by patrons.
Penny
On 11/13/15, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
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