Miriam, OK if that is what he said then that is what he said. But, having been
involved with product development I know it is very expensive to retrofit an
existing product for additional features. Believe it or not, one of the most
expensive items is tooling the chasis of the product. So to create even the
location for an additional button can be prohibitive. That doesn't even speak
to the software issues and processor overhead concerns. Despite what the NLS
guy told you I would honestly believe that it isn't something that will become
a reality until the next generation of players comes around; unless it is done
as an external add on to the current generation.
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Miriam Vieni
Sent: Friday, November 13, 2015 9:39 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: FW: After You DB82661
Carl, there's what you do, and then there's the rest of the world. When most
people request a digital player from their library, or when one is requested
for them, many libraries automatically give people the standard player. They
don't even tell them that there's a choice. You have to know about the
advanced player and request it, in order to get one. And within the past 8
months, I had contact with someone whom I know, the sister of a former
friend who is blind, who has recently become eligible to receive talking
books. She's 87 years old, has been fully sighted all her life, and has had
failing vision over sseveral years due to macular degeneration. She's having
physical issues, had had some big adjustments to make like moving to senior
housing in another state, etc., so someone in her new state registered her
with her regional library, and set her up with a player and an arrangement
by which the library would choose books for her and send them to her. This
is a woman who is educated, and has always read books. But she was
comfortable having books chosen for her. Apparently, no one told her about
the directions that she could listen to that are in the player. And she had
no idea that there was a sleep key until I told her about it and described
it to her. I think that people have no patience with older people and
neither they, nor the elderly, believe that the elderly can learn things
because our minds really aren't as nimble as they were and we really don't
remember things as well. I know that there are all kinds of techy things
that are beyond me. But the assumption that a newly blind older person, and
they usually still have quite a bit of useable vision, can't learn how to
handle one of these machines, is wrong. These machines are certainly
easier to handle than the cassette players were.
Miriam
-----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
