Certainly not digital audio books, but web braille and other programs like it will continue to assist the deaf-blind. -----Original Message----- From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Tataindi Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2007 3:17 PM To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [bookport] Re: NLS downloadable books Yes, I understand, but my question was about how deaf blind people will be able to benefit from the new digital age. Do you know? In one occasion I asked this emailed this question to NLS, but nobody answered. Tat ----- Original Message ----- From: "Don Barrett" <donter@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2007 1:48 PM Subject: [bookport] Re: NLS downloadable books > Sorry, these books are digital audio only. > > -----Original Message----- > From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] > On Behalf Of Tataindi > Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2007 1:24 PM > To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [bookport] Re: NLS downloadable books > > Hello, > > I have a question, please. > Do you know in what way this digital books will be accessible for > deaf-blind > people? > Will be any way to read them using a Braille line, such as now happens > with > the books from the web Braille? > Thanks, > Tat > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: DanFlasar@xxxxxxx > To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2007 1:12 PM > Subject: [bookport] NLS downloadable books > > > Okay, here's some valid information about the NLS books. > I've been a beta tester for the NLS download site for their > digital talking books. The site already exists and has since at least > since > early November. Books are being added at a rate of around 100-200/week. > We play them on modified Victor Readers (a slot to insert an SD chip was > added). It is not the machine that will be distributed. There are about > 100 beta testers who keep in touch via listserv in their evaluations of > the > projects download speed, download errors, navigability of the digital > books, > problems with unzipping the files, problems in playing the files and so > on. > The emphasis is on the ease of use of the download site. We have > discussed > all the questions brought up in this thread many, many times so I will > answer them to the best of my ability. > > 1. Yes, NLS will be distributing a free player to all patrons. This > machine will replace the current cassette players, which are no longer > being > produced. Cassettes will be phased out entirely by 2012. I've seen the > machine at a lecture given by the project manager. It will come in two > forms - one is a simplified one for those who don't want to do things like > add bookmarks or download their own books. The other is the more advanced > system similar in function to the Victor Reader. > > 2. There will be no software reader for the books. So far, they > have not been able to come up with an adequate copyright protection > mechanism. > > 3. The books will be available in two ways: you can call your NLS > affiliated library (or get on the web as now, choose your book and request > it to be mailed to you. The books will come on a special cartridge > holding > an SD chip. The cartridges must be returned to the library after reading > is completed. Cartridges will be available for sale from various sources > so > you can download your own books. > > 4. For those so interested (like all of us beta testers and > probably all of you), you will be able to go to the website and download > your books to your PC or some removable media. But the books must then be > transferred to a cartridge. You may, by the way, copy your books from a > library cartridge to your PC. You may keep the books, but you may not, of > course, distribute them. > > 5. The machines will be distributed as stated, to veterans first - > if they want them, then to those who specifically request them, then to > the > general readership. Most people are not early adaptors so you should > have > a good chance of receiving a machine within the next year. The plan is to > start sending the first units out in early 2008. > > 6. I honestly don't know when the site will open up to the general > readership - I'd heard this Fall, though. It is moot unless you have a > Victor Stream. Someone mentioned a modified Victor Reader such as the > ones > issued to us. As far as I know, those are NOT for sale they were > specifically created for our beta project, but I could be wrong about > that. > The Bookport 2 is the only other announced NLS digital book reading > platform > but as we all know, it's not out yet. There will no doubt be others. > > 7. I have heard that there will be a project to beta test the new > players but I have no info on that. > > 8. Unlike RFB&D books, the NLS books will not be searchable by > page number, which was a big disappointment to many of us. But we can > navigate, in general, by part, section, heading, chapter and subheading. > Really good for magazines, poetry and nonfiction. > > 9. No, you can't get access to the site, even to look. It is > hyper-secured, nor can you join the discussion list. > > 10. I like the new NLS books very much, I like the new player a > lot, I love being able to download books (which can take a bit of time > depending on your line speed. If you use a modem, it will take a very > long > time because these aren't text files - they're audio files. it will be > worth the wait, however. > > An Editorial: > I know it's common in some circles to criticize the NLS or the > federal government. I feel the need to provide a reality check. It is > disingenuous to slam the government or an agency because they are not able > to provide a free, and necessary, service like the Talking Books program > to > us as quickly as we would like. You all know that there was an unexpected > snag in funding a month ago. NLS did not get as much funding as needed so > a > delay is not unreasonable. I don't work for the feds - or any state or > local > government, nor am I a fan of the current administration. But I consider > the > service NLS has provided to me ever since I lost my vision to be a lot > better than those provided by the private sector which, with rare > exceptions, has to be dragged kicking and screaming to provide access to > all > citizens, regardless of ability or disability. > > Dan F. > > > > > > > ________________________________ > > See what's free at AOL.com > <http://www.aol.com?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000503> . > > >