Hi Bruce and list! Yep, that's a reasonable way to look at it. Cheers, Dave----- Original Message ----- From: "Bruce Toews" <DogRiver@xxxxxxxx>
To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Monday, July 09, 2007 9:33 AM Subject: [bookport] Re: NLS downloadable books
In a sense, what's happening is that the audio is now catching up with the braille. The solution accessible by the deafblind has been in place for years, and the audio is just now catching up.Bruce -- Bruce Toews Skype ID: o.canada E-mail and MSN/Windows Messenger: DogRiver@xxxxxxxx LiveJournal: http://brucetola.livejournal.com Radio Show and Podcast: http://www.totw.net Web Site (including info on my weekly commentaries): http://www.ogts.net Info on the Best TV Show of All Time: http://www.cornergas.com On Sun, 8 Jul 2007, Don Barrett wrote:Just as new ways of producing digital audio come to be, new ways of capturing and making available electronic text readable by deaf blind individuals will happen also. -----Original Message-----From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of David Allen Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2007 5:25 PM To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [bookport] Re: NLS downloadable books Hi Tat!Sorry to sound harsh, but as it seems, you will be able to benefit from thistechnology about as much as you do audio cassettes.While I have my own reasons for wanting to jump on the band wagon, I thinkmost will be disappointed when they get there, particularly if they get there as soon as they are screaming for it. The variety of things they expect won't be there for them. Cheers, Dave ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tataindi" <tataindi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Monday, July 09, 2007 7:16 AM Subject: [bookport] Re: NLS downloadable booksYes, I understand, but my question was about how deaf blind people will beable 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 booksSorry, 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 sinceearly 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 about100 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 beingproduced. Cassettes will be phased out entirely by 2012. I've seen themachine 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 likeadd bookmarks or download their own books. The other is the more advancedsystem 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 readingis completed. Cartridges will be available for sale from various sourcesso you can download your own books. 4. For those so interested (like all of us beta testers andprobably all of you), you will be able to go to the website and downloadyour books to your PC or some removable media. But the books must then betransferred to a cartridge. You may, by the way, copy your books from alibrary 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 cannavigate, 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 thefederal government. I feel the need to provide a reality check. It isdisingenuous to slam the government or an agency because they are not ableto provide a free, and necessary, service like the Talking Books programto 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 localgovernment, nor am I a fan of the current administration. But I considerthe 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 rareexceptions, has to be dragged kicking and screaming to provide access toall citizens, regardless of ability or disability. Dan F. ________________________________ See what's free at AOL.com <http://www.aol.com?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000503> .
