What talking books have to say!

Presented by Susan Hoy

2009

Evolution of the Audio

1. DAISY playback devices handles music CDs, mp3 CDs and WAV files in addition to DAISY formatted audio discs.

• Advanced navigation • Automatic pitch compensation

• Bookmarks

• Multimedia product

• Compression

• Key describer function

• Playback resumption feature

DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) Format

DAISY PLAYERS

• Plays Daisy Digital Talking Books, music CDs, mp3 CDs, or audio books on CD.

• Easy, completely accessible controls and a high quality built in speaker, the PTN1 can be operated and enjoyed by virtually anyone.

• Built-in English voice guide announces navigation and buttons when pressed.

• Automatic pitch compensation allows you to speed up or slow down the speech without altering the tone or pitch of the voice.

• Runs on mains power or up to 5 hours use with the rechargeable battery.

An easy to use Daisy player, with a slot loading CD drive, large, raised, high contrast buttons and built-in speech guidance.Plextalk PTN1

Player

Plextalk PTR2 Daisy player and recorder

Player and recorder - in addition to playing CDs it allows stereo recording of meetings or conference sessions direct onto CD or Compact Flash Card.

• Plays Daisy audio books, music CDs, mp3 CDs and wave format sound recordings.

• It can create and edit DAISY books and burn CDs.

• Built-in microphone. Automatic gain control ensures that different inputs produce similar recordings.

• Variable speed playback without changing the pitch.

Victor Reader Classic X Daisy Player/ Classic Plus Full-featured digital talking book players.

• Plays Daisy audio, music CDs and mp3 CDs.

• Easy to operate with high contrast controls.

• Automatic pitch compensation allows you to speed up or slow down the speech without altering the tone or pitch of the voice.

• The numeric keypad allows you to jump to specific pages or numbered bookmarks or more easily to chapter, section, page or paragraph.

• Key describer function, once selected will announce each button function when pressed.

Victor Wave DAISY Player

Compact portable clamshell design ideal for listening to DAISY audio books on the move and is similar to a CD player.

• Plays DAISY audio books, music CDs and mp3 CDs.

• Pitch compensation allows you to speed up or slow down the speech without altering the tone or pitch of the voice.

• Large tactile controls.

• Audio and visual feedback for controls and navigation - tells you what is happening.

• Numeric keypads to allow direct navigation to pages and numbered bookmarks.

• Audio and visual indication for volume, playback speed and battery.

VictorReader Stream DAISY Player

A compact and portable DAISY book and mp3 player.

• Advanced navigational controls. Arrow keys for navigation to specific pages, headings, book or bookmark Can browse bookmark lists and mp3 folders.

• Download and transfer audio files directly from the PC onto the VictorReader without file filtering software.

• Built in text-to-speech synthesizer converts text files into speech. This means you can read electronic files (with synthetic speech) or digital recorded books (with human speech).

AudioRead Navigator

• Easy to use

• Large tactile buttons

• Bookmarks remembering the readers place

• Auto sleep mode

• Long life battery up to 100 hours

• Lightweight

• Durable and impact resistant

• 3 level navigation controls

• Customisable voice prompts

• High quality internal speaker

• Made in Australia

Initially designed for use by the elderly and people with vision impairment it is a purpose built digital audio player that provides users with a simple to use player with advanced navigation functions.

BookCourier

BookCourier is a portable, convenient and economical tool for listening to electronic text, spoken word audio files and music.

• MP3 player

• Voice recorder

• Fast forward and reverse controls

• Bookmarks

• Built-in alarm

• Sleep timer

• Clock and calendar

• Easy-to-use controls for adjusting volume and reading speed

• Powered by 2 AA batteries

• Stores up to 4GB

Milestone 311 DAISY Player

Another handheld player designed specifically for people who are blind or visually impaired. The size of a credit card, this portable player can be used for mp3 files, music or audio books.

• Quality digital voice recorder.

• The RFID tag reader allows users to tag and identify daily living objects such as medications, CDs and food labels.

• Download directly from PC.

• Stores several titles on a SD card.

• Navigates by page, chapter or section.

• Resumes playback from last saved position in book.

Vi Player As well as traditional user options, audio files including books can be easily loaded and played from either the Internet or download library collections.

• 4 Gigabyte in-built flash memory (20 unabridged audio books)

• Unique bookmaking "Intelligent Pause" system

• 2.4" full colour screen

• Voice Guidance for ease of use

• MP-3/4 Player

• FM Radio

• Voice Recorder

• Text to voice conversion

• Graphic Equalizer

• JPEG viewer

• Multiple bookmarking capabilities

PLAYAWAY

• No cassettes, No CDs, No downloads – Just Play!

• Pre-loaded with an entire book

• Lightweight – the size of a deck of cards

• Ultimate portability

• Automatic bookmarking

• Few buttons (scan within a chapter, adjust volume, alter speed of narrators voice)

• Digital content loaded at factory, cannot be changed

• Earphones or external amplifier needed for listening

• Power provided by AAA battery

• 20 hours playback time approximately

• Affordable

Amazon Kindle 1/Kindle 2

Amazon Kindle is a software and hardware platform for reading electronic books (ebooks) produced by Amazon.com.

• Kindle 1- 2 GB internal memory (200 non-illustrated titles approximately) more with SD cards.

• Kindle 2- 1500 books (does not have SD slot).

• K 2 - Text-to-speech option to read aloud.

• Both support audio in the form of mp3 and Audible audio books (need to be transferred to the Kindle).

• Wireless connectivity - enables readers to download (shop) from the Kindle store directly from the device.

• Lighter and thinner than a typical paperback novel.

Sony Reader PRS-505 • The Sony Reader digital book is more compact than many paperbacks.

• Lightweight and holds around 160 eBooks with built in memory or hundreds more with optional memory cards.

• E-link technology makes it easy to read even in bright sunshine.

• The text can be magnified for sight-impaired readers.

• Its long battery life lasts up to 7,500 continuous page turns.

• Using the PC simply download a mobile collection title or titles from the NetLibrary site and transfer to the Sony Reader.

Planning Audio Services and Collections

• What is your target group?

• How is the collection to be presented?

• What model of service works best?

• Selection of collection

• Audio Downloads

• Managing loans and statistics

• Promoting Audio Services

Collections, Services and Devices other criteria to consider

• Content • Functionality and Usability

• Availability • Cost Benefit

• Shelf Life • Loans and Returns

• Statistics • Material in languages

other than English

• Copyright and Licensing • Remote Users

Strengths and Weaknesses

AUDIO CASSETTE TAPES

Strengths

• Traditionally genre areas of fiction are still available

• Unabridged and abridged content

• Cassette tapes are easy to use

• Most people are familiar with the operation of a cassette player

• Traditional target groups are high users

• Some suppliers give replacement tapes free of charge

Weaknesses

• Availability of this format is declining

• Limited navigation

• Cassette players hard to purchase

• Smaller production runs

• Expensive

• Smaller audiences

• Fragility of tape

Strengths and Weaknesses

Audio Books on Compact Discs (CDs)

Strengths

• Readily available in retail outlets

• Longer lifespan then most cassettes

• Wider target audience

• Most people have CD players

• For sighted people it is easy to use and offers some navigation

• More titles are being produced than on audio cassettes

Weaknesses

• Some target groups do not have CD players

• Some users find CD players more difficult to operate

• No bookmarking options

• Staff time for returning and matching multiple CDs

• Offers minimal savings in comparison to the cost of tapes

Strengths and Weaknesses

MP3 Compact DiscsStrengths

• Good contemporary authors and older classics

• Compressed format allows entire book to be stored on only one or two discs

• Can download from discs to mp3 players via the PC

• Will play on DAISY players

• Generally less expensive than CDs or cassettes

Weaknesses

• Must use a mp3 formatted playback device

• Some people do not have compatible mp3 players

• Some people will find it difficult to use mp3 players

• Some computer knowledge is required if transferring files to portable mp3 players

• Australian Content limited and generally more expensive

Strengths and Weaknesses

Online Providers and Downloadable AudioStrengths

• Unabridged, abridged, dramatisation and multi-voiced content

• Portability if loaded onto a handheld mp3 device

• Remote users can download outside the library’s physical environment via virtual catalogues

• New emerging target groups are embracing this format

• Generally less expensive than CDs mp3s or cassettes per title.

Weaknesses

• Some genre area limitations

• Content access is based on copyright and licensing agreements which may expire

• Limits the audience to those that have computer knowledge and compatible playback devices

• Australian content limited

• Potentially high costs for remote uses - online time, and file sizes

Summary

• As the new and ever-widening array of choice in formats and technologies multiply so to does the challenge to manage and deliver quality content in ways that are appropriate and can be sustained for both today and tomorrow.

• It is very clear there is a growing increase in demand for audio and libraries must determine what available services and collections can address the needs of traditional and emerging target groups wanting spoken word access.

• Any decision on audio formats at this point of the cycle will need to consider the available budget, management of existing collections (to maintain, reduce or expand), or creating new collections and services, and the patrons the library serves or wants to attract.

• Be mindful that tomorrow will no doubt bring additional formats and means of delivery of audio material and services.

So what DO talking books have to say!

EVERYTHING!