[Dtb-talk] NLS Digital Players

[Rakesh Chand]

I suppose, with all the new technology people are generally looking for 
smaller compact gadgets so, we from the blindness community need to perhaps, 
catch-up. Let's forget about cassettes let's put our focus on MP-4 or MP-3 
players USB-drives etc etc.


I personally can have a desk-top at home & I don't have one, because, I like 
to have something that is more mobile & more accessible. I'm really fancying 
to have a V-stream as currently, I've a Note-book but, my wife keeps 
reminding me how bulky the old V-stream looked like...


So all in all, we blind folks need to be in the community rather than shying 
away... People who have vision fancy small compact stuff!


But hey yes, Valerie has a point to be noted. Trust you all had a beautiful 
day!


Have a great evening!


Rakesh


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Valerie Lewis" <vlewis at suffolk.lib.ny.us>
To: "Discussion of Digital Talking Books" <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>; "Tim 
Gillett" <tim.gillett at optusnet.com.au>
Sent: Monday, February 15, 2010 6:28 PM
Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] NLS Digital Players


> Aditionally, the National Library Service program is designed for people
> with physical disabilities who cannot hold a book or turn pages. The
> cartridges can be used more easily than the microscopic electronics that
> are commercially available. People with dexterity problems can
> grab/grasp/hold the NLS cartridges and can use the larger buttons on the
> NLS DTB machine.
>
> Valerie
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, Feb 15, 2010, Tim Gillett <tim.gillett at optusnet.com.au> said:
>
>> David wrote:
>>
>> "NLS does not provide blank cartridges or thumb drives.
>> They are in the business of providing books preloaded on cartridges
>>  - in the way that they have provided cassettes."
>>
>>
>> Yes it's easy to forget the whole purpose of the NLS larger cartridge 
>> housing
>>  is to make it easy for the Print handicapped to read books.
>>
>> One of the downsides of the miniaturisation of electronics has been its 
>> effect on the blind.
>>
>> The compact cassette was still reasonably large enough for easy use by 
>> the blind.  Whereas
>>  on the modern flash card there is usually not enough room  for adequate 
>> braille or printed labelling
>> for example, let alone reliably inserting such small media into a player.
>> And what if the blind person drops a tiny memory card? How do they find 
>> it again?
>>
>> Similarly players with tiny control buttons and tiny screens  make them 
>> almost impossible to use,
>> especially for the elderly blind.
>>
>> I came across this many times with the blind here in WA when cassettes 
>> were the current format
>>  and here in WA. but clients had to find their own cassette player.
>>  The old "shoebox" cassette player with its large piano key operation was 
>> fairly easy for most blind to use.
>> But once it started to disappear from the market and was replaced by 
>> smaller, more fiddly Walkmans
>> the blind struggled to use these players.
>>
>> I'm pleased to see the designers of the NLS player specified a largish 
>> cartridge
>> even though it only contains a small memory stick inside. This is 
>> practical for the blind,
>>  however antiquated and "uncool" it might appear by sighted people's 
>> standards.
>>
>> Similarly it's pleasing in the NLS DTB to see other features carried over 
>> from the old TBC1 players
>>  such as internal speaker, rechargeable battery, variable speed control, 
>> automatic power down etc.
>>
>> It's important we stay real and remember  the many blind people in their 
>> homes who have to use these devices.
>>
>>
>> Tim Gillett
>> Audio/Electronics Technician
>> Perth, Western Australia
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>> Dtb-talk:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/vlewis%40suffolk.lib.ny.us
>>
>
> -- 
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Dtb-talk mailing list
> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Dtb-talk:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/chand%40connect.com.fj