[Dtb-talk] NLS Digital Players

[Tim Gillett]

Some of you have been talking about reloading thumbdrives with different files 
but as David Andrews reminded us, the NLS is not in that business.

One of the benefits of providing a special player for clients is precisely that
you can make it incapable of erasing / rewriting the cartridge's files.

Here's a cautionary tale:

 Many years ago the Association For the Blind of
Western Australia in its infinite wisdom decided to stop supplying special
NLS type cassette tape players - or any tape players - to its clients.

 This move came back to bite them. 
ABWA staff began to get complaints from clients of titles with whole sections blank. 
With the record capable cassette machines that clients were now forced to use, 
some clients were accidentally pressing the record button instead of play, 
and at random points through the title.

ABWA had a problem on its hands, all of its own making, that it had never anticipated.

I assume that like the old analog players the new NLS players
 will similarly be incapable of erasing/formatting cartridges, 
thereby protecting all patrons from inadvertently mutilated titles!


Tim Gillett
Audio/Electronics Technician
Perth, Western Australia