[Dtb-talk] NLS Digital Players

[Lynn Evans]

USB flash cartridge
1.3The player plays DTBs stored on USB flash drive cartridges. These 
cartridges contain a type of solid state memorythat is nonvolatile and can 
be rewritten thousands of times. They are resistant to damage by extremes of 
temperature,humidity, and other environmental conditions expected to be 
encountered by patrons and libraries. The cartridge has a feature that 
enables erasing or rewriting of the contents, but only by authorized 
parties. Thus, it isimpossible for patrons to inadvertently or maliciously 
alter the contents of the book. Cartridges are manufactured in several 
sizes. The nominal capacities are 512 MB and 1 GB and 2GB. About 99.5percent 
of NLS DTB titles are less than 1GB in size.Cartridges accommodate a print 
and braille label in a slightly recessed area to protect the embossed 
braille. This labelcontains two 30-point print lines, four large-print 
(14-point) lines, and five rows of book information in braille. Theunderside 
of the cartridge has an area available for a library-specific label or 
identifier.The cartridge has mechanical features that assist handling by 
physically handicapped persons. It can be inserted intothe player in only 
one orientation.

>From NLS players library guide

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tim Gillett" <tim.gillett at optusnet.com.au>
To: <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, February 15, 2010 7:11 PM
Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] NLS Digital Players


> 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
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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