I am going to make general comments about the entire thread as opposed to just responding to this email.
First, NLS will definitely have downloading capabilities. This has been announced in every demo, chat, flier, I have seen or heard from the people at NLS. I believe a recent email on some list that I am on had a response from someone (sorry, really bad at remembering names) that said downloading would become available as in it would not be available immediately when the new books begin shipping. As to the format, none of the presentations have been totally clear on this. They recite standards but from what I can gather, at this point in time which of course could easily be changed, is that they will be audio files. This is what RFB&D has. Personally, I think it would be a real shame if they are only audio. This not only leaves out the deaf-blind but there are so many uses a blind person can have if it is in both audio and text. While I like my RFB&D membership and I do not wish to sound like I am bad mouthing them, they claim all of these copyright issues and protection. I really don't see how protected it is when everyone has the same password, the same password for every book, how secure is that? Also, RFB&D typically seems to be problematic when other companies want to offer access to their books. This is my own opinion of responses I have seen regarding the bookport and other types of devices and software that have taken forever to be able to play their books. Don't get me wrong, I do value their service and these are just observations. The other thing I think is a shame is that they have/are moving to all digital yet they are leaving out the deaf-blind by not including text. Including text is not only valuable to the deaf-blind but the majority of their books are used in educational settings. Every student could benefit from having the ability to listen and then take notes or cite from the books they are using. Okay, now to bring this back to the BN. There will probably be a model that will come out and be able to read the cartridges of NLS as long as NLS is on board (in the future, just look at the mpower). All one has to do is look at the improvements Humanware continues to make in their products. I know it sometimes seems like we want it all and ask for the moon but Humanware has been pretty good in delivering the sky. This is a list where we come to get our problems solved so it can sometimes seem like a bitch session, yet I bet 99% of the people on this list would not give up their VN/BN (not counting those wanting to upgrade to the latest and greatest). Just to let Humanware know, I want more <smile> but of course I still am learning how to use what I've got. Thanks for the sky and I look forward to the moon. Man, that was lengthy. Sorry. Cindy > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of richard > Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2006 7:08 PM > To: Braillenote List > Subject: RE: [BrailleNote] USA digital talking books > > > I don't think people were complaining so much about the > technology as they were about the fact that you have to have so > many different devices to play essentially the same type of > format because of all the security garbage etc. > Now if a way could be found to play all the different agencies' > books on the bn, for example Nls digital, Rfb-and d, which are, > as I understand it, in Daisy format, but stored on different > media, that would be great! > Especially with Rfb, people who use this for classwork may > already be carriing a bn or other note-taker and if they want to > use Rfb, they have to have a special cd player as well. > Why do that when the bn, for example, already plays Daisy, or > will soon do so with the release of 7.2? > SOME of the security things some of the agencies are doing now > is, in my opinion, rediculous, since their stuff is already in > specialized format, and we shouldn't have to jump through hoops > just to download it or aquire it especially since we already > provided proof that we have the right disability. > If it's true that the folks at Humanware are working with rfb and > d and also Nls, trying to get something we can all play on the > bn, that would save weight and having to lugg more stuff around > than we need to. > > Richard > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > >From: "Fearon, Sukosh" <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >To: "Braillenote List" <[email protected] > >Date: Sun, 6 Aug 2006 12:54:52 -0400 > >Subject: RE: [BrailleNote] USA digital talking books > > >For crying out loud be happy you've got the where with all to > enjoy this technology. I know it's not easy but think back a few > decades. At one time there was just grade one and one half on a > big heavy braille volume. Put that on your bookshelf and think a > little. We should be happy and say praise god to the Lord above > that we have this technology to enjoy--work for--ask these > commissions for the blind--who knows--just be happy you've got > the time and inclination to learn and enjoy all these things. > You could be living in North Viet Nam or Red China. Then what > would you read. > > >Sukosh Fearon > > >-----Original Message----- > >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of > denise avant > >Sent: Saturday, August 05, 2006 10:03 PM > >To: 'Braillenote List' > >Subject: RE: [BrailleNote] USA digital talking books > > > >Well, I just wish we could all settle on one type of format so we > will not > >have to leave home with 40 devices. I mean in 2008, you will > need to have > >your nls player for your nls library books, your rfb player for > their books, > >your bookport or bookcourier for audible, the braillenote for web > braille > >books and some other device for windows media player digital > audio. > >How absurd! > >I thought at the end of the 20th century there was a discussion > of > >uniformity for making books available to the blind in the u.s. > >But then nls comes along and departed from the standard. > > > > >-----Original Message----- > >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of > Brian Lingard > >Sent: Saturday, August 05, 2006 8:31 PM > >To: Braillenote List > >Subject: RE: [BrailleNote] USA digital talking books > > >Ottawa Canada > > >Hi Pam: > > >Yes from what I hear, downloading digital talking books on the > Internet will > >be the preferred method of distributing them. > > >This is because the net is faster than a speeding mail truck and > requires > >virtually no human time and effort on the part of NLS to fulfil > each > >download request. > > >And there is no problem as with cassettes of the library being > out of stock > >for a while on a title you really like or desperately need for > school. > > >But the vast majority of bind people are elderly and the guys > grew up when > >typing was the domain of girls. > > >So they don't have computers and in many cases don't want one. > >They just want their talking books to talk to them! > > >Will take a while until the average newly blind person can be > assumed to > >know how to touch-type. > > >Take care. > > >Brian > > >-- > >No virus found in this outgoing message. > >Checked by AVG Free Edition. > >Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.7/409 - Release Date: > >04/08/2006 > > > > >___ > >To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to > >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit > >http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote > > > >___ > >To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to > >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit > >http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote > > > >___ > >To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to > >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit > >http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote > > > > ___ > To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit > http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote > ___ To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote
