Talking Books: Toward a Digital Model

INTRODUCTION At present, library access for blind and physically handicapped persons is served by analog cassette tape. This technology has enjoyed the acceptance and economy found in the consumer entertainment market for over twenty-five years. As digital technology gains in market share, the analog cassette is likely to become less attractive from both a cost and consumer--preference standpoint. The two forces, cost and preference, will ultimately converge to motivate a move to digital methods. In anticipation of this, a digital talking book (DTB) standard is needed to define requirements, examine the feasibility of proposed features, and most importantly, explore user-control preferences. Developing a standard necessarily begins far in advance of system-wide hardware implementation so that when the forces for change become compelling, a practical system, with acceptable controls, will be fully defined and tested. Developing the standard under the auspices of the National Information Standards Organization (NISO) is appropriate because NISO is the only organization accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to develop and maintain technical standards for information services, libraries, publishers, and others involved in the business of creation, storage, preservation, sharing, accession, and dissemination of data. WHY A STANDARD? A standard is required to define minimum performance and optional features for next-generation library-access equipment used by blind and physically handicapped individuals. It will address problems of control, audio quality, media compatibility, copyright protection, ease of international interlibrary loan, and affordability. Interested parties include patrons, particularly as represented by advocacy organizations, media producers (volunteer and commercial), rights owners, equipment producers, librarians, and international borrowers and lenders. SCOPE AND APPLICATION The proposed standard is intended to define minimum performance requirements for next-generation patron-access equipment. It will also describe optional features. While the standard will be written in a digital context, it will not define the software or hardware internals of a particular implementation. Emphasis will be on performance characteristics and control. Potential implementers would include manufacturers of digital and analog hardware, developers of multimedia authoring and presentation software, and media producers. Available resources, individuals, and organizations with expertise in the subject matter include various advocacy and service organizations such as the American Council of the Blind, Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, American Foundation for the Blind, American Printing House for the Blind, Blinded Veterans Association, National Federation of the Blind, Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, and National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS/BPH). Engineering expertise is available at NLS/BPH as are funds. Developing the proposal into an American National Standard will require an engineering talent, financial support for developing software that tests control concepts, and the funding of program administration including communications and travel. IMPLEMENTATION The effect on users of moving from existing technology to the proposed new standard will likely range from virtually transparent to profound. "Virtually transparent" means that, although tactile interfacing will not necessarily be the same as with a cassette player, it could be functionally identical. Similarly, sound quality could be identical to today's performance but would very likely be improved through the use of digital methods. "Profound" means that readers would have access to multiple levels of optional complexity and product-specific presentation-software features. …