BYE, BYE BEEPTONES, HELLO
AUDIOPLUS! THE SUNSET OF ANALOG TAPE AT RFB&D
Presenter(s)
Annemarie Cooke
Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic
Day Phone: 609-520-8079
Fax: 609-243-7056
Email: acooke@rfbd.org
Audio textbooks front RFB&D have become important tools for lifelong
learning for students who are blind or visually impaired or who have learning
disabilities. The AER conference provides a vital arena for educational
professionals as well as parents to learn about the latest services offered by
this national nonprofit organization.
Four
years ago, RFB&D began production of textbooks recorded in the DAISY
format. By recording digitally, using the DAISY standard, books are created
that feature incredible ease of use for people who have print- related
disabilities.
RFB&D’s “brand” of DAISY books, called “AudioPlus®”,
provide ease in navigation by page, chapter and
section as well as simple “go to page” function and ability to insert as many
bookmarks as desired.
AudioPlus® was launched four years ago and its distribution by RF&D
has remained concurrent with distribution of so-called “Classic Cassettes” —
digital sound files delivered on four—track audiotape cassettes.
As
this format has become all but obsolete in he current user arena, RFB&D is
planning to transfer production of audio files in the DAISY format on CD.
Classic Cassettes will become a thing of the past within the next two t to
three years; thus “bye bye” to
the “beeptone navigation system that has been the
norm for more than 30 years.
Benefits
to RFB&D members as well as plans for collection development and addition
of new playback equipment will be discussed during this presentation.
To
facilitate effective use of AudioPlus, RFB&D’s digitally recorded textbooks, the organization
has instituted an interactive learning tool that provides step-by-step
directions for use of playback options. It also provides suggestions for
learning strategies using these books.
With
four years experience in utilizing digital technology for its textbooks,
RFB&D has more than 20,000 titles available on CD presenting a core
collection of the most-requested textbooks, K-college and graduate school.
For
educators and other professionals in the blindness and learning disabilities
fields, there is greater ease in ensuring successful use of this powerful
accommodation. During this presentation, participants will learn features of
the various hardware and software playback solutions for AudioPlus,
RFB&D’s digitally recorded books. In addition,
details will be provided about RFB&D’s new
customer service and support materials, including a “classroom pack” that
enables educators to quickly come up to speed in effective use of “Learning Through Listening” for their BVI students.
Participants also will have the opportunity for hands-on practice with the new digitally produced books to achieve a high degree of comfort in using this new technology.
Those
who attend this session will learn:
• The scope and variety of AudioPlus digitally
recorded books;
• Variety and specs for playback of these books;
• How to browse for books and order them through RFB&D’s
new customer service
area;
• How to operate the new interactive learning tool that enables members to use
the various playback options and trouble-shoot when needed.
• How to receive installments of books currently in production in digital form.
Go to previous article
Go to next article
Return to 2006 Table of Contents