[gui-talk] any progress in NLS DTB limited access issues?

Sat May 1 11:23:19 UTC 2010

The idea that emerging digital technologies will render the NLS Talking Book 
obsolete is utterly  laughable.  Government bureaucracies rarely respond 
swiftly to changes in technology.  The NLS spent almost a decade and 
millions of taxpayer dollars developing its new digital format.  The fact is 
that only a small minority of blind  people in this country currently have 
access to computer technology, so the government has a mandate to sustain 
"obsolete" formats for the vast majority  of those who don't.   And contrary 
to rumors of its impending demise, the 4-track cassette will remain a 
functional NLS format for many years to come, as they have absolutely no 
immediate plans to discontinue production of the nearly 50 NLS magazines 
available in this medium.

Gerald

----- Original Message ----- 
From: " Rob Tabor" <rob.tabor at sbcglobal.net>
To: "NFBnet GUI Talk Mailing List" <gui-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, May 01, 2010 12:02 AM
Subject: Re: [gui-talk] any progress in NLS DTB limited access issues?

> Hi, Andy and list.
> I think Andy's observation and prediction that rapidly emerging technology 
> is expected to render NLS obsolete is spot on. I also hold to the 
> prediction that the same is probably true of radio reading services. I 
> make this prediction despite the fact that my wife works part time for the 
> RRS in Kansas for which I also do some volunteer activity including its 
> fund-raising advisory committee.
> best regards
> Rob Tabor
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Baracco, Andrew W" <Andrew.Baracco at va.gov>
> To: "NFBnet GUI Talk Mailing List" <gui-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, April 30, 2010 12:11 PM
> Subject: Re: [gui-talk] any progress in NLS DTB limited access issues?
>
>
>> When the NLS Talking Book program was founded in the 1930's, there was
>> no other practical means to get accessible books in the hands of blind
>> persons in large quantities.  Today, the audio book has become part of
>> the mainstream, and I think that just a few more developments will
>> render the talking book program obsolete but I think that this process
>> will happen on its own, and we certainly should not advocate hastening
>> the death of NLS.
>>
>> Andy
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: gui-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:gui-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>> On Behalf Of Mike Freeman
>> Sent: Friday, April 30, 2010 4:56 AM
>> To: gui-talk at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: Re: [gui-talk] any progress in NLS DTB limited access issues?
>>
>> Your recommendation is totally foolhardy! Something similar shut down
>> webbraille for a while.
>>
>> The simple fact is that NLS has decided software platforms on PC''s will
>> not be provided access to digital talking books. Remember that BookShare
>> is volunteer; NLS is held to a higher standard whether we like it or
>> not. We were lucky to get full-funding for the dtb program. Please think
>> before you advocate.
>>
>> Mike
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Hoffman, Allen" <Allen.Hoffman at dhs.gov>
>> To: <gui-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Date: Thursday, Apr 29, 2010 16:13:14
>> Subject: [gui-talk] any progress in NLS DTB limited access issues?
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Anyone know if there is any movement to provide UAC for such products
>> as
>>> FS Reader for NLS digital talking books?  The concept that
>> bookshare.org
>>> can produce volumes of materials for various platform usage, with
>>> adequate if not draconian IP protections, while the well funded NLS
>>> chooses to keep things to non-mainstream platforms seems ridiculous.
>> If
>>> this doesn't change soon I recommend folks start writing their
>>> Congressman about finding new budget solutions to this problem.  It is
>>> all well and good to have a benevolent NLS to provide leisure
>> materials
>>> for folks, but insisting we can't be trusted to keep our access terms
>> is
>>> just a poor way to serve the public as a government in my opinion.  I
>> am
>>> finding that I read far more from bookshare.org of late than NLS
>> anyway,
>>> so it may just become something irrelevant to me soon.  I just hate to
>>> see tax dollars spent without a more direct connection between a
>>> perceived problem and reality.  Same goes for the whole publishing
>>> industry's perceived problem with copying of materials by people with
>>> disabilities.  If your book was so good that it gets copied
>>> electronically, you probably have buyers anyway.  Besides, if the
>>> accessible version is not for sale, they were not missing any
>> revenues,
>>> and if someone is copying materials for sale then the publisher was
>>> missing a market opportunity of their own.
>>>
>>> I personally think that NLS should have a audiobooks sales licensing
>>> side for publishers to use as they see fit-e.g. NLS does the contract
>> to
>>> get the materials recorded, and if a publisher wants to sell this to
>> the
>>> general public, it should be allowed.  Gives publishers motivation to
>>> make things easy to get NLS to record, and maybe there even is some
>>> revenue sharing, beyond taxes, that could make the project more self
>>> supportive.
>>> Anyhow, just wondering if it's time to send Congressmen letters, or if
>>> progress is being made to improve NLS services for the modern world.
>>>
>>>
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