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

Sat May 1 15:11:04 UTC 2010

While I share your skepticism, I think what he meant is that we may have access to much more material in the future 
from other sources.  I think that it is fair to say that if the I Pad takes off, if other off-the-shelf reading platforms become 
accessible, if BLIO emerges and is successful, if reading machines continue to improve, it will likely change the picture 
some.  I don't think NLS's technology will be obsolete for some time to come.  They did a pretty nice job.

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson

On Sat, 01 May 2010 07:23:19 -0400, Gerald Levy wrote:

>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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>>
>>
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