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

Rob Tabor rob.tabor at sbcglobal.net
Sun May 2 05:53:46 UTC 2010 

Hello Steve, Gerald and listers.

Steve has restated my view on the future of the NLS talking book system very 
accurately and succinctly. To clarify further, obsolescence usually does not 
mean that the product or product type goes immediately out of existence. 
Business school academicians divide the life cycle of any product into four 
distinct stages. These are introduction, growth, maturity, and decline. As I 
apply the four stages to the NLS talking book service, I think it is 
reasonable to think of the BARD system as a new product line which coexists 
with the older technologies including flexible plastic discs and four track 
cassette tapes. As for the flexidiscs, they are unquestionably dead. Four 
track tapes are undoubtedly in the declining phase in that no new titles are 
being produced in these media which are being supplanted by daisy encryption 
technology which I classify as being in the growth phase which is the most 
rapidly increasing part of the process.

Now, this hardly sounds like a description of an obsolete product. In fact, 
NLS BARD is, as Steve and others have eluded to, is part of a growing trend 
in digital audio for books as it is for music. I submit that if NLS had 
clung to these older technologies it would be obsolete and would have 
entered the product decline phase.

Much has been said on this and other discussion lists about the drawbacks of 
daisy encryption and other restrictive policies while other emerging 
technologies are not burdened with these restrictions. I have nothing more 
to add to that discussion thread that has not all ready been argued. My 
theory of looming obsolescence of the NLS BARD system is based on a growing 
list of promising technologies such as the Kurzweil NFB Reader, the Blio 
Reader, Ipad, and don't forget Google Books. While I join the growing chorus 
of those who are dissatisfied with the limited literary genres available in 
NLS, I for one would not want to see NLS BARD go out of business for at 
least another 20 years or so as I think it is needed to complement the total 
number and kinds of literature available in audio playback formats. In other 
words, don't worry, colleagues. The decline phase is several years away and 
often takes time to play itself out.

We need, however, to be vigillant about one potential problem on the 
horizon. Some of our colleagues, (not necessarily this list) are attempting 
to devise methods to circumvent daisy encryption, which could cause us to 
lose our hard fought  NLS BARD download privileges. This does not mean the 
technology goes away. It just means we could find ourselves back to being 
dependent on local or regional library staff to send us our requested book 
and magazine titles via snail mail as in the olden days of yore. TO be 
forewarned is to be forearmed.
I wish everyone a good night and remaineder of May Day weekend.
best regards
Rob Tabor
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Jacobson" <steve.jacobson at visi.com>
To: "NFBnet GUI Talk Mailing List" <gui-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, May 01, 2010 10:11 AM
Subject: Re: [gui-talk] any progress in NLS DTB limited access issues?


> 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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