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Dear Harry:

It is great that you are trying to think about different ways in 
which blind and visually impaired persons can read.  I will be polite 
and not flame you.  However, your ideas while they would work for an 
elite group of people would not serve the needs of the majority of 
NLS patrons.  Most people simply don't use a computer, about 30 
percent, and a hand-held computer, or hand-held reading machine would 
just be to complicated.

The Majority of NLS patrons simply couldn't and wouldn't use a 
reading machine.  they are primarily elderly.

I am not just making this stuff up, I have worked both for a Library 
for the Blind, and a library Machine Lending Agency, and hear the 
phone calls the reader's advisors and equipment people get.

Plus, you put out a $20 billion figure.  Don't know where that number 
comes from, it is simply bogus.

Finally, I am a pilot tester for NLS's books, and have done some 
consulting for them.  I have to tell you that the power of the new 
digital talking books is awesome.  You can skip around in a magazine 
the way a sighted person does.  A reading machine would not do that for you.

Dave

At 03:41 PM 6/20/2007, [log in to unmask] wrote:
>Hi all,
>Before I get flamed on this, because I'm sure I will, hear me out on this, ok?
>I have a better idea for the talking book program than what 
>everybody is screaming for, at the moment.
>First, the current talking book program was useful, but is not 
>useful any more.  It's not because even if we go digital, we're 
>still going to see only 20000 books produced each year, and how many 
>books are published annually?  Try about 6000000, or more.  So, the 
>program is not even keeping up with the number of books being 
>published, so, what are the blind and disabled?  Still 2nd class 
>citizens, not keeping up on equal footing with able bodied folks.
>Now, is there a better way?  You bet there is, and here it is.
>There are 2 better options.
>1.  Instead, use that 20 billion dollars a year to buy a handheld 
>reading machine for every blind and disabled person.  This way they 
>can read books, mail, you name it, any printed document they like.
>2.  Even better, buy every blind and disabled person in America a 
>fully functioning pocket handheld computer, which can run Windows 
>XP, or, Windows Vista, and include a scanner with it, also either 
>Kurzweil, openbook, or, VIP reading software, so then they can read 
>documents as mentioned in 1 above.  Then, also include in that 
>package, either Jaws for Windows, Window Eyes, or, Freedom Box's 
>System access, which would give them internet access and word processing.
>So folks, there are better ways of doing things then we have done them.
>This will give the blind and disabled much more access to 
>information, than they would have through talking books.
>If you agree with this, you may modify it, and send it all over the 
>internet, and to ACB and NFB, for being introduced as a resolution 
>at their conventions.
>Let's change the way the blind and disabled get access, not only to 
>the printed word, but to all information.
>Harry from Michigan
>
>
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David Andrews and white cane Harry.


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